“Monks, do you remember the Four Noble Truths that I taught?” When the Buddha asked this, one of the monks said to the Buddha:
“I do, bhante.”
“How so, monk?”
“Bhante, I remember that suffering is the first Noble Truth which the Blessed One has taught. If any one should say this: ‘What the priest Gotama teaches is not the first Noble Truth of suffering. I’ll reject this first Noble Truth of suffering and describe another first Noble Truth of suffering.’ That is not possible. The origin of suffering … The end of suffering … The path that leads to the end of suffering is the fourth Noble Truth which the Blessed One has taught. If any one should say this: ‘What the recluse Gotama teaches is not the fourth Noble Truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering. I’ll reject this fourth Noble Truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering and describe another fourth Noble Truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.’ That is not possible. That’s how I remember the Four Noble Truths as the Blessed One has taught them.”
“Good, good, monk! It’s good that you remember the Four Noble Truths as I’ve taught them. Suffering is the first Noble Truth which I’ve taught, and that’s how you should remember it. If any one should say this: ‘What the priest Gotama teaches is not the first Noble Truth of suffering. I’ll reject this first Noble Truth of suffering and describe another first Noble Truth of suffering.’ That is not possible. The origin of suffering … The end of suffering … The path that leads to the end of suffering is the fourth Noble Truth which I’ve taught, and that’s how you should remember it. If any one should say this: ‘What the priest Gotama teaches is not the fourth Noble Truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering. I’ll reject this fourth Noble Truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering and describe another fourth Noble Truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.’ That is not possible. That’s how you should remember the Four Noble Truths as I’ve taught them.
“Therefore, monks, you should make an effort to understand …”
