此乃初轉法輪之時, 佛陀第一次教授四聖諦(The 4 Noble Truths) 給五位同修者
佛陀正覺、離貪、解脫證菩提之後,因為年紀尚輕,不易得到一般大眾的信任,所以到鹿野苑,先為未正覺時的五位跟隨者,即憍陳如(Ājñāta-kauṇḍinya)等五人宣說「四聖諦」,此稱之為「初轉法輪」。緊接著又度化了富家子耶舍,以及其親朋好友等共五十四位比丘,而成為六十位比丘的僧團。 往後在六年間,陸續度化了著名的有舍利弗、摩訶目犍連、大迦葉。
The 1st Noble Truth: This is Suffering!
There is no pain, that does not torment!
And nothing that is not pain torments...
This certainty, that this being torments:
Is what makes it an absolute truth ...
The 2nd Noble Truth: Craving is the Cause!
No other source causes pain, than craving,
Nothing else provides craving, than pain ...
This utter certainty in producing pain:
Is why it is considered an absolute truth!
The 3rd Noble Truth: Suffering can End!
There is no pure peace except Nibbāna,
Nibbāna cannot be anything but peace ...
This certainty that it is perfect peace:
Is what is reckoned as an absolute truth.
The 4th Noble Truth: By the Noble Way!
No outlet is there other than the Noble Way,
Nor fails the Noble Way ever to be escape ...
This sure status as the one and only exit:
Has made it recognized as absolute truth.
This genuinely irrefutable infallibility,
Which is their true essential core,
Is what the wise declare to be
The Truth's meaning common to all four!
Vism 496