Chapter 4 - The Origin Of The Sangha

Seven weeks after the enlightenment, the Buddha went to Isipatana (modern Sarnath) near Benares where his aid companions, the five ascetics, were residing. There he delivered to them the first sermon called the "Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta, the Discourse on the Wheel of Truth". Then he delivered the second sermon called the Anattalakkhana Sutta, the Discourse on the 'Theory of Non-self'. On hearing the teaching, with the result of their fruitful perfection, the five ascetics attained the Final Liberation (Arahathood). And thus they become, by virtue of utter elimination of defilements, the first and foremost Ariya Sanghas who were the origin of the Noble Order of the Buddha.