Turning the Wheel of Truth: Commentary on the Buddha's First Teaching

by Ajahn Sucitto

Buddhist teachings like the eightfold path, the four noble truths, and karma pervade Buddhist literature—but how often do we read what the Buddha himself had to say about these topics? Here is an accessible look at the Buddha’s First Discourse, which contains the foundation for all further Buddhist teaching.

Ajahn Sucitto offers a new translation of this revolutionary teaching, known as The Discourse That Sets Turning the Wheel of Truth . He then walks us through the text, offering engaging and practical point-by-point commentary that makes the Buddha’s words come alive and reveals how the text’s wisdom can inspire our own liberation.

Genres: Buddhism, Philosophy, Spirituality, Religion

241 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 2010

Reviews

[Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed examination of the Buddha's first 'sermon' on the 4 Noble Truths. The text gets very detailed and goes really deep on the subject. Warrants reading at least twice, maybe more. The book is well written, in a style that is accessible to Western readers - containing analogies and similes of the Buddha's lessons to current culture.

[Orlando Galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Start here.

I read it.
I get it.
I will read it again.

Not because I don't know, but because one can not possibly say that one is done, complete, or has gain full mastery of mankind's suffering and delusional interpretations of materialism and its disease inherited via very intentional cognitive dissonance.

A reading that could NOT ever be stamped with the words:

"Made In The USA."

Not ever.

[Sher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptionally clear commentary on the Four Nobel Truths and an excellent, understandable summary of Buddhist cosmology.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a commentary on the first discourse of the Buddha. Sucitto has a very down-to-earth and practical way of describing spiritual experiences and issues. It may not be best read cover to cover, but rather picked up frequently and passages savored. Also an excellent reference, especially if one finds oneself suck in one's practice.

[Bria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easier read than done. All the insights didn't seem so insightful, in that they weren't news to me intellectually, but still things I desparately needed to have explained to me in the hope that I would actually integrate any of them into the way I actually function in the world.

[Leto Atreides · Rating 3 out of 5]

A VERY dry read but not a bad refresher.