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Teachings

Setting in Motion The Wheel of Dhamma

Dhamma-cakkappavattana

[sn 56.11]
dve'me bhikkhave antā pabbajitena na sevitabbā

Pāli POS Grammar English
dve- adj masc.nom.pl two (2)
ime pron masc.nom.pl these
antā noun masc.nom.pl ends, sides, extremes
pabbajitena masc masc.ins.sg by monk, one who has gone forth
na ind not
sevitabbā pp masc.nom.pl should be associated with, affiliated, pursued with

Monks there are these two extremes that should not be pursued by one who has gone forth

yo c'āyaṃ kāmesu kāma-sukh'allik'ānuyogo hīno gammo pothujjaniko anariyo anattha-sañhito,

Pāli POS Grammar English
yo pron masc.nom.sg whatever
c'āyaṃ pron masc.nom.sg and this
kāmesu noun masc.loc.pl in pleasures, sensual pleasures, in sensuality
kāmasukhallikā- noun fem sense pleasure; sensual enjoyment; hedonism
anuyogo noun masc.nom.sg praxis, practice of, devotion to, pursuit of, doing
hīno adj masc.nom.sg low, inferior, deficient
gammo adj masc.nom.sg vulgar, common, lit. of the village
pothujjaniko adj masc.nom.sg common, ordinary, coarse, lit. belonging to the ordinary man
anariyo adj masc.nom.sg ignoble, vulgar, coarse
anattha-sañhito adj masc.nom.sg unprofitable, pointless, not connected to the goal

That is whatever is devotion to the enjoyment of sensual pleasures, which is low, common, ordinary, ignoble and pointless.

yo c'āyaṃ atta-kilamath'ānuyogo dukkho anariyo anattha-sañhito.

Pāli POS Grammar English
yo pron masc.nom.sg whatever
c'āyaṃ pron masc.nom.sg and this
atta-kilamath'ānuyogo noun masc.nom.sg devotion to self-mortification; practice of self-mortification
dukkho adj masc.nom.sg uncomfortable, painful, unpleasant
anariyo adj masc.nom.sg ignoble, vulgar, coarse
anattha-sañhito adj masc.nom.sg unprofitable, pointless, not connected to goal

And there is whatever is devotion to self-mortification, which is painful, ignoble and pointless.

ete kho, bhikkhave, ubho ante anupagamma majjhimā paṭipadā tathāgatena abhisambuddhā

Pāli POS Grammar English
ete pron masc.acc.pl these
kho ind indeed
ubho pron masc.acc.pl both
ante noun masc.acc.pl ends, sides, extremes
anupagamma verb ger avoiding, not going near, lit. not approaching
majjhimā adj fem.nom.sg middle
paṭipadā noun fem.nom.sg way, path of progress, path of practice
tathāgatena noun masc.ins.sg by the Such Become, Realised
abhisambuddhā pp fem.nom.sg realised (by), discovered (by)

Monks avoiding both of these extremes, there is the middle way of practice, realised by the Such Become.

cakkhukaraṇī ñāṇa-karaṇī upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṃvattati

Pāli POS Grammar English
cakkhukaraṇī adj fem.nom.sg which produces vision
ñāṇakaraṇī adj fem.nom.sg which produces understanding
upasamāya noun masc.dat.sg for calmness, peace, tranquility
abhiññāya noun fem.dat.sg for direct knowledge, higher understanding
sambodhāya noun masc.dat.sg for enlightenment, full awakening, perfect understanding
nibbānāya noun nt.dat.sg for going out (of a lamp), extinguishing (of a fire), quenching
saṃvattati verb pr.3.sg leads (to)

Which produces vision, produces understanding, leading to calmness, to higher understanding, to enlightenment, to extinguishing.

katamā ca sā bhikkhave majjhimā paṭipadā

And what bhikkhus is that middle way of practice?

ayam'eva ariyo aṭṭh'aṅgiko maggo seyyath'īdaṃ – sammā-diṭṭhi sammā-saṅkappo sammā-vācā sammā-kammanto sammā-ājīvo sammā-vāyāmo sammā-sati sammā-samādhi

