Saṁyutta Nikāya,
V: Mahā-Vagga
56. Sacca Saṁyutta
III Dhamma-Cakka-Pavattana Vagga

Part V: The Great Chapter
56: Kindred Sayings about the Truths
II. The Foundation of the Kingdom of the Norm

Sutta 20

Tathā Suttaṁ

True¹

 

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Thus have I heard: Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Benares, at Isipatana, in the Deer Park.

2. Monks, these four things are true, not false,² not alterable.³

What four?

3. The fact of Ill, monks, is true, not false, not changeable.

4. The fact of the arising of Ill, monks, is true, not false, not changeable.

5. The fact of the ceasing of Ill, monks, is true, not false, not changeable.

6. The fact of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill, monks, is true, not false, not changeable.

7. These are the four things that are true, not false, not changeable. Wherefore, monks, ye must make an effort to realize: This is Ill, this is the arising of Ill, this is the ceasing of Ill, this is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.

 

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¹ The adj. tatha = saccaṅ. Cf. tatha-bhāvo, the eternally, constantly true. Cf. S. ii, 26; VM. ii, 494 ff.; MA. i, 49; quoted at Kathāvatthu, ii, 325; Pts. of Contr., 189.

² A-vi-tathaṅ

³ An-aññathaṅ