Buddha was born into this world for the “ultimate purpose{1} ”: to manifest and teach, and bring benefits and joys of Dharma{2} to the human race. In other words, the purpose for Buddha's appearance in this mundane world was to propagate to sentient beings the Truth which he had realized, in the hope that they can attain enlightenment just as he did; release themselves from suffering; and finally attain happiness. After attaining enlightenment, he had lived in this world for forty-nine years, delivering more than three hundred discourses. In fact, Buddhism is actually the teachings of the Buddha, whereas the Tripitaka and the Twelve Divisions of the Buddhist Canon{3} are the records of the Buddha's teachings delivered through words and personal conduct.

The first sermon delivered by Buddha to the Five Bhiksus{4} (Kaundinya and the rest) was at Deer Park{5} soon after he attained Buddhahood. He taught the doctrine of the Four Noble Truths{6} and the sermon was then regarded as the“First Setting in Motion of the Wheel of the Dharma”{7} in the Buddhist history.


【Key Words】

{1}Ultimate purpose： 大事因緣

{2}To manifest and teach, and bring benefits and joys of Dharma：示教利喜

{3}Tripitaka and the Twelve Divisions of the Buddhist Canon：三藏十二部

{4}Five Bhiksus : 五比丘

{5}Deer Park : 鹿野苑

{6}The Four Noble Truths：四聖諦

{7}First Setting in Motion of the Wheel of the Dharma：初轉法輪