Sutta 1: The Four Noble Truths

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0643a26] Thus I have heard:

At one time, the Buddha (佛 [fu]) was residing in the Jeta Grove (祇樹 [qi shu]) Anāthapiṇḍika's Park (給孤獨園 [gei gu du yuan]) in Śrāvastī (舍衛國 [she wei guo]).

[0643a26] wén rú shì:

yī shí, fú zài shě wèi guó qí shù gěi gū dú yuán.

[0643a26] wen ru shi:

yi shi, fu zai she wei guo qi shu gei gu du yuan.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0643a27] At that time, the World Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) told the bhikṣus, "Bhikṣus, this is the Dharma (法 [fa]) that we constantly teach, namely, the Four Noble Truths (四諦 [si di]). We observe this Dharma (法 [fa]) through countless skillful means, explain its meaning, and expound it widely to people. What are the four? Namely, the Noble Truth of Suffering (苦諦之法 [ku di zhi fa]), which we observe through countless skillful means, explain its meaning, and expound it widely to people; and the Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering (習 [xi]), the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering (盡 [jin]), and the Noble Truth of the Path to the Cessation of Suffering (道諦 [dao di]), which we explain through countless skillful means, observe this Dharma (法 [fa]), explain its meaning, and expound it widely to people.

[0643a27] ěr shí, shì zūn gào zhū bǐ qiū: “shì wèi, bǐ qiū! wǒ děng cháng suǒ shuō fǎ, suǒ wèi sì dì, yǐ wú shù fāng biàn ér guān chá cǐ fǎ, fēn bié qí yì, guǎng yǔ rén yǎn. yún hé wèi sì? suǒ wèi kǔ dì zhī fǎ, yǐ wú shù fāng biàn ér guān chá cǐ fǎ, fēn bié qí yì, guǎng yǔ rén yǎn； yǐ wú shù fāng biàn shuō xí,, jǐn,, dào dì, ér guān chá cǐ fǎ, fēn bié qí yì, guǎng yǔ rén yǎn.

[0643a27] er shi, shi zun gao zhu bi qiu: "shi wei, bi qiu! wo deng chang suo shuo fa, suo wei si di, yi wu shu fang bian er guan cha ci fa, fen bie qi yi, guang yu ren yan. yun he wei si? suo wei ku di zhi fa, yi wu shu fang bian er guan cha ci fa, fen bie qi yi, guang yu ren yan; yi wu shu fang bian shuo xi,, jin,, dao di, er guan cha ci fa, fen bie qi yi, guang yu ren yan.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0643b03] "Bhikṣus, you should approach Bhikṣu Śāriputra (舍利弗比丘 [she li fu bi qiu]) and serve him with offerings. The reason is that Bhikṣu Śāriputra (舍利弗比丘 [she li fu bi qiu]) explains these Four Noble Truths (四諦 [si di]) through countless skillful means and expounds them widely to people. When Bhikṣu Śāriputra (舍利弗比丘 [she li fu bi qiu]) explains their meaning to all sentient beings and the four assemblies (四部眾 [si bu zhong]) and expounds them widely, countless sentient beings eradicate their defilements and attain the pure Dharma eye (法眼淨 [fa yan jing]).

[0643b03] “rǔ děng bǐ qiū, dāng qīn jìn shě lì fú bǐ qiū, chéng shì gōng yǎng. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, bǐ shě lì fú bǐ qiū yǐ wú shù fāng biàn, shuō cǐ sì dì, guǎng yǔ rén yǎn. dāng shě lì fú bǐ qiū yǔ zhū zhòng shēng jí sì bù zhòng, fēn bié qí yì, guǎng yǔ rén yǎn, shí bù kě jì zhòng shēng zhū chén gòu jǐn, dé fǎ yǎn jìng.

