“Monks, there are recluses who don’t truly understand about the Noble Truth of suffering, the Noble Truth of the origin of suffering, the Noble Truth of the cessation of suffering, and the Noble Truth of the path that leads to the cessation of suffering. I don’t regard them as true recluses. Those recluses don’t realize the goal of life as true recluses, and live not having realized it with their own insight.
“There are recluses who truly understand about the Noble Truth of suffering, the Noble Truth of the origin of suffering, the Noble Truth of the cessation of suffering, and the Noble Truth of the path that leads to the cessation of suffering. I regard them as true recluses. Those recluses realize the goal of life as true recluses, and live having realized it with their own insight.”
That is what the Buddha said. The Blessed One further said,
“There are those recluses who don’t understand suffering
and suffering’s cause,
and where all suffering
ceases with nothing left over.
“And they don’t know the path
that leads to the ending of suffering.
They lack the mind’s liberation,
as well as liberation by wisdom.
“Unable to make an end to this cycle,
they continue to be reborn and get old.
But there are those recluses who understand suffering
and suffering’s cause,
and where all suffering
ceases with nothing left over.
“And they understand the path
that leads to the ending of suffering.
They’re endowed with the mind’s liberation,
as well as liberation by wisdom.
Able to make an end to this cycle,
they stop being reborn and getting old.”