Pāli POS Grammar English
ayaṃ- pron masc.nom.sg this
eva ind only, just, so, even
ariyo adj masc.nom.sg noble, distinguished
aṭṭhaṅgiko adj masc.nom.sg with eight parts; eight-limbed, eight-fold
maggo noun masc.nom.sg road, path, way
seyyathīdaṃ ind as follows, i.e.
sammādiṭṭhi noun fem.nom.sg correct outlook, right view
sammāsaṅkappo noun masc.nom.sg correct intention, right thoughts
sammāvācā noun fem.nom.sg correct speech
sammākammanto noun masc.nom.sg correct behaviour, right actions
sammāājīvo noun masc.nom.sg correct livelihood
sammāvāyāmo noun masc.nom.sg correct effort
sammāsati noun masc.nom.sg correct remembrance, right mindfulness
sammāsamādhi noun masc.nom.sg correct composure, right stability of mind

this is the noble eight-fold path, as follows: right view, right intention, right speech, right actions, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right stability of mind.

ayaṃ kho sā bhikkhave majjhimā paṭipadā tathāgatena abhisambuddhā

Monks, this is the middle way of practice, realised by the Such Become.

cakkhu-karaṇī ñāṇa-karaṇī upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṃvattati

Which produces vision, produces understanding, leading to calmness, to higher understanding, to enlightenment, to extinguishing.

idaṃ kho pana bhikkhave dukkhaṃ ariya-saccaṃ

Monks, this is the noble truth of suffering.

jātipi dukkhā, jarāpi dukkhā, byādhipi dukkho, maraṇampi dukkhaṃ, soka-parideva-dukkha-domanassupāyāsāpi dukkhā

Pāli POS Grammar English
jāti noun f.n.s birth, rebirth, conception
pi ind also, and also, even so
dukkhā adj fem.nom.sg uncomfortable, painful, unpleasant, causing misery
jarā noun fem.nom.sg old age, growing old, decay, aging
pi ind also, and also, even so
dukkhā adj fem.nom.sg uncomfortable, painful, unpleasant, causing misery; unsatisfactory
byādhi- noun masc.nom.sg sickness, disease, lit. upset
pi ind also, and also, even so
dukkho adj masc.nom.sg uncomfortable, painful, unpleasant, causing misery; unsatisfactory
maraṇaṃ noun nt.nom.sg death
pi ind also, and also, even so
dukkhaṃ adj nt.nom.sg uncomfortable, painful, unpleasant; unsatisfactory
soka- noun grief, sorrow, sadness
parideva- noun mourning, lament, wail, cry
dukkha- noun discomfort, suffering, pain, unease something unsatisfactory, problem, trouble
domanassa- noun (mental) suffering, distress, dissatisfaction
upāyāsā noun masc.nom.pl irritation, mental disturbance, mental affliction
pi ind also, and also, even so
dukkhā adj masc.nom.pl uncomfortable, painful, unpleasant; unsatisfactory

birth is suffering, ageing is suffering, sickness is suffering, death is suffering, grief, mourning, pain, distress, mental affliction is/are suffering.

appiyehi sampayogo dukkho,

Pāli POS Grammar English
appiyehi adj masc.ins.pl with not dear, unloved, disliked
sampayogo noun masc.nom.sg connection, contact with, association affiliation, interaction
dukkho adj masc.nom.sg uncomfortable, painful, unpleasant, causing misery; unsatisfactory

association with the disliked is suffering

piyehi vippayogo dukkho

Pāli POS Grammar English
piyehi adj (as noun) masc.abl.pl from (what/whom are) dear, beloved, lovely
vippayogo noun masc.nom.sg separation, detachment, breakup (of a relationship)
dukkho adj masc.nom.sg uncomfortable, painful, unpleasant, causing misery; unsatisfactory

separation from dears is suffering

yampicchaṃ na labhati tampi dukkhaṃ

Pāli POS Grammar English
yam-(p)-icchaṃ sandhi m.acc.sg what (one) is desiring
>yaṃ pron masc.acc.sg which, that which, who, one who
>icchaṃ adj masc.acc.sg wishing for, desiring, wanting
na ind neg not
labhati verb pr.3.sg gets, receives, obtains
tam'pi pron masc.acc.sg that too, even that, just that, that very thing
dukkhaṃ adj nt.nom.sg uncomfortable, painful, unpleasant unsatisfactory

Not getting what (one) is desiring is also suffering

saṅkhittena pañcupādānakkhandhā dukkhā

Pāli POS Grammar English
saṅkhittena ind adv in brief, concisely, briefly
pañca- adj five (5)
upādāna- noun acquisition, grasping, clinging; fuel (for fire)
khandhā noun masc.nom.pl aggregates, combinations, conglomerations
dukkhā adj fem.nom.sg uncomfortable, painful, unpleasant unsatisfactory