[0643b03] "ru deng bi qiu, dang qin jin she li fu bi qiu, cheng shi gong yang. suo yi ran zhe, bi she li fu bi qiu yi wu shu fang bian, shuo ci si di, guang yu ren yan. dang she li fu bi qiu yu zhu zhong sheng ji si bu zhong, fen bie qi yi, guang yu ren yan, shi bu ke ji zhong sheng zhu chen gou jin, de fa yan jing.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0643b08] "Bhikṣus, you should approach Bhikṣu Śāriputra (舍利弗 [she li fu]) and Bhikṣu Maudgalyāyana (目犍連 [mu jian lian]) and serve them with offerings. The reason is that Bhikṣu Śāriputra (舍利弗 [she li fu]) is like the parents who give birth to and raise sentient beings, while Bhikṣu Maudgalyāyana (目犍連 [mu jian lian]) is the one who helps them grow up. The reason is that Bhikṣu Śāriputra (舍利弗 [she li fu]) teaches the Dharma (法要 [fa yao]) to people and establishes the Four Noble Truths (四諦 [si di]); Bhikṣu Maudgalyāyana (目犍連 [mu jian lian]) teaches the Dharma (法要 [fa yao]) to people and establishes the ultimate truth, establishing undefiled conduct. You should approach Bhikṣu Śāriputra (舍利弗 [she li fu]) and Bhikṣu Maudgalyāyana (目犍連 [mu jian lian])." Having said this, the World Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) returned to his quiet chamber.

[0643b08] “rǔ děng bǐ qiū, dāng qīn jìn shě lì fú,, mù jiān lián bǐ qiū, chéng shì gōng yǎng. suǒ yǐ rán zhě, shě lì fú bǐ qiū! zhòng shēng zhī fù mǔ, yǐ shēng yǐ zhǎng yǎng lìng dà zhě, mù jiān lián bǐ qiū! suǒ yǐ rán zhě, shě lì fú bǐ qiū yǔ rén shuō fǎ yào, chéng sì dì； mù jiān lián bǐ qiū yǔ rén shuō fǎ yào, chéng dì yī yì, chéng wú lòu xíng. rǔ děng dāng qīn jìn shě lì fú,, mù jiān lián bǐ qiū.” shì zūn zuò shì yǔ yǐ, hái rù jìng shì.

[0643b08] "ru deng bi qiu, dang qin jin she li fu,, mu jian lian bi qiu, cheng shi gong yang. suo yi ran zhe, she li fu bi qiu! zhong sheng zhi fu mu, yi sheng yi zhang yang ling da zhe, mu jian lian bi qiu! suo yi ran zhe, she li fu bi qiu yu ren shuo fa yao, cheng si di; mu jian lian bi qiu yu ren shuo fa yao, cheng di yi yi, cheng wu lou xing. ru deng dang qin jin she li fu,, mu jian lian bi qiu." shi zun zuo shi yu yi, hai ru jing shi.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0643b14] Not long after the World Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) departed, Śāriputra (舍利弗 [she li fu]) told the bhikṣus, "Those who can attain the Dharma (法 [fa]) of the Four Noble Truths (四諦 [si di]) have indeed gained great benefit. What are the four? Namely, the Noble Truth of Suffering (苦諦 [ku di]), which is extensively explained through countless skillful means. What is the Noble Truth of Suffering (苦諦 [ku di])? Namely, the suffering of birth, the suffering of old age, the suffering of sickness, the suffering of death, the suffering of sorrow, grief, lamentation, and distress, the suffering of encountering what is disliked, the suffering of separation from what is loved, the suffering of not obtaining what is sought, and in brief, the suffering of the five aggregates of clinging (五盛陰苦 [wu sheng yin ku]). This is the Noble Truth of Suffering (苦諦 [ku di]). What is the Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering (苦習諦 [ku xi di])? Namely, craving (愛結 [ai jie]). What is the Noble Truth of Cessation (盡諦 [jin di])? Namely, the complete and utter cessation of craving (愛欲結 [ai yu jie]). This is the Noble Truth of Cessation (盡諦 [jin di]). What is the Noble Truth of the Path (道諦 [dao di])? Namely, the noble eightfold path (賢聖八品道 [xian sheng ba pin dao]): Right View (正見 [zheng jian]), Right Intention (正治 [zheng zhi]), Right Speech (正語 [zheng yu]), Right Action (正方便 [zheng fang bian]), Right Livelihood (正命 [zheng ming]), Right Effort (正業 [zheng ye]), Right Mindfulness (正念 [zheng nian]), and Right Concentration (正定 [zheng ding]). This is the Noble Truth of the Path (道諦 [dao di]). Those sentient beings who are able to hear this Dharma (法 [fa]) of the Four Noble Truths (四諦 [si di]) have indeed gained great benefit."

