Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion)

Historical context

Having attained full awakening beneath the Bodhi tree, the Buddha walked to the Deer Park at Isipatana near Vārāṇasī to give his very first teaching to his former ascetic companions.

At the Deer Park · 鹿野苑因缘

sn56.11:1.1–sn56.11:1.2

Canonical text: Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ viharati isipatane migadāye.
Tatra kho bhagavā pañcavaggiye bhikkhū āmantesi:

中文: 有一次，世尊住在波罗奈仙人坠处的鹿野苑。在那里，世尊对五位比丘说法。

Light of Dharma translation: On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana. There he addressed the group of five mendicants.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: The Setting of the Wheel: Spiritual instruction begins in respectful relationship. Approach the Dhamma with the sincere ear of one ready to listen.

Two extremes and the middle way · 离二边与中道

sn56.11:2.1–sn56.11:3.4

Canonical text: “Dveme, bhikkhave, antā pabbajitena na sevitabbā.
Katame dve?
Yo cāyaṁ kāmesu kāmasukhallikānuyogo hīno gammo pothujjaniko anariyo anatthasaṁhito, yo cāyaṁ attakilamathānuyogo dukkho anariyo anatthasaṁhito.
Ete kho, bhikkhave, ubho ante anupagamma majjhimā paṭipadā tathāgatena abhisambuddhā cakkhukaraṇī ñāṇakaraṇī upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.
Katamā ca sā, bhikkhave, majjhimā paṭipadā tathāgatena abhisambuddhā cakkhukaraṇī ñāṇakaraṇī upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati?
Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ—
sammādiṭṭhi sammāsaṅkappo sammāvācā sammākammanto sammāājīvo sammāvāyāmo sammāsati sammāsamādhi.
Ayaṁ kho sā, bhikkhave, majjhimā paṭipadā tathāgatena abhisambuddhā cakkhukaraṇī ñāṇakaraṇī upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.

中文: 出家人不应追随两种极端：沉溺欲乐，低劣、世俗、凡庸、不高尚且无益；以及自我折磨，痛苦、不高尚且无益。如来不趋向这两边，现正觉于中道；它生起眼与智，导向寂静、证知、正觉与涅槃。这中道就是八支圣道：正见、正思惟、正语、正业、正命、正精进、正念、正定。

Light of Dharma translation: Mendicants, these two extremes should not be pursued by one who has gone forth: devotion to sensual pleasure, which is low, common, ordinary, ignoble, and unbeneficial; and devotion to self-mortification, which is painful, ignoble, and unbeneficial. Avoiding both, the Tathāgata awakened to the middle way, which gives rise to vision and knowledge and leads to peace, direct knowledge, awakening, and Nibbāna. It is precisely the noble eightfold path: right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and immersion.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: The Middle Way: Avoid the extremes of hedonistic indulgence and punitive self-torment. Walk the balanced eightfold path with clarity and gentleness.

The four noble truths · 四圣谛

sn56.11:4.1–sn56.11:4.10

Canonical text: Idaṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ—
jātipi dukkhā, jarāpi dukkhā, byādhipi dukkho, maraṇampi dukkhaṁ, appiyehi sampayogo dukkho, piyehi vippayogo dukkho, yampicchaṁ na labhati tampi dukkhaṁ—saṅkhittena pañcupādānakkhandhā dukkhā.
Idaṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ—
yāyaṁ taṇhā ponobbhavikā nandirāgasahagatā tatratatrābhinandinī, seyyathidaṁ—
kāmataṇhā, bhavataṇhā, vibhavataṇhā.
Idaṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ—
yo tassāyeva taṇhāya asesavirāganirodho cāgo paṭinissaggo mutti anālayo.
Idaṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ—
ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ—
sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

中文: 这是苦圣谛：生是苦，老是苦，病是苦，死是苦；与所不爱者相会是苦，与所爱者分离是苦，所求不得是苦；简要说，五取蕴是苦。这是苦集圣谛：带来再次存在、伴随喜贪、处处寻求享受的渴爱，即欲爱、有爱、无有爱。这是苦灭圣谛：对那渴爱的无余离贪与止息，舍弃、放下、解脱、不再依著。这是导向苦灭之道圣谛：八支圣道。

