The Buddha explained the Four Noble Truths to the Five Bhiksus: the Four Truths consist of the universal truth of suffering, the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path leading to the cessation of suffering. Its purpose is to let us know that the world we live in is like a burning house filled with suffering from the transmigration of birth and death, and so forth. Therefore, we should let go of the desire to stay long  in  this   world.  The  cause

for suffering originates from defilements such as desire, anger, and ignorance. Fortunately, everyone has a pure self-nature within themselves. As long as this self-nature is revealed from oneself, it can extinguish all defilements caused by birth and death, and obtain a state that is unconditioned and tranquil in the realm of nirvana. In order to reach the realm of nirvana, there is only one 『path』 we can follow, that is, through cultivation of the Six Perfections{8} and all ways, upholding precepts and doing good deeds, practicing the Noble Eightfold Path{9}, and so forth.

After the first sermon was discoursed, the Buddha did not set his mind at rest. He earnestly exhorted the Five Bhiksus again to fully understand that suffering is the actual truth of the human world, that they must extinguish all causes which lead to suffering, in order to attain the happiness of quiescence at last. He wished they could all make earnest efforts in their cultivation.

【Key Words】

{8}Six Perfections: 六度
{9}Noble Eightfold Path: 八正道