[0643b14] shì zūn qù wèi jiǔ, ěr shí shě lì fú gào zhū bǐ qiū: “qí yǒu néng dé sì dì fǎ zhě, bǐ rén kuài dé shàn lì. yún hé wèi sì? suǒ wèi kǔ dì, yǐ wú shù fāng biàn guǎng yǎn qí yì. yún hé wèi kǔ dì? suǒ wèi shēng kǔ,, lǎo kǔ,, bìng kǔ,, sǐ kǔ,, yōu bēi nǎo kǔ,, yuàn zēng huì kǔ,, ēn ài bié kǔ,, suǒ qiú bù dé kǔ, qǔ yào yán zhī, wǔ shèng yīn kǔ, shì wèi kǔ dì. yún hé kǔ xí dì? suǒ wèi ài jié shì yě. yún hé wèi jǐn dì? suǒ wèi jǐn dì zhě, ài yù jié yǒng jǐn wú yú, shì wèi jǐn dì. yún hé wèi dào dì? suǒ wèi xián shèng bā pǐn dào shì. zhèng jiàn,, zhèng zhì,, zhèng yǔ,, zhèng fāng biàn,, zhèng mìng,, zhèng yè,, zhèng niàn,, zhèng dìng, shì wèi dào dì yě. bǐ zhòng shēng kuài dé shàn lì, nǎi néng wén cǐ sì dì zhī fǎ.”

[0643b14] shi zun qu wei jiu, er shi she li fu gao zhu bi qiu: "qi you neng de si di fa zhe, bi ren kuai de shan li. yun he wei si? suo wei ku di, yi wu shu fang bian guang yan qi yi. yun he wei ku di? suo wei sheng ku,, lao ku,, bing ku,, si ku,, you bei nao ku,, yuan zeng hui ku,, en ai bie ku,, suo qiu bu de ku, qu yao yan zhi, wu sheng yin ku, shi wei ku di. yun he ku xi di? suo wei ai jie shi ye. yun he wei jin di? suo wei jin di zhe, ai yu jie yong jin wu yu, shi wei jin di. yun he wei dao di? suo wei xian sheng ba pin dao shi. zheng jian,, zheng zhi,, zheng yu,, zheng fang bian,, zheng ming,, zheng ye,, zheng nian,, zheng ding, shi wei dao di ye. bi zhong sheng kuai de shan li, nai neng wen ci si di zhi fa."

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0643b25] At that time, when the Venerable Śāriputra (舍利弗 [she li fu]) expounded this Dharma (法 [fa]), countless sentient beings, upon hearing it, eradicated their defilements and attained the pure Dharma eye (法眼淨 [fa yan jing]).

[0643b25] ěr shí, zūn zhě shě lì fú dāng shuō cǐ fǎ, wú liàng bù kě jì zhòng shēng wén cǐ fǎ shí, zhū chén gòu jǐn, dé fǎ yǎn jìng.

[0643b25] er shi, zun zhe she li fu dang shuo ci fa, wu liang bu ke ji zhong sheng wen ci fa shi, zhu chen gou jin, de fa yan jing.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0643b27] "We too have gained great benefit, as the World Honored One (世尊 [shi zun]) has taught us the Dharma (法 [fa]) and established us in a place of blessing."

[0643b27] “wǒ děng yì kuài dé shàn lì, shì zūn yǔ wǒ shuō fǎ, ān chù fú de.”

[0643b27] "wo deng yi kuai de shan li, shi zun yu wo shuo fa, an chu fu de."

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0643b28] "Therefore, the four assemblies (四部之眾 [si bu zhi zhong]) should seek skillful means and practice these Four Noble Truths (四諦 [si di]). Thus, bhikṣus, you should train yourselves in this way."

[0643b28] “shì gù, sì bù zhī zhòng, qiú yú fāng biàn, xíng cǐ sì dì. rú shì, zhū bǐ qiū! dāng zuò shì xué.”

[0643b28] "shi gu, si bu zhi zhong, qiu yu fang bian, xing ci si di. ru shi, zhu bi qiu! dang zuo shi xue."

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0643b29] At that time, the bhikṣus, hearing what the Buddha (佛 [fu]) said, rejoiced and respectfully acted accordingly.

[0643b29] ěr shí, zhū bǐ qiū wén fú suǒ shuō, huān xǐ fèng xíng.

[0643b29] er shi, zhu bi qiu wen fu suo shuo, huan xi feng xing.