3.2.3

Lesson 3.2.3 Dhammacakkappavattanasuttaṃ, Part Two – The Four Noble Truths Have to Be Fully Realized

The Dhammacakkappavattanasuttaṃ presents the very first sermon the Buddha delivered to his five former companions, later in Pāli named the pañcavaggiyā bhikkhu. It is presently known as the ‘Turning of the Wheel of Dhamma’ because one of the companions attained nibbāna during the sermon, and hence the successful spread of the Buddha’s teaching was inaugurated. Fortunately after the Buddha abandoned the common spiritual practices of those days, he realised that it was only the ‘Middle Path’ (majjhimā paṭipadā) that would lead to liberation. He proclaimed as the core of his teaching the Four Noble Truths which comprise the Noble Eightfold Path (ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo). He made it clear, by referring to his own example, that mere theoretical understanding of these is not sufficient. It is compulsory that these ‘before unheard truths’ (ananussutesu dhammesu) not only must be comprehended, but with resolute efforts, full knowledge of all of them must be realised ‘as they really are’ (yathābhūta). Thus they need to be accomplished in twelve ways (tiparivaṭṭaṃ dvādasākāraṃ). Before these were fully achieved by the Buddha himself, he did not announce that he attained unsurpassed, full Enlightenment: anuttaraṃ sammāsambodhiṃ abhisambuddho.