Definitions
''Dhamma'' (Pāli) or ''dharma'' (Sanskrit) can mean a variety of things depending on its context; in this context, it refers to the Buddha's teachings or his "truth" that leads to one's liberation from suffering. ''Cakka'' (Pāli) or ''cakra'' (Sanskrit) can be translated as "wheel." The '' dhammacakka'', which can be translated as "Dhamma-Wheel," is a Buddhist symbol referring to Buddha's teaching of theText
The sutra contains the following topics:accesstoinsightBuddhist understanding of the sutta
According to the Buddhist tradition, the ''Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta'' is the first teaching given by the Buddha after he attained enlightenment. According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha attained enlightenment and liberation while_Development_of_the_sutta
According_to_Bronkhorst_this_"first_sermon"_is_recorded_in_several_sutras,_with_important_variations._In_the_Vinaya_texts,_and_in_the_''Dhammacakkappavattana_Sutta''_which_was_influenced_by_the_Vinaya_texts,_the_four_truths_are_included,_and_Kondañña_is_enlightened_when_the_"vision_of_Dhamma"_arises_in_him:_"whatever_is_subject_to_origination_is_all_subject_to_cessation."_Yet,_in_the_''Ariyapariyesanā_Sutta''_("The_Noble_Search",_Majjhima_Nikaya_26)_the_four_truths_are_not_included,_and_the_Buddha_gives_the_five_ascetics_personal_instructions_in_turn,_two_or_three_of_them,_while_the_others_go_out_begging_for_food._The_versions_of_the_"first_sermon"_which_include_the_four_truths,_such_as_the_''Dhammacakkappavattana_Sutta'',_omit_this_instruction,_showing_that According_to_Bronkhorst,_this_indicates_that_the_four_truths_were_later_added_to_earlier_descriptions_of_liberation_by_practicing_the_four_dhyanas,_which_originally_was_thought_to_be_sufficient_for_the_destruction_of_the_arsavas._Anderson,_following_Norman,_also_thinks_that_the_four_truths_originally_were_not_part_of_this_sutta,_and_were_later_added_in_some_versions._According_to_Bronkhorst,_the_"twelve_insights"_are_probably_also_a_later_addition,_born_out_of_unease_with_the_substitution_of_the_general_term_"prajna"_for_the_more_specific_"four_truths"._The_"essence"_of_Buddhism
According_to_Cousins,_many_scholars_are_of_the_view_that_"this_discourse_was_identified_as_the_first_sermon_of_the_Buddha_only_at_a_later_date."_According_to_Richard_Gombrich, Yet,_the_understanding_of_what_exactly_constituted_this_"very_essence"_also_developed_over_time._What_exactly_was_regarded_as_the_central_insight_"varied_along_with_what_was_considered_most_central_to_the_teaching_of_the_Buddha."__"Liberating_insight"_came_to_be_defined_as_"insight_into_the_four_truths,"_which_is_presented_as_the_"liberating_insight"_which_constituted_the_Enlightenment_in_Buddhism.html" ;"title="Four Noble Truths: BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY Encycl ...Development of the sutta
Retaining the oldest teachings
Modern scholars agree that the teachings of the Buddha were passed down in an oral tradition for approximately a few hundred years after the passing of the Buddha; the first written recordings of these teachings were made hundreds of years after the Buddha's passing. According to academic scholars, inconsistencies in the oldest texts may reveal developments in the oldest teachings. While the Theravada tradition holds that it is likely that the sutras date back to the Buddha himself, in an unbroken chain of oral transmission,* academic scholars have identified many of such inconsistencies, and tried to explain them. Information of the oldest teachings of Buddhism, such as on theDevelopment of the sutta
According to Bronkhorst this "first sermon" is recorded in several sutras, with important variations. In the Vinaya texts, and in the ''Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta'' which was influenced by the Vinaya texts, the four truths are included, and Kondañña is enlightened when the "vision of Dhamma" arises in him: "whatever is subject to origination is all subject to cessation." Yet, in the ''Ariyapariyesanā Sutta'' ("The Noble Search", Majjhima Nikaya 26) the four truths are not included, and the Buddha gives the five ascetics personal instructions in turn, two or three of them, while the others go out begging for food. The versions of the "first sermon" which include the four truths, such as the ''Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta'', omit this instruction, showing that According to Bronkhorst, this indicates that the four truths were later added to earlier descriptions of liberation by practicing the four dhyanas, which originally was thought to be sufficient for the destruction of the arsavas. Anderson, following Norman, also thinks that the four truths originally were not part of this sutta, and were later added in some versions. According to Bronkhorst, the "twelve insights" are probably also a later addition, born out of unease with the substitution of the general term "prajna" for the more specific "four truths".The "essence" of Buddhism
According to Cousins, many scholars are of the view that "this discourse was identified as the first sermon of the Buddha only at a later date." According to Richard Gombrich, Yet, the understanding of what exactly constituted this "very essence" also developed over time. What exactly was regarded as the central insight "varied along with what was considered most central to the teaching of the Buddha." "Liberating insight" came to be defined as "insight into the four truths," which is presented as the "liberating insight" which constituted the Enlightenment in Buddhism">awakening, or "enlightenment" of the Buddha. When he understood these truths he was "enlightened" and liberated, as reflected in Majjhima Nikaya 26:42: "his taints are destroyed by his seeing with wisdom." The four truths were superseded by ''pratityasamutpada'', and still later by the doctrine of the Anatta, non-existence of a substantial self or person. According to Anderson, a long recognized feature of the Theravada canon is that it lacks an "overarching and comprehensive structure of the path to ''nibbana''." The sutras form a network or matrix, which have to be taken together. Within this network, "the four noble truths are one doctrine among others and are not particularly central," but are a part of "the entire ''dhamma'' matrix." The four noble truths are set and learnt in that network, learning "how the various teachings intersect with each other," and refer to the various Buddhist techniques, which are all explicitly and implicitly part of the passages which refer to the four truths. According to Anderson,Translations into English
From the Pali version
In theFrom Tibetan, Chinese and Sanskrit versions
See also
*''Notes
;SubnotesReferences
Sources
Printed sources
Pali Canon * * Buddhist teachers * Anandajoti Bhikkhu (trans.) (2010). ''The Earliest Recorded Discourses of the Buddha (from Lalitavistara, Mahākhandhaka & Mahāvastu)''. Kuala Lumpur: Sukhi HotuWeb-sources
Further reading
;Scholarly * * Analayo, V (2012)External links