Story of Buddhism

The first sermon at Sarnath.

To five old companions in a deer park: four truths, and a wheel set turning that has not stopped since.

Understanding it — context, not catechism: how this passage is held

The first sermon is dated by the tradition to a deer park at Sarnath, seven weeks after the awakening, delivered to five ascetics who had abandoned him in disgust for giving up extreme fasting. He had to win them back before he could teach, which is why the sermon opens with the middle way — a direct answer to their objection — before stating the four truths. Buddhists call the event the turning of the wheel of dharma, and the wheel on the Indian flag is a nod to it.

From the sources — the passages this rests on; concise renderings, cited

There are two extremes not to be practiced: devotion to sensual pleasure, and devotion to self-mortification. Avoiding both, the Middle Way gives vision and knowledge.
Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (rendered)
The opening of the first sermon — an answer to the five ascetics' objection.

The same ground, other faiths

claims that share this one's ideas

Ritual sustains the order of the world. Vedic Religion · core tenet Go deeper →

Dharma sustains the cosmos; to live rightly is to live in accord with it. Hinduism · core tenet Go deeper →

Every soul is already omniscient. Jainism · core tenet Go deeper →

Creation is good, and it was made out of nothing. Christianity · core tenet Go deeper →

Liberation happens while you are alive. Sikhism · core tenet Go deeper →

Knowledge liberates. Advaita Vedānta · core tenet Go deeper →

The conversation

argument stays attached to the claim it is about All discussion →

Sign in to open the first thread. Everything here is attributed.

Where next

← The hungry tigress.the previous passage in Buddhism The monkey king's bridge. →the next passage in Buddhism Buddhism's Stories & Scripture roomback up one layer Propose a change to this passageone button — it routes to the review pool