"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.

Bhikkhus, suppose someone were to say: 'I will construct the upper story of a mansion without first laying the foundation of the lower story.' Such a thing is not possible. In the same way, 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 cessation of suffering as it truly is, and without fully understanding the Noble Truth of the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering as it truly is, 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.

Bhikkhus, suppose someone were to say: 'I will first construct the lower story of a mansion and then build the upper story upon it' — such a thing is possible. In the same way, bhikkhus, if someone were to say: 'Having fully realized, as it truly is, the Noble Truth of suffering, having fully realized, as it truly is, the Noble Truth of the arising of suffering, having fully realized, as it truly is, the Noble Truth of the cessation of suffering, and having fully realized, as it truly is, the Noble Truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering, I will completely end suffering'—such a thing is 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.'"