THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

  THUS has it been said by the Buddha, the Enlightened One: It is

through not understanding, not realizing four things, that I,

Disciples, as well as you, had to wander so long through this round of

rebirths. And what are these four things? They are the Noble Truth

of Suffering, the Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering, the Noble

Truth of the Extinction of Suffering, the Noble Truth of the Path that

leads to the Extinction of Suffering.

  As long as the absolutely true knowledge and insight as regards

these Four Noble Truths was not quite clear in me, so long was I not

sure, whether I had won that supreme Enlightenment which is

unsurpassed in all the world with its heavenly beings, evil spirits

and gods, amongst all the hosts of ascetics and priests, heavenly

beings and men. But as soon as the absolutely true knowledge and

insight as regards these Four Noble Truths had become perfectly

clear in me, there arose in me the assurance that I had won that

supreme Enlightenment unsurpassed.

  And I discovered that-profound truth, so difficult to perceive,

difficult to understand, tranquilizing and sublime, which is not to be

gained by mere reasoning, and is visible only to the wise.

  The world, however, is given to pleasure, delighted with pleasure,

enchanted with pleasure. Verily, such beings will hardly understand

the law of conditionality, the Dependent Origination of every thing;

incomprehensible to them will also be the end of all formations, the

forsaking of every substratum of rebirth, the fading away of

craving; detachment, extinction, Nirvana.

  Yet there are beings whose eyes are only a little covered with dust:

they will understand the truth.