In brief the five aggregates of clinging are suffering

idaṃ kho pana bhikkhave dukkha-samudayo ariya-saccaṃ

Monks this is the noble truth of the origin of suffering.

yā'yaṃ taṇhā ponobbhavikā nandi-rāga-sahagatā tatra-tatrābhinandinī seyyathīdaṃ kāma-taṇhā bhava-taṇhā vibhava-taṇhā

Pāli POS Grammar English
yā- pron fem.nom.sg whatever, that which (is)
ayaṃ pron fem.nom.sg this
taṇhā noun fem.nom.sg craving, wanting, desire, lit. thirst
ponobbhavikā adj fem.nom.sg related to repeated existence, leading to rebirth
nandi-rāga- noun delight and desire
sahagatā adj fem.nom.sg connected (with), associated (with), lit. going (with)
tatra-tatra- ind here and there, everywhere
abhinandinī adj fem.nom.sg taking delight (in), getting pleasure (from) thoroughly enjoying, relishing
seyyathīdaṃ ind i.e., as follows, lit. (like) that like this
kāmataṇhā noun fem.nom.sg craving for sensual pleasure(s)
bhavataṇhā noun fem.nom.sg craving for becoming, craving for existence
vibhavataṇhā noun fem.nom.sg craving for non-existence, craving for annihilation

It is this craving which leads to rebirth connected with delight and lust, thoroughly enjoying here and there, as follows - craving for sensuality, craving for becoming, craving for non-becoming.

idaṃ kho pana bhikkhave dukkha-nirodho ariya-saccaṃ

Monks, this is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering.

yo tassāyeva taṇhāya asesa-virāga-nirodho cāgo paṭinissaggo mutti anālayo

Pāli POS Grammar English
yo pron masc.nom.sg whatever, that which
tassā-y-eva sandhi of that very, of that exact, of that
taṇhāya noun fem.gen.sg of craving, wanting, desire, lit. thirst
asesa-virāga-nirodho noun masc.nom.sg complete fading away and ending, remainderless dispassion and cessation
cāgo noun masc.nom.sg giving up, relinquishing, abandoning
paṭinissaggo noun masc.nom.sg giving up, relinquishing, dropping, abandoning
mutti noun fem.nom.sg liberation, freedom, emancipation, release
anālayo noun masc.nom.sg non-clinging, non-attachment

It is the complete fading away and ending of that very craving its relinquishing, letting go, release and non-clinging.

idaṃ kho pana bhikkhave dukkha-nirodha-gāminī-paṭipadā ariya-saccaṃ

Monks, this is the noble truth of the way (of practice) leading to the cessation of suffering.

ayam-eva ariyo aṭṭh'aṅgiko maggo seyyathīdaṃ sammā-diṭṭhi sammā-saṅkappo sammā-vācā sammā-kammanto sammā-ājīvo sammā-vāyāmo sammā-sati sammā-samādhi

just this noble eightfold path, as follows: right view, right intention, right speech, right actions, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right stability of mind.

idaṃ dukkhaṃ ariya-saccan-ti me bhikkhave pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi ñāṇaṃ udapādi paññā udapādi vijjā udapādi āloko udapādi

Pāli POS Grammar English
idaṃ pron nt.nom.sg this
dukkhaṃ noun nt.ac.s discomfort, suffering, pain, unease, something unsatisfactory, problem, trouble
ariyasaccaṃ'ti noun nt.nom.sg truth of the Buddha, noble truth
me pron 1.dat.s to me, for me
pubbe ind from loc.sg before, previously, formerly, in the past
ananussutesu adj masc.loc.pl with regard to not heard
dhammesu noun masc.loc.pl with regard to things
cakkhuṃ noun nt.nom.sg seeing, power of seeing; vision
udapādi verb aor.3.sg arose, sprung up
ñāṇaṃ noun nt.nom.sg knowledge, understanding, insight
udapādi verb aor.3.sg arose, sprung up
paññā noun fem.nom.sg wisdom, knowledge, intelligence, intellect understanding, insight
udapādi verb aor.3.sg arose, sprung up
vijjā noun fem.nom.sg knowledge, wisdom, understanding
udapādi verb aor.3.sg arose, sprung up
āloko noun masc.nom.sg light, brightness, clarity
udapādi verb aor.3.sg arose, sprung up