Light of Dharma translation: This is the noble truth of suffering: birth is suffering; aging, illness, and death are suffering; association with the disliked, separation from the loved, and not getting what one wants are suffering. In brief, the five aggregates subject to clinging are suffering. This is the noble truth of suffering’s origin: craving that produces renewed existence, accompanied by delight and lust, seeking enjoyment here and there—craving for sensual pleasure, existence, and non-existence. This is the noble truth of cessation: the fading away and ceasing of that very craving without remainder—relinquishing it, releasing it, freedom from it, and non-reliance upon it. This is the noble truth of the way leading to cessation: the noble eightfold path.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Understanding Suffering (Dukkha): Acknowledge vulnerability, pain, and impermanence without denial. Honest recognition is the gateway to healing.

Three turns and twelve aspects · 三转十二行相

sn56.11:5.1–sn56.11:8.3

Canonical text: ‘Idaṁ dukkhaṁ ariyasaccan’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.
‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pariññeyyan’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe …pe… udapādi.
‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pariññātan’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.
‘Idaṁ dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccan’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.
‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pahātabban’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe …pe… udapādi.
‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pahīnan’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.
‘Idaṁ dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccan’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.
‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ sacchikātabban’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe …pe… udapādi.
‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ sacchikatan’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.
‘Idaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccan’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.
‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ bhāvetabban’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe …pe… udapādi.
‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ bhāvitan’ti me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

中文: 对于每一圣谛，都生起三层如实知见：认知其为圣谛；认知应完成的任务——苦应遍知，集应断除，灭应亲证，道应修习；并认知该任务已经完成。每一层都生起眼、智、慧、明与光。因此，四谛各有三转，共成十二行相。

Light of Dharma translation: For each noble truth, three phases of knowledge arose: knowing it as a noble truth; knowing the task to be completed—suffering is to be fully understood, its origin abandoned, cessation realized, and the path developed; and knowing that the task had been completed. In each phase vision, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and light arose. Thus the four truths unfold in three turns and twelve aspects.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Releasing Craving (Taṇhā): Notice where craving seeks permanent satisfaction in transient sensations. Relinquish grasping and breathe in freedom.

The claim of awakening · 正觉之宣告

sn56.11:9.1–sn56.11:10.5

Canonical text: Yāvakīvañca me, bhikkhave, imesu catūsu ariyasaccesu evaṁ tiparivaṭṭaṁ dvādasākāraṁ yathābhūtaṁ ñāṇadassanaṁ na suvisuddhaṁ ahosi, neva tāvāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya ‘anuttaraṁ sammāsambodhiṁ abhisambuddho’ti paccaññāsiṁ.
Yato ca kho me, bhikkhave, imesu catūsu ariyasaccesu evaṁ tiparivaṭṭaṁ dvādasākāraṁ yathābhūtaṁ ñāṇadassanaṁ suvisuddhaṁ ahosi, athāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya ‘anuttaraṁ sammāsambodhiṁ abhisambuddho’ti paccaññāsiṁ.
Ñāṇañca pana me dassanaṁ udapādi:
‘akuppā me vimutti, ayamantimā jāti, natthi dāni punabbhavo’”ti.
Idamavoca bhagavā.
Attamanā pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

中文: 只要我对四圣谛的三转十二行相还没有完全清净的如实知见，我就不宣称在天、魔、梵的世间，在沙门、婆罗门、天与人的众生中已经证得无上正等正觉。当这知见完全清净时，我才作此宣称。于是知见生起：“我的解脱不可动摇，这是最后一生，此后不再有生。”世尊如此宣说，五位比丘欢喜信受。

Light of Dharma translation: So long as my knowledge and vision of these four noble truths in their three turns and twelve aspects was not fully purified, I did not claim to have awakened to unsurpassed complete awakening in this world with its gods, Māras, and Brahmās, among its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans. When that knowledge and vision was fully purified, I made that claim. Then knowledge and vision arose in me: “My freedom is unshakable. This is my last birth. There is now no renewed existence.” The Blessed One spoke thus, and the five mendicants rejoiced in his words.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Three Turns and Twelve Aspects: Integrate doctrine into living practice: understand suffering, abandon its cause, realize cessation, and cultivate the path.

