The "Linked Discourses on the Truths" contains discourses centered on the four noble truths: suffering, its arising, its ending, and the way of practice for its ending. These fundamental teachings formed the core of the Buddha's first discourse, which is included here as SN 56.11. The Buddha taught that all his teachings are encompassed within these four truths. This chapter offers a comprehensive perspective on the other teachings, linking them to the understanding and realization of the four noble truths, which culminates in enlightenment.
Saccasaṁyutta - Linked Discourses on the Truths
Cultivating collectedness leads to discerning the Four Noble Truths.
Whether in the past, future, or present, all fully awakened to things as they truly are do so by fully awakening to the Four Noble Truths.
Whether in the past, future, or present, all fully awakened to things as they truly are do so by fully awakening to the Four Noble Truths and making them known.
Do not think harmful and unwholesome thoughts. When you do think, think about suffering, the arising of suffering, the ending of suffering, and the way of practice leading to the ending of suffering.
The Buddha's first discourse to the group of five bhikkhus at the Deer Park in Isipatana, near Varanasi. The discourse explains the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path in brief. It ends with the realization of the first bhikkhu, Venerable Kondañña.
The Buddha explains the Four Noble Truths and the five aggregates subject to clinging.
The Buddha describes the Four Noble Truths in brief.
The Buddha describes the wandering in samsara due to not fully understanding and penetrating the Four Noble Truths.
The Arahants of the past, present, and future have truly understood the Four Noble Truths.
The wearing away of the mental defilements for is one who knows and sees the Four Noble Truths.
The Four Noble Truths are actual, unchanging, and not otherwise; therefore, they are called the Noble Truths.
In the world with its |deities::gods [devas]|, |Māras::demons, tempters, beings of delusion|, |Brahmas::Gods; celestial beings residing in the Brahmā realms, often considered to be highly refined and long-lived deities. [brahmā]|, its ascetics and brahmins, kings and commoners, the Tathāgata is noble; therefore, these are called the Noble Truths.
The Noble Truth of suffering should be fully understood, the Noble Truth of the arising of suffering should be abandoned, the Noble Truth of the ending of suffering should be personally experienced, and the Noble Truth of the way of practice leading to the ending of suffering should be developed.
The Buddha explains why he teaches only a little compared to what he has not taught with the simile of the rosewood leaves.
The Buddha explains the importance of understanding the Four Noble Truths to end suffering with a simile of making a container out of leaves.
Just as a stick thrown into the air sometimes lands on its base and sometimes on its tip, beings, obstructed by ignorance and fettered by craving, continue to run and wander in this cycle of existence.
The Buddha explains the urgency of understanding the Four Noble Truths to end suffering with a simile of extinguishing a fire on one's clothes or head.
Just as dawn precedes and predicts the rising of the sun, so too, for a bhikkhu, right view precedes and predicts the breakthrough to the Four Noble Truths as they really are.
As long as sun and moon do not arise in the world, there is complete darkness. Similarly, as long as the Buddha has not arisen in the world, there is complete darkness, dense darkness.
The Buddha explains the greater precipice of delighting in volitional formations leading to rebirth, aging, death, and sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair, resulting from not understanding the Four Noble Truths.
The Buddha explains the importance of understanding the Four Noble Truths to end suffering with a simile of constructing a mansion.
The Buddha shares on the difficulty of regaining human existence for an undiscerning person who has fallen into a lower realm.
For a noble disciple endowed with right view, who understands the Four Noble Truths, the suffering that has been eradicated and exhausted is far greater than what little remains.