1. Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion

2. Two extremes that are not to be indulged

3. Two extremes that are not to be indulged
Sensual pleasure with reference to sensual objects
Base, vulgar, common, ignoble, unprofitable

4. Two extremes that are not to be indulged
Self-affliction, Ascetism
Painful, ignoble, unprofitable

5. The Middle Way
“Without veering towards either of these extremes, the Tathagata has awakened to the middle way, which gives rise to vision, which gives rise to knowledge, which leads to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbana.”

6. What is the Middle Way? Noble Eightfold Path Right Understanding
Right Thought
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration

7. The Four Noble Truths (Cattari Ariya Sacca)
1. Dukkha: All forms of existence are unsatisfactory and subject to suffering
2. Samudaya: All suffering, and all rebirth, is produced by craving (tanha)
3. Nirodha: The extinction of craving results in the extinction of rebirth and suffering, i.e. Nibbana
4. Magga: The Eightfold Path by which Nibbana is attained

8. First Noble Truth
And what is the Noble Truth of Suffering? Birth is suffering, ageing is suffering, sickness is suffering, death is suffering, association with the things which we dislike is suffering, separation from the things which we like is suffering, not to get what one wants, that also is suffering. In short, the five aggregates, which are the objects of grasping, are suffering.

9. Second Noble Truth
This is the Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering, i.e. ‘thirst’ or ‘craving’ (tanha), which produces rebirth.
Three categories of craving:
craving for sensual pleasures (kama tanha)
craving for existence and becoming (bhava tanha)
craving for non-existence (vibhava tanha)

10. Third Noble Truth
This is the Truth of the Cessation of Suffering, i.e. attaining the freedom and happiness of Nibbana
This is the utter quenching through the disappearance of that craving, letting go and release, with no more longing after that craving.

11. Fourth Noble Truth
It is the Way leading to the ending of dukkha, and this Way is the Noble Eightfold Path (ariya atthangika magga).
It is called ‘Noble’ because when practised, it leads to an ennobling of human life.
It is called ‘Eightfold’ because it has eight constituents
It is called ‘Path’ because it leads from samsara to Nibbana.

12. The 3 Turnings & 12 Aspects
“Monks, when my knowledge and insight of the Four Noble Truths in their three turnings and twelve aspects, just as they are, had been realized, then only do I say that I had realized that incomparable supreme Enlightenment, and there arose in me knowledge and insight.”

13. Putting the Wheel in Motion
The Wheel of Dhamma (Dhamma.cakka) was put in motion twelve times, with three turnings for each of the Four Noble Truths
To understand the Four Noble Truths, not just intellectually but experientially, we have to practise the twelve turnings of the Wheel

14. The Three Turnings
Recognition: Coming to terms with the situation as it really is, without resorting to self-denial, escapism or clouding up the issue
Encouragement: Putting effort to examine a situation properly to understand its nature and causes
Realisation: Gaining an insight into a situation after studying, reflecting and practising

15. Twelve Turnings of the Wheel
Suffering
Recognition: This is suffering
Encouragement: Suffering should be understood
Realisation: Suffering is understood
Arising of Suffering
Recognition: This is an ignoble way that has led to suffering
Encouragement: That ignoble should be understood
Realisation: That ignoble way is understood
Cessation of Suffering
(well being)
Recognition: Well being is possible
Encouragement: Well being should be obtained
Realisation: Well being is obtained
Path leading to end of Suffering
(how well being is possible)
Recognition: There is a noble path that leads to well being
Encouragement: This noble path has to be lived
Realisation: This noble path is being lived

16. Recognising the First Noble Truth
First turning of the Truth-Recognition. We must stop running from our pain.
With all our courage and tenderness, we recognise, acknowledge and identify our suffering and determine whether its basis is physical, physiological, or psychological.
Treat our suffering with kindness and non-violence. We need to embrace our fear, hatred, anguish, and anger.

17. Encouraging the First Noble Truth
After recognising and identifying our pain, we proceed to the second turning of the Wheel
We take time to look deeply into it in order to understand its true nature, its causes
Our suffering-depression, illness, a difficult relationship, or fear - needs to be understood and, like a doctor, we are determined to understand it

18. Realising the First Noble Truth
The third turning of the wheel can be expressed as such: “This suffering has been understood”
The effort of understanding started with the second turning of the wheel
After studying, reflecting upon, and practising the First Noble Truth, we can now call our suffering by its specific name and identify its characteristics.
This alone brings us happiness and joy

19. Recognising the Second Noble Truth
After successfully diagnosing our ailment, for a time we continue to create suffering for ourselves
The first turning of the Second Noble Truth is the recognition that I continue to create suffering
When we look deeply we discover the kinds of nutriments that have helped it come to be and that continue to feed it (SN II, 47)

20. Four Nutriments
Edible food: What we eat or drink can bring about mental or physical suffering
Sense impressions: Our six sense organs are in constant contact with sense objects and these contacts become food for our consciousness
Volition, intention, or will to obtain what we want
Consciousness: Composed of all the seeds sown by past actions. Nourish it with love and compassion rather than hatred and greed.
Food: Story of couple crossing the desert who were forced to eat the flesh of their baby which they carried on their shoulder. Every time they eat its flesh, they suffer. The Buddha said, “Yet many people eat the flest of their parents, their children, and their grandchildren and do not know it.”
Sense impression: A cow with a skin disease that she had hardly any skin. Each time she got to the wall, a tree, in the water, etc other creature will cling to its body and suck its blood.
Volition: Two strong men dragging a third man along in order to throw him in a fire pit. He cannot resist, and finally they throw him into the glowing embers. Our deep-seated habit energies drag us into the fire of suffering.
One day, a very agitated farmer asked the Buddha and a group of monks whether they saw where his 12 cows had gone. His whole crop of sesame plants was eaten by insects. The Buddha said that the happiest people in the world are those who have no cows or sesame plants to lose.
Consciousness: A murderer was sentenced to be stabbed to death by 300 sharp knives. Each time, they stab him, he continues to live on. And the order continues to be repeated.

21. Encouraging the Second Noble Truth
We see that real happiness is possible if we can stop ingesting the nutriments that cause us to suffer. We see the nature of suffering and the way out.
Mindfulness is the energy that can help us stop, including mindful walking, mindful breathing, etc., this is the Four Noble Truths in action.
When the cause of suffering is seen, healing is possible.

22. Realising the Second Noble Truth
We not only vow, but we actually stop ingesting the nutriments that create our suffering.
“When hungry, I eat. When tired, I sleep.”
You only have to be yourself after you’ve gained genuine insight.

23. Recognising the Third Noble Truth
Recognising the possibility of the absence of suffering and presence of peace, Nibbana.
If we don’t have peace and joy at this moment, we can at least remember some peace and joy we experienced in the past or observe the peace and joy of others.
We see that well-being and the complete release of Nibbana is possible.

24. Encouraging the Third Noble Truth
Encourage yourself to find peace and joy. Touch deeply the things that bring you peace and joy.
Don’t run away from things that are unpleasant in order to embrace things that are pleasant. Face the difficulties and grow new happiness.
Embrace your suffering, smile to it, and discover the source of happiness that is right there within it. Learn the art of cultivating joy. Your suffering is not worth suffering for.

25. Realising the Third Noble Truth
When you face your suffering directly, your joy will become deeper. You know that suffering and joy are both impermanent.
Be like an organic gardener that transform garbage into flowers.
This practice will lead you to realise that suffering and happiness are not two.
When you reach this stage, your joy is no longer fragile.

26. Recognising the Fourth Noble Truth
We recognise that the Noble Eightfold Path can lead us out of suffering, but we don’t yet know how to practice it.

27. Encouraging the Fourth Noble Truth
We encourage ourselves to practice this path. This is realised by learning, reflecting, and practising.
The path deals with our real difficulties in life. Transformation is gradual, but once we see clearly the causes of our suffering, we can make the effort to change our behaviour and bring our suffering to an end.

28. Realising the Fourth Noble Truth
By seeing our suffering clearly, by understanding is roots, we are able to “understand things as they are” (yatha bhuta jnana) in our life and practice.
You understand the interbeing nature of the Four Noble Truths. When you look deeply in anyone, you see the other three.
The Buddha said: “The moment you know how your suffering came to be, you are already on the path of release from it” (SN II, 47)

29. Añña-Kondañña
At the end of the Discourse, the Blessed One exclaimed: "So you really know, Kondañña? So you really know?"

30. Site of Buddha's first sermon
Dhamekh stupa
Site of Buddha's first sermon