Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion

The Buddha’s first sermon, the Dhamma-cakka-ppavattana Sutta (“Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion”), isn’t limited to the Four Noble Truths. The Middle Path – a core Buddhist teaching, is clearly explained in this sutta.

It’s a timeless guidepost for navigating life’s complexities and remains strikingly relevant in our modern world. Let’s explore its enduring wisdom.

The Middle Path: Finding Balance in a World of Extremes

Before his enlightenment, the Buddha had already rejected both self-indulgence and extreme asceticism, discovering instead the transformative power of the Middle Path – a balanced approach. This principle isn’t confined to spiritual practice; it’s a framework for daily life. We often see this play out in our own experiences:

• The Netflix Binge vs. The Productivity Grind: Excessive screen time offers fleeting escape, leaving us feeling empty. Conversely, relentless work without rest leads to burnout. The Middle Path? Mindful entertainment balanced with fulfilling work and sufficient self-care.
• Quantity versus Quality: Many mistakenly believe that spiritual progress is solely about the quantity of time spent practicing, such as meditation. This can lead to frustration, as attempting intense practices before our minds are ready is counterproductive – like a beginner weightlifter trying to lift 100kg. A more effective approach involves honesty, humility, and a gradual, realistic and balanced training schedule. A balanced approach to mind training.

Finding this balance is deeply personal, guided by self-awareness and common sense. It’s not about rigid rules, but mindