"Bhikkhus, if someone were to say: 'Without fully understanding the noble truth of suffering as it truly is, without fully understanding the noble truth of the arising of suffering as it truly is, without fully understanding the noble truth of the ending of suffering as it truly is, and without fully understanding the noble truth of the way of practice leading to the ending of suffering as it truly is, I will completely end suffering' — such a thing is not possible.

Just as, bhikkhus, if someone were to say: 'I will make a container out of acacia leaves, or pine leaves, or tamarind leaves, and with it, I will fetch water or carry palm fruit' — it is not possible; similarly, bhikkhus, if someone were to say: 'Without truly understanding the noble truth of suffering, the arising of suffering, the ending of suffering, and the way of practice leading to the ending of suffering, I will completely end suffering' — such a thing is not possible.

However, bhikkhus, if someone were to say: 'By fully understanding the noble truth of suffering as it truly is, by fully understanding the noble truth of the arising of suffering as it truly is, by fully understanding the noble truth of the ending of suffering as it truly is, and by fully understanding the noble truth of the way of practice leading to the ending of suffering as it truly is, I will completely end suffering' — such a thing is indeed possible.

Just as, bhikkhus, if someone were to say: 'I will make a container out of lotus leaves, or butea leaves, or hibiscus leaves, and with it, I will fetch water or carry palm fruit' — it is indeed possible; similarly, bhikkhus, if someone were to say: 'By fully understanding the noble truth of suffering as it truly is, by fully understanding the noble truth of the arising of suffering as it truly is, by fully understanding the noble truth of the ending of suffering as it truly is, and fully understanding the way of practice leading to the ending of suffering as it truly is, I will completely end suffering' — such a thing is indeed possible.

Therefore, bhikkhus, effort should be made to fully understand: 'This is suffering'; effort should be made to fully understand: 'This is the arising of suffering'; effort should be made to fully understand: 'This is the ending of suffering'; effort should be made to fully understand: 'This is the way of practice leading to the ending of suffering.'"