Koṇḍañña’s Dhamma eye · 憍陈如得法眼

sn56.11:11.1–sn56.11:11.2

Canonical text: Imasmiñca pana veyyākaraṇasmiṁ bhaññamāne āyasmato koṇḍaññassa virajaṁ vītamalaṁ dhammacakkhuṁ udapādi:
“yaṁ kiñci samudayadhammaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ nirodhadhamman”ti.

中文: 在这番开示宣说时，尊者憍陈如生起离尘无垢的法眼：“凡是具有生起性质的，一切都具有止息的性质。”

Light of Dharma translation: While this exposition was being spoken, the stainless, dust-free vision of the Dhamma arose in Venerable Koṇḍañña: “Whatever has the nature of arising has the nature of ceasing.”

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Koṇḍañña’s Dhamma Eye: Whatever has the nature of arising has the nature of ceasing. Witness the transient flux of all thoughts without clinging.

The wheel is proclaimed · 法轮遍宣

sn56.11:12.1–sn56.11:14.4

Canonical text: Pavattite ca pana bhagavatā dhammacakke bhummā devā saddamanussāvesuṁ:
“etaṁ bhagavatā bārāṇasiyaṁ isipatane migadāye anuttaraṁ dhammacakkaṁ pavattitaṁ appaṭivattiyaṁ samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmin”ti.
Bhummānaṁ devānaṁ saddaṁ sutvā cātumahārājikā devā saddamanussāvesuṁ:
“etaṁ bhagavatā bārāṇasiyaṁ isipatane migadāye anuttaraṁ dhammacakkaṁ pavattitaṁ, appaṭivattiyaṁ samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmin”ti.
Cātumahārājikānaṁ devānaṁ saddaṁ sutvā tāvatiṁsā devā …pe…
yāmā devā …pe…
tusitā devā …pe…
nimmānaratī devā …pe…
paranimmitavasavattī devā …pe…
brahmakāyikā devā saddamanussāvesuṁ:
“etaṁ bhagavatā bārāṇasiyaṁ isipatane migadāye anuttaraṁ dhammacakkaṁ pavattitaṁ appaṭivattiyaṁ samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmin”ti.
Itiha tena khaṇena tena layena tena muhuttena yāva brahmalokā saddo abbhuggacchi.
Ayañca dasasahassilokadhātu saṅkampi sampakampi sampavedhi, appamāṇo ca uḷāro obhāso loke pāturahosi atikkamma devānaṁ devānubhāvanti.
Atha kho bhagavā imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
“aññāsi vata bho, koṇḍañño, aññāsi vata bho, koṇḍañño”ti.
Iti hidaṁ āyasmato koṇḍaññassa “aññāsikoṇḍañño” tveva nāmaṁ ahosīti.
Paṭhamaṁ.

中文: 世尊转动法轮后，地居天众高声宣告：世尊在波罗奈仙人坠处鹿野苑转动了无上的法轮，世间任何沙门、婆罗门、天、魔或梵都不能使它倒转。这宣告层层传至梵天界，十千世界震动，广大光明出现，超过诸天威光。世尊感叹：“憍陈如确实明白了！憍陈如确实明白了！”因此，他从此被称为阿若憍陈如。

Light of Dharma translation: When the Blessed One set the Dhamma wheel in motion, the earth deities proclaimed: “At Bārāṇasī, in the Deer Park at Isipatana, the Blessed One has set in motion the unsurpassed Dhamma wheel, which cannot be turned back by any ascetic, brahmin, god, Māra, Brahmā, or anyone in the world.” The proclamation passed upward through the heavens to the Brahmā realm. The ten-thousandfold world system shook, and an immeasurable radiance appeared, surpassing the glory of the gods. The Blessed One exclaimed, “Koṇḍañña has indeed understood! Koṇḍañña has indeed understood!” And so he became known as Aññā Koṇḍañña—Koṇḍañña Who Understood.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: The Wheel in Motion: When truth is directly realized, its liberating momentum cannot be reversed by any worldly force. Walk in that light.