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… right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. This is called the noble truth of the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering.

‘“These are the four noble truths ”: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught that is irrefutable, uncorrupted, beyond reproach, and is not scorned by sensible ascetics and brahmins.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.”

‘“These are the eighteen mental preoccupations”: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught …’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

‘“These are the four noble truths ”: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught …’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it?

Supported by the six elements, an embryo is conceived. When it is conceived, there are name and form. Name and form are requirements for the six sense fields. The six sense fields are requirements …

… brahmins. What is the Dhamma that I’ve taught?

‘These are the six elements’: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught …

‘These are the six fields of contact’: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught …

‘These are the eighteen mental preoccupations’: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught …

‘These are the four noble truths ’: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught that is irrefutable, uncorrupted, beyond reproach, and is not scorned by sensible ascetics and brahmins.

“Mendicants, whatever ascetics and brahmins—past, future, or present—reveal that they are awakened, all of them reveal that they truly awakened to the four noble truths .

What four? The noble truths of suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering. …

That’s why you should practice meditation …”

“Mendicants, don’t think bad, unskillful thoughts, such as …

… the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering and describe another fourth noble truth of the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering.’ That is not possible. That’s how you should remember the four noble truths as I’ve taught them.

That’s why you should practice meditation …”

Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:

“Sir, they speak of this thing called ‘ignorance’. What is ignorance? And how is an …

… suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path. They gaze up at the face of another ascetic or brahmin, thinking: ‘Surely this worthy one knows and sees.’ Why is that? It’s because they haven’t seen the four noble truths .

There are ascetics and brahmins who truly understand about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path. They don’t gaze up at the face of another ascetic or brahmin, thinking: ‘Surely this worthy one …

… that leads to the cessation of suffering’. An ascetic or brahmin might come from the east, west, north, or south wanting to debate, seeking a debate, thinking: ‘I’ll refute their doctrine!’ It’s simply impossible for them to legitimately make that mendicant shake or rock or tremble. Why is that? It’s because they have clearly seen the four noble truths . What four? The noble truths of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

… Because in that place there’s no principled or moral conduct, and no doing what is good and skillful. There they just prey on each other, preying on the weak. Why is that? It’s because they haven’t seen the four noble truths . What four? The noble truths of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

That’s why you should practice meditation …”

“Mendicants, suppose the earth was entirely covered with water. And a person …

“In the same way, the sentient beings reborn as humans are few, while those not reborn as humans are many.2693 Why is that? It’s because they haven’t seen the four noble truths . What four? The noble truths of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

That’s why you should practice meditation …”

Then the Buddha, picking up a little bit of dirt on his fingernail, addressed the mendicants: “What do you think, mendicants? Which …

… fear.

But such refuge is no sanctuary, it is no supreme refuge. By going to that refuge, you’re not released from all suffering.

One gone for refuge to the Buddha, to his teaching and to the Saṅgha, sees the four noble truths with right understanding:

suffering, suffering’s origin, suffering’s transcendence, and the noble eightfold path that leads to the stilling of suffering.

Such refuge is a sanctuary, it is the supreme refuge. …

… and women who follow their instructions.

It is truly for their benefit that the sage realized awakening— for the monks and for the nuns who see that they’ve reached certainty.

The Clear-eyed One, the Buddha, the Kinsman of the Sun, has well taught the four noble truths out of sympathy for living creatures.

Suffering, suffering’s origin, suffering’s transcendence, and the noble eightfold path that leads to the stilling of suffering.

… …”

“… the sentient beings who refrain from bribery, fraud, cheating, and duplicity are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …”

“… the sentient beings who refrain from mutilation, murder, abduction, banditry, plunder, and violence are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. Why is that? It’s because they haven’t seen the four noble truths . What four? The noble truths of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.