This is the noble truth of suffering.” Monks, in regard to things unheard of before vision arose, insight arose, wisdom arose, knowledge arose, light arose to me:

taṃ kho pan'idaṃ dukkhaṃ ariya-saccaṃ pariññeyyan-ti

Pāli POS Grammar English
taṃ pron nt.nom.sg that
kho ind indeed, surely, certainly, truly
pana- ind moreover, and now, but
idaṃ pron nt.nom.sg this
dukkhaṃ noun nt.acc.sg discomfort, suffering, pain, unease, something unsatisfactory, problem, trouble
ariya-saccaṃ noun nt.nom.sg truth of the Buddha, noble truth
pariññeyyan'ti ptp nt.nom.sg should be completely comprehended, should be fully understood

Indeed now this noble truth of suffering should be completely understood.

taṃ kho pan'idaṃ dukkhaṃ ariya-saccaṃ pariññātan-ti

Pāli POS Grammar English
taṃ pron nt.nom.sg that
kho ind indeed, surely, certainly, truly
pana- ind moreover, and now, but
idaṃ pron nt.nom.sg this
dukkhaṃ noun nt.acc.sg. discomfort, suffering, pain, unease, something unsatisfactory, problem, trouble
ariya-saccaṃ noun nt.nom.sg truth of the Buddha, noble truth
pariññātan'ti pp nt.nom.sg completely comprehended, fully understood

Indeed now this noble truth of suffering has been completely understood.

idaṃ dukkha-samudayo ariya-saccan-ti me bhikkhave pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi ñāṇaṃ udapādi paññā udapādi vijjā udapādi āloko udapādi

This is the noble truth of the origin of suffering.” Monks, in regard to things unheard of before vision arose, insight arose, wisdom arose, knowledge arose, light arose to me.

taṃ kho pan'idaṃ dukkha-samudayo ariya-saccaṃ pahātabban-ti

Pāli POS Grammar English
pahātabban'ti ptp nt.nom.sg should be given up, should be abandoned

Indeed now this noble truth of the origin of suffering should be abandoned.

taṃ kho pan'idaṃ dukkha-samudayo ariya-saccaṃ pahīnan-ti

Pāli POS Grammar English
pahīnan'ti pp nt.nom.sg abandoned, dispelled, eliminated, removed, given up

Indeed now this noble truth of the origin of suffering has been abandoned.

idaṃ dukkha-nirodho ariya-saccan-ti me bhikkhave pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi ñāṇaṃ udapādi paññā udapādi vijjā udapādi āloko udapādi

This is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering.” Monks, in regard to things unheard of before vision arose insight arose wisdom arose knowledge arose light arose to me.

taṃ kho pan'idaṃ dukkha-nirodho ariya-saccaṃ sacchi-kātabban-ti

Pāli POS Grammar English
sacchi- ind personally, lit. see for oneself
kātabban'ti ptp nt.nom.sg should be done, must be done, ought to be made

Indeed now this noble truth of the cessation of suffering should be experienced directly.

taṃ kho pan'idaṃ dukkha-nirodho ariya-saccaṃ sacchikatan-ti

Pāli POS Grammar English
sacchikatan'ti pp nt.nom.sg personally experienced, personally realized

Indeed now this noble truth of the origin of suffering has been personally experienced.

idaṃ dukkha-nirodha-gāminī-paṭipadā ariya-saccan-ti me bhikkhave pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi ñāṇaṃ udapādi paññā udapādi vijjā udapādi āloko udapādi.

This is the noble truth of the the way leading to the cessation of suffering.” Monks, in regard to things unheard of before vision arose, insight arose, wisdom arose, knowledge arose, light arose to me.

taṃ kho pan'idaṃ dukkha-nirodha-gāminī-paṭipadā ariya-saccaṃ bhāvetabban-ti

Pāli POS Grammar English
bhāvetabban'ti ptp nt.nom.sg should be cultivated, should be developed

Indeed now this noble truth of the cessation of suffering should be developed.

taṃ kho pan'idaṃ dukkha-nirodha-gāminī-paṭipadā ariya-saccaṃ bhāvitan-ti

Pāli POS Grammar English
bhāvitan'ti pp nt.nom.sg cultivated, developed, lit. caused to be

Indeed now this noble truth of the origin of suffering has been developed.

yāva-kīvañ-ca me bhikkhave imesu catūsu ariya-saccesu evan-ti-parivaṭṭaṃ dvādas'ākāraṃ yathā-bhūtaṃ ñāṇa-dassanaṃ na suvisuddhaṃ ahosi

Pāli POS Grammar English
yāvakīvañ'ca ind and as long as
me pron 1.gen.sg my
imesu pron nt.loc.pl in (regard to) these
catūsu adj nt.loc.pl in (regard to) four
ariyasaccesu noun nt.loc.pl truth of the Buddha, noble truth
evaṃ- ind thus, this, like this, just as, such
ti-parivaṭṭaṃ noun nt.acc.sg three phases; three levels; lit. three circles
dvādasa- adj (num) twelve (12)
ākāraṃ noun masc.acc.sg way, manner, method, lit. way of making
yathābhūtaṃ adj nt.nom.sg as it is, in reality, lit. like it has become
ñāṇadassanaṃ noun nt.nom.sg total understanding, knowing and seeing, knowledge and vision
na ind not
suvisuddhaṃ adj nt.nom.sg well cleansed, perfectly purified, completely pure
ahosi verb aor.3.sg it was

Monks, as long as my knowledge and understanding, as it actually is, with regard to these four noble truths with their three circles and twelve methods, was not perfectly purified,

n'eva tāvāhaṃ bhikkhave sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇa-brāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadeva-manussāya anuttaraṃ sammā-sambodhiṃ abhisambuddho'ti paccaññāsiṃ

Pāli POS Grammar English
n'eva ind emph not even, not only
tāva- ind that much, as long as, to that extent, until, at least
ahaṃ pron 1.nom.sg I
sadevake adj masc.loc.sg in with devas, with gods
loke noun masc.loc.sg in the world
samārake adj masc.loc.sg with mara(s)
sabrahmake adj masc.loc.sg including gods, with Brahmā(s)
sassamaṇa-brāhmaṇiyā adj fem.loc.sg with recluse(s) and priest(s)
pajāya noun fem.loc.sg in population, generation, mankind
sadevamanussāya adj masc.loc.sg with kings and commoners, with gods and men
anuttaraṃ adj fem.acc.sg highest (of), unsurpassed (by), incomparable (to) superior (to)
sammā-sambodhiṃ noun fem.acc.sg perfect awakening
abhisambuddho'ti pp masc.nom.sg completely realised, discovered, lit. woken up to
paccaññāsiṃ verbaor.1.s I admitted, I claimed

That long, I did not claim that I perfectly understood the unsurpassed perfect awakening, in this world with devas, Māras and Brahmas, among the population with its priests and renunciants, kings and commoners

yato ca kho me bhikkhave imesu catūsu ariya-saccesu evan-ti-parivaṭṭaṃ dvādas'ākāraṃ yathā-bhūtaṃ ñāṇa-dassanaṃ suvisuddhaṃ ahosi

Pāli POS Grammar English
yato ind from where, whence, since, because, as soon as
ca ind but

Monks, but as soon as my knowledge and understanding, as it actually is, with regard to these four noble truths with their three circles and twelve methods, was perfectly purified,

ath'āhaṃ bhikkhave sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇa-brāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadeva-manussāya anuttaraṃ sammā-sambodhiṃ abhisambuddho paccaññāsiṃ

Pāli POS Grammar English
atha- ind then, also, and so, after that

Than, I did claim that I perfectly understood the unsurpassed perfect awakening, in this world with devas, māras and brahmas, amongst the population with its priests and renunciants, kings and commoners.

ñāṇañ'ca pana me dassanaṃ udapādi - akuppā me vimutti, ayam'antimā jāti, n'atthidāni punabbhavo'ti

Pāli POS Grammar English
ñāṇaṃ ca noun nt.nom.sg and knowledge, understanding, insight
pana ind moreover, and now, but
me pron 1.dat.sg to me; for me
dassanaṃ noun nt.nom.sg insight, realization, spiritual vision
udapādi verb aor.3.sg arose, sprung up
akuppā adj fem.nom.sg unshakable, unwavering, unassailable
me pron 1.gen.sg my
vimutti noun fem.nom.sg freedom, liberation
ayaṃ- pron fem.nom.sg this
antimā adj fem.nom.sg very last, final, ultimate
jāti noun fem.nom.sg birth, rebirth
n'atthi- verb pr.3.sg there is not
dāni ind now, at this moment
punabbhavo'ti noun masc.nom.sg appearing again, renewed existence, further becoming

Knowledge and vision arose for me - my freedom is unshakable, this is my last birth, now there is no further becoming.

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