“Monks, take any monk who truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the path that leads to the cessation of suffering’. A recluse might come to that monk from the east, west, north, or south wanting to debate, seeking a debate, thinking, ‘I’ll refute this monk!’ It’s simply impossible for him to legitimately make that monk shake, rock or tremble.
“Monks, suppose there was a stone pillar, sixteen feet long. Eight feet were buried underground, and eight above ground. Even if violent storms were to blow from the east, the west, the north, and the south, they couldn’t make it shake, rock or tremble. Why is that? It’s because that stone pillar is firmly embedded, with deep foundations.
“In the same way, take any monk who truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the path that leads to the cessation of suffering’. A recluse might come to that monk from the east, west, north, or south wanting to debate, seeking a debate, thinking, ‘I’ll refute this monk!’ It’s simply impossible for him to legitimately make that monk shake, rock or tremble. Why is that? It’s because they have clearly seen the Four Noble Truths. What four? 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.
“Therefore, monks, you should make an effort to understand: ‘This is suffering.’ You should make an effort to understand: ‘This is the origin of suffering.’ You should make an effort to understand: ‘This is the cessation of suffering.’ You should make an effort to understand: ‘This is the path that leads to the cessation of suffering.’”
