Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

3.2.4.1 The Four Noble Truths:¹ Exposition of the Truth of Suffering,² Part One

“And what, monks, is the Noble Truth of Suffering?

Birth is suffering, old age is suffering, (sickness is suffering), death is suffering, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and distress are suffering, the association with something that one does not like is suffering, the disassociation with something that one does like is suffering, not to get what one desires is suffering; in short, the clinging to the five aggregates is suffering.

And what, monks, is birth? If there is birth for all kinds of beings in whatever kind of existence, their conception, their being born, their becoming, the coming into manifestation of their aggregates, the acquisition of their sense faculties – this, monks, is called birth.

And what, monks, is old age? If there is old age for all kinds of beings in whatever kind of existence, their getting frail and decrepit, the breaking [of their teeth], their becoming grey and wrinkled, the running down of their life span, the deterioration of their sense faculties – this, monks, is called old age.

And what, monks, is death? If there is vanishing and passing away for all kinds of beings in whatever kind of existence, their disintegration, their disappearance, their dying, their death, the completion of their life span, the dissolution of the aggregates, the discarding of the body, the destruction of their vitality – this, monks, is called death.

And what, monks, is sorrow? Whenever one, monks, is affected by various kinds of loss and misfortune, that are followed by this or that kind of painful state of mind, by sorrow, by mourning, by sorrowfulness, by inward grief, and by deep inward woe – this, monks, is called sorrow.

And what, monks, is lamentation? Whenever one, monks, is affected by various kinds of loss and misfortune, that are followed by this or that kind of painful state of mind, by wailing and crying, by lamentation, by deep wailing, by deep lamentation, by the state of deep wailing and deep lamentation – this, monks, is called lamentation.

And what, monks, is pain? If there is, monks, any kind of bodily pain, any kind of bodily unpleasantness or any kind of painful or unpleasant sensation as a result of bodily contact – this, monks, is called pain.

And what, monks, is grief? If there is, monks, any kind of mental pain, any kind of mental unpleasantness or any kind of painful or unpleasant sensation as a result of mental contact – this, monks, is called grief.

And what, monks, is distress? Whenever one, monks, is affected by various kinds of loss and misfortune, that are followed by this or that kind of painful state of mind, by tribulation, by distress, affliction with distress and affliction with great distress – this, monks, is called distress.

And what, monks, is the suffering of being associated with what one does not like? Wherever and whenever one finds unpleasant, disagreeable or disliked objects of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch or of the mind, or, whenever and wherever one finds that there are wishers of one’s own misfortune, harm, difficulties or of one’s own insecurity; if one gets associated, one meets, one comes into contact or gets combined with them – this, monks, is called the suffering of being associated with what one does not like.

And what, monks, is the suffering of being disassociated with what one does like? Wherever and whenever one finds pleasant, agreeable or liked objects of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch or of the mind, or, whenever and wherever one finds that there are wishers of one’s own fortune, prosperity, comfort or of one’s own security, like mother and father, like brother and sister, like friends and colleagues or relatives; if one gets disassociated, one does not meet, one does not come into contact or does not get combined with them – this, monks, is called the suffering of being disassociated with what one does like.

And what, monks, is not getting what one desires? In beings, monks, who are subject to birth the desire arises: “Oh, truly, that we were not subject to birth! Oh, truly, may there be no new birth for us!” But this cannot be obtained by mere desire; and not to get what one wants is suffering.

In beings, monks, who are subject to old age the desire arises: “Oh, truly, that we were not subject to old age! Oh, truly, may we not be subject to old age!” But this cannot be obtained by mere desire; and not to get what one wants is suffering.

In beings, monks, who are subject to sickness the desire arises: “Oh, truly, that we were not subject to sickness! Oh, truly, may there be no sickness for us!” But this cannot be obtained by mere desire; and not to get what one wants is suffering.

In beings, monks, who are subject to death the desire arises: “Oh, truly, that we were not subject to death! Oh, truly, may we never have to die!” But this cannot be obtained by mere desire; and not to get what one wants is suffering.

In beings, monks, who are subject to sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and distress the desire arises: “Oh, truly, that we were not subject to sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and distress! Oh, truly, may we not suffer from sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and distress!” But this cannot be obtained by mere desire; and not to get what one wants is suffering.

And how, monks, in short, is clinging to the five aggregates suffering? It is as follows – clinging to the aggregate of matter is suffering, clinging to the aggregate of sensation is suffering, clinging to the aggregate of perception is suffering, clinging to the aggregate of reaction is suffering, clinging to the aggregate of consciousness is suffering. This, monks, in short, is called suffering because of clinging to these five aggregates.

This, monks, is the Noble Truth of Suffering.”