Suttas contain the original teachings of the Buddha preserved by the Buddhists until today in the Pali language. Please CLICK HERE to find out more about the history.

The translation of the Pali Canon into English was done by the Pali text Society London fairly recently, in the late 19th century. These translations, however, contain mistakes in comprehension of the original texts, which were the teachings of the Buddha.  This has resulted in the many mis-interpretations of Buddhism commonly available today.

Bhante M. Punnaji had taken the initiatives to go back to the original Pali canon and with his close acquaintance with the Pali language, due to his mother tongue being  close to Pali, together with his vast knowledge of modern science, Medicine, Western Philosophy, Psychology & comparative religion, and also his experience in meditation, he had managed to interpret the Suttas very much close to its original meaning and essence.  What has come out is a wonderfully advance, very modern, and very scientific form of Buddhism, which is also very psychological and therapeutic.

Indeed, this is a rare opportunity for everyone of us to understand the meaning of life and to gain the proper direction in life.  We hope you are able to tremendously benefit from this and be able to share it with your loved ones, and who ever is capable of comprehending its importance.

 

The of Buddha's First Discourse

Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta-The Formula of the Revolution of the Wheel of Experience
Translated by Venerable Punnaji


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THUS I HAVE HEARD:

The Sublime One was liviing in Banares Isipatana at Migadaye. While there, the Sublime One addressed the Renunciates:
"These two extremes should be avoided by the progressor:


1. The devotion that is dependence on the pleasure in sense pleasures which is inferior, secular, common, not extra-ordinary, and futile.
2. The devotion that is self-mortification, which is uneasy, not extra-ordinary, and futile.


Without entering on these two extremes the Realized One is super-awakened to the Middle Path which bestows vision, bestows understanding, which evolves into inner tranquility, to super-understanding, to Awakening, and to Serenity (Nirvana).
What, Renunciates, is this Middle Path which the Realized One has super-awakened to? Which bestows vision, bestows understanding...?
It is this extra-ordinary Eightfold Way, namely:
1. Harmonious perspective
2. Harmonious visualization
3. Harmonious speech
4. Harmonious action
5. Harmonious practice
6. Harmonious awareness
8. Harmonious mental repose


This, Renunciates, is the Middle Path which the Realized One has super-awakened to, which bestows vision...
This Renunciates, is the Extra-Ordinary Truth of Unease
1. Birth is unease
2. Decay is unease
3. Disease is unease
4. Death is unease
5. Associatiuon with the unpleasant is unease
6. disassociation from the pleasant is unease
7. Non-fullfillment of desire is unease


In essence, the five aggregates of identification are unease.
This, Renunciates, is the Extra-Ordinary Truth of the Arising of Unease: That which is the recurring urge accompanied by pleasure and passion, finding pleasure everywhere. Namely:
1. The urge for sense desire
2. The urge for existence
3. The urge for non-existence


This, Renunciates, is the Extra-Ordinary Truth of the Stopping of Unease: Whatever is the non-residual, dispassionate, stopping of that urge; it's sacrifice, it's complete renunciation, and the freedom and disattachment from it.
This, Renunciates, is the Extra-Ordinary Truth of the Path leading to the stopping of Unease.
It is the extra-Ordinary Eightfold Way, namely: Harmonious perspective; Harmonious visualization; Harmonious speech; Harmonious action; Harmonious practice; Harmonious awareness; Harmonious mental repose."
The Revolution of the Wheel of Experience from Unease to Ease


1.1. With the realization, 'This is the Extra-Ordinary Truth of Unease', Renunciates, an eye (vision) arose in me, understanding arose, prime understanding arose, sentience arose, light arose, concerning experience, unheard of before.


2.2. With the realization, 'This Extra-Ordinary Truth of Unease is to be completely understood', Renunciates, an eye (vision) arose in me, understanding arose, prime understanding arose, sentience arose, light arose, concerning experience, unheard of before.


3.3. With the realization, 'This Extra-Ordinary Truth of Unease has been completely understood', Renunciates, an eye (vision) arose in me, understanding arose, prime understanding arose, sentience arose, light arose, concerning experience, unheard of before.


1.4. With the realization, 'This is the Extra-Ordinary Truth of the Arising of Unease', Renunciates, an eye (vision) arose in me, understanding arose, prime understanding arose, sentience arose, light arose, concerning experience, unheard of before.


2.5. With the realization, 'This Extra-Ordinary Truth of the Arising of Unease is to be given up', Renunciates, an eye (vision) arose in me, understanding arose, prime understanding arose, sentience arose, light arose, concerning experience, unheard of before.


3.6. With the realization, 'This Extra-Ordinary Truth of the Arising of Unease has been given up', Renunciates, an eye (vision) arose in me, understanding arose, prime understanding arose, sentience arose, light arose, concerning experience, unheard of before.


1.7. With the realization, 'This is the Extra-Ordinary Truth of the Stopping of Unease', Renunciates, an eye (vision) arose in me, understanding arose, prime understanding arose, sentience arose, light arose, concerning experience, unheard of before.


2.8. With the realization, 'This Extra-Ordinary Truth of the Stopping of Unease is to be realized (in action)', Renunciates, an eye (vision) arose in me, understanding arose, prime understanding arose, sentience arose, light arose, concerning experience, unheard of before.


3.9. With the realization, 'This Extra-Ordinary Truth of the Stopping of Unease has been realized (in action)', Renunciates, an eye (vision) arose in me, understanding arose, prime understanding arose, sentience arose, light arose, concerning experience, unheard of before.

1.10. With the realization, 'This is the Extra-Ordinary Truth of the Path leading to the Stopping of Unease', Renunciates, an eye (vision) arose in me, understanding arose, prime understanding arose, sentience arose, light arose, concerning experience, unheard of before.


2.11. With the realization, 'This Extra-Ordinary Truth of the Path leading to the Stopping of Unease is to be developed', Renunciates, an eye (vision) arose in me, understanding arose, prime understanding arose, sentience arose, light arose, concerning experience, unheard of before.


3.12. With the realization, 'This Extra-Ordinary Truth of the Path leading to Arising of Unease has been developed', Renunciates, an eye (vision) arose in me, understanding arose, prime understanding arose, sentience arose, light arose, concerning experience, unheard of before.
So long, Renunciates, as these four Extra-Ordinary Truths did not become clear to me through this twelve-fold tripple revolutionary Understanding and Vision of how things have come to exist, I did not know[1] that in the world consisting of gods, devils, Gods, saints, priests, and the common people, of celestial and human beings, I am one, super-awakened to that Unsurpassble Harmonious Awareness.
When, Renunciates, these four Extra-Ordinary Truths became clear to me through this twelve-fold triple revolutionary Understanding and vision of how things have come to exist, then I knew[1] that in the world consisting of gods, devils, Gods, saints, priests, and the common people, of celestial and human beings, I am one super-awakened to that Unsurpassable Harmonious Awakening.
Understanding and vision has arisen in me; unexcitable is my emotional freedom; this is my last birth; no more are these recurrences of existence.


Thus spoke the Sublime One. Approving, the group of five renunciates were extremely delighted with what the Sublime One spoke.
While being spoken to, in this way of expression, the undefiled, unstained eye of (vision) of experience arose for the Venerable Kondanna: 'What ever is experienced as arisen, all that is experienced (also) as stopped.'
New York City, 1979

Last Updated (Tuesday, 18 May 2010 14:55)