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The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

[The Fourth Chapter for Recitation]

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[27: The Four Noble Things]

Then the Gracious One, having dressed in the morning time, after picking up his bowl and robe, entered Vesàlã for alms. After walking for alms in Vesàlã, when he was returning from the alms-round after the meal, after looking at Vesàlã with an elephant's look, ⁰¹ he addressed venerable ânanda, (saying): ßThis is the last time, ânanda, there will be sight of Vesàlã for the Realised One. Come ânanda let us approach Bhaõóagàma.û ⁰²

ßVery well, reverend Sir,û venerable ânanda replied to the Gracious One. Then the Gracious One together with a great Community of monks entered Bhaõóagàma. There the Gracious One lived near Bhaõóagàma.

There the Gracious One said this to the monks: ßBecause of a lack of understanding and a lack of penetration, monks, of four things both you and I have been wandering and running along (in Saüsàra) for a long time. ⁰³

Which four?

1. Because of a lack of understanding and a lack of penetration of Noble Virtue ⁰⁴ both you and I have been wandering and running along (in Saüsàra) ⁰⁵ for a long time.

2. Because of a lack of understanding and a lack of penetration of Noble Concentrated (Development) ⁰⁶ both you and I have been wandering and running along (in Saüsàra) for a long time.

3. Because of a lack of understanding and a lack of penetration of Noble Wisdom both you and I have been wandering and running along (in Saüsàra) for a long time.

4. Because of a lack of understanding and a lack of penetration of Noble Freedom both you and I have been wandering and running along (in Saüsàra) for a long time.

(But now) this Noble Virtue has been understood and penetrated, this Noble Concentrated (Development) has been understood and penetrated, this Noble Wisdom has been understood and penetrated, this Noble Freedom has been understood and penetrated. Craving for continued existence has been cut off, what leads to rebirth has been exhausted, there is no continuation in existence.û

The Gracious One said this, and after saying this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, said something more:

ßVirtue, Concentrated (Development), Wisdom, and unsurpassed Freedom,
These things have been understood by the Famous Gotama, ⁰⁷
Thus after knowing it deeply the Buddha declared the Teaching to the monks,
The Suffering-Ender, the Teacher, the Visionary One ⁰⁸ who is Emancipated.û

* * *

There also the Gracious One, while living in Bhaõóagàma, spoke frequently to the monks about the Teaching, (saying):

ßSuch is virtue, such is concentration, such is wisdom, when virtue is well-developed it yields great fruit and brings great advantages in regard to concentration, when concentration is well-developed it yields great fruit and brings great advantages in regard to wisdom, when wisdom is well-developed the mind is completely liberated from the pollutants, that is to say: the pollutant of sensuality, the pollutant of (craving for) continued existence, the pollutant of ignorance.û