The Buddha's Discourse on Turning the Wheel of Dharma Three Times

Translation by the Tripitaka Master Yijing, by Imperial Command

This is what I heard:

At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in the Deer Park at Isipatana, near Varanasi. Then the World-Honored One addressed the group of five monks, saying:

“Monks, this noble truth of suffering—when you reflect wisely upon the teachings you have heard, it gives rise to insight, wisdom, and clear understanding.

Monks, this noble truth of the origin of suffering, the noble truth of the cessation of suffering, and the noble truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering—when you reflect wisely upon these teachings, they give rise to insight, wisdom, and clear understanding.”

Monks! This Noble Truth of Suffering is a reality to be understood. You should know it as such. Through proper attention to the teachings you have heard, you will give rise to insight, wisdom, and clear understanding.

Monks, this Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering is to be understood. It should be abandoned. When you contemplate the teachings you have heard with proper attention, it gives rise to vision, knowledge, wisdom, and insight.

Monks, this Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering is a truth to be realized. It should be directly experienced. When you listen to the teachings and reflect on them properly, this gives rise to insight, wisdom, and clear understanding.

Monks, this Noble Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering is a teaching to be understood. You should practice accordingly. When you hear the Dharma, reflect on it properly, and it will give rise to insight, wisdom, and clear understanding.

Monks, this Noble Truth of Suffering is something to be fully understood. It has been understood. When you reflect wisely on what you have heard, it gives rise to insight, wisdom, and awakening.

Monks! This Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering is to be understood. Having understood it, it is to be abandoned. By reflecting wisely on what you have heard, you can give rise to insight, wisdom, and clear understanding.

Monks, this truth of the cessation of suffering is a reality to be realized. It has been realized. When you reflect properly on what you have heard, it gives rise to insight, wisdom, and awakening.

O monks! This Noble Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering is the teaching to be realized. Having cultivated it in this way, through proper reflection on what has been heard, one can give rise to vision, knowledge, insight, and awakening.

"O monks, if I had not fully understood these Four Noble Truths through the three turnings and twelve aspects, then the eye of wisdom, clarity, and awakening would not have arisen in me. I would not have been able to renounce the afflictions in the presence of all heavenly beings, Māra, Brahmā, ascetics, and brahmins of this world, nor would I have attained liberation of mind or realized supreme enlightenment."

"Monks, because I have fully understood these Four Noble Truths in their three aspects and twelve characteristics, the eye of wisdom, the light of insight, and the clarity of realization have all arisen within me. Thus, among all beings—whether celestial, demonic, human, or divine, among ascetics, brahmins, and throughout the entire world—I have abandoned afflictions, attained liberation of mind, and realized supreme enlightenment."

At that moment, when the World-Honored One finished speaking this teaching, the Venerable Kaundinya and eighty thousand heavenly beings, free from defilements and impurities, attained the pure Dharma-eye. The Buddha asked Kaundinya, "Do you understand this teaching?"

"I understand, World-Honored One."

"Do you understand this teaching?"

He replied, "I have understood, O Well-Gone One!" Because Kaudinya understood the Dharma, he was then named Ajñāta Kaudinya(Ajñāta means 'one who has understood').

At that moment, the earth-dwelling yakshas, having heard the Buddha's words, raised their voices loudly and proclaimed to humans and gods: "All of you should know—the Buddha is in the Deer Park at Sarnath, the place where sages once dwelled, expounding the Dharma Wheel of the Three Turnings and Twelve Aspects. Through this teaching, he brings immense benefit to all beings—gods, humans, demons, Brahma, ascetics, brahmins, and the entire world—enabling those who walk the noble path to swiftly reach the peaceful shore of Nirvana. Gods and humans flourish, while the asuras diminish."

When the yakshas made this proclamation, the celestial beings of the sky, including the Four Heavenly Kings, all heard it. From there, the news spread in an instant throughout the six desire heavens, and in a short while, even the Brahma heavens resounded with the message. Hearing it, the Brahma assemblies further proclaimed it far and wide, just as before. And so this sutra came to be known as *The Three Turnings of the Dharma Wheel*.

Then the five bhikkhus and all the humans and devas, having heard the Buddha's teaching, joyfully accepted and practiced it.

The Buddha's Discourse on Turning the Wheel of Dharma Three Times