佛說轉法輪經
The Sutra on the Turning of the Dharma Wheel
後漢安息三藏安世高譯
Translation by An Shigao, Tripitaka Master from Parthia, Later Han Dynasty
聞如是：
This is what I heard:
一時，佛在波羅㮈國鹿野樹下坐，時有千比丘諸天神，皆大會側塞空中，於是有自然法輪，飛來當佛前轉。佛以手撫輪曰：「止！往者吾從無數劫來，為名色轉受苦無量，今者癡愛之意已止，漏結之情已解，諸根已定生死已斷，不復轉於五道也。」輪即止。
Once, the Buddha was seated beneath a tree in the Deer Park near Varanasi. A thousand monks and numerous celestial beings filled the space around him, even crowding the air above. Then, a Dharma Wheel of its own accord appeared and began spinning before the Buddha. The Buddha reached out his hand, touched the wheel, and said:
“Stop! For countless lifetimes past, I have been spun around by name and form, enduring immeasurable suffering. Now, the intent of ignorance and craving has ceased; the knots of defilement have been untied. The senses are settled, rebirth is ended, and I will no longer turn through the five realms of existence.”
At that, the wheel stopped.
於是，佛告諸比丘：「世間有二事墮邊行，行道弟子捨家者，終身不當與從事。何等二？一為念在貪欲無清淨志，二為猗著身愛不能精進。是故退邊行，不得值佛道德具人。若此比丘不念貪欲著身愛行，可得受中，如來最正覺得眼得慧，從兩邊度自致泥洹。何謂受中？謂受八直之道，一曰正見，二曰正思，三曰正言，四曰正行，五曰正命，六曰正治，七曰正志，八曰正定。若諸比丘本末聞道，當已知甚苦為真諦，已一心受眼受禪思受慧見，覺所念令意解，當知甚苦習盡為真諦，已受眼觀禪思慧見，覺所念令意解，如是盡真諦。何謂為苦？謂生老苦、病苦，憂、悲、惱苦，怨憎會苦，所愛別苦，求不得苦，要從五陰受盛為苦。何謂苦習？謂從愛故而令復有樂性，不離在在貪憙，欲愛、色愛、不色之愛，是習為苦。何謂苦盡？謂覺從愛復有所樂，婬念不受，不念無餘無婬，捨之無復禪，如是為習盡。何謂苦習盡欲受道？謂受行八直道，正見、正思、正言、正行、正命、正治、正志、正定，是為苦習盡受道真諦也。
The Buddha then told the monks, "There are two extremes in the world that those who have left home to follow the path should never pursue. What are these two? The first is being caught up in desire without pure intentions. The second is clinging to the body and being unable to make progress. These are the extremes that prevent one from meeting a fully realized Buddha or an accomplished sage.
If a monk does not dwell on desire or attachment to the body, he can find the middle way. The Thus-Come One, the fully awakened one, has gained insight and wisdom by transcending these two extremes and reaching Nirvana.
What is the middle way? It is the Noble Eightfold Path: 1. Right View 2. Right Intention 3. Right Speech 4. Right Action 5. Right Livelihood 6. Right Effort 7. Right Mindfulness 8. Right Concentration
Monks, if you have not yet heard the teaching, you should now understand that suffering is a truth. With focused attention, contemplation, and wisdom, recognize it clearly.
Know that the origin of suffering is also a truth. With clear observation, contemplation, and wisdom, understand it fully.
Know that the cessation of suffering is a truth. With clear observation, contemplation, and wisdom, realize it completely.
Know that the path leading to the cessation of suffering is a truth. With clear observation, contemplation, and wisdom, walk it sincerely.
What is suffering? Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering. Sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are suffering. Association with what is disliked is suffering. Separation from what is loved is suffering. Not getting what one wants is suffering. In short, the five aggregates of clinging are suffering.
What is the origin of suffering? It is craving, which leads to renewed existence, accompanied by delight and attachment, seeking pleasure here and there. That is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving for existence, and craving for non-existence. This is the origin of suffering.
What is the cessation of suffering? It is the complete fading away and cessation of that craving, letting it go, giving it up, being free from it, and having no attachment to it. This is the cessation of suffering.
What is the path leading to the cessation of suffering? It is the Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. This is the truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering."
「又是，比丘！苦為真諦，苦由習為真諦，苦習盡為真諦，苦習盡欲受道為真諦，若本在昔未聞是法者，當受眼觀禪行受慧見受覺念令意得解。若令在斯未聞是四諦法者，當受道眼、受禪思、受慧覺，令意行解。若諸在彼不得聞是四諦法者，亦當受眼、受禪、受慧、受覺，令意得解，是為四諦三轉合十二事，知而未淨者吾不與也。一切世間諸天人民，若梵、若魔、沙門、梵志，自知證已，受行戒、定、慧、解、度知見成，是為四極。是生後不復有，長離世間無復憂患。」佛說是時，賢者阿若拘鄰等及八千姟天，皆遠塵離垢諸法眼生。其千比丘漏盡意解，皆得阿羅漢，及上諸習法應當盡者一切皆轉。眾祐法輪聲三轉，諸天世間在法地者莫不遍聞，至于第一四天王、忉利天、焰天、兜術天、不驕樂天、化應聲天，至諸梵界須臾遍聞。爾時，佛界三千日月萬二千天地皆大震動，是為佛眾祐，始於波羅㮈以無上法輪轉未轉者，照無數度諸天人從是得道。
"Furthermore, monastics: Suffering is a fundamental truth. The origin of suffering is a fundamental truth. The end of suffering is a fundamental truth. The path that leads to the end of suffering is a fundamental truth.
If in the past, before hearing this teaching, one should receive it with clear vision, practice meditation, develop wisdom, gain insight, and cultivate awareness until the mind is liberated. If here and now, before hearing these Four Truths, one should receive the eye of the path, engage in meditative contemplation, develop wisdom and insight, and let the mind practice liberation. If elsewhere, before hearing these Four Truths, one should likewise receive the eye, practice meditation, develop wisdom, and cultivate awareness, until the mind is liberated.
This is the three-turn, twelve-fold teaching of the Four Noble Truths. If one knows this but is not yet purified, I would not accept that. Entire worlds, all beings—gods, humans, Māras, Brahmās, ascetics, and priests—when they know and realize this for themselves, practice morality, concentration, wisdom, liberation, and the knowledge and vision of liberation—this is the ultimate. After this, there is no further rebirth. They have left the world behind, and no longer have any worry or distress."
When the Buddha spoke this, the venerable Ajñāta Kauṇḍinya and others, along with eight thousand heavenly beings, became free from defilements, and the Dharma-eye arose in them. The thousand monastics ended their mental impurities and attained Arhatship. All remaining habitual patterns that should be ended were transformed. The wheel of the Dharma turned three times. All beings in the realm of Dharma throughout the heavens heard it, from the Four Heavenly Kings, the Thirty-Three Heavens, the Yāma Heaven, the Tuṣita Heaven, the Nirmāṇarati Heaven, the Paranirmita Heaven, up to the Brahmā realms—all heard it instantly.
At that moment, in the Buddha's domain of three thousand worlds containing twelve thousand suns and moons, the entire earth shook greatly. This was the Blessed Buddha, starting in Vārāṇasī, turning the supreme wheel of Dharma that had never been turned before, illuminating and liberating countless gods and humans, who attained the path from this teaching.
佛說是已，皆大歡喜。
When the Buddha had spoken these words, everyone rejoiced greatly.
佛說轉法輪經
The Sutra on the Turning of the Dharma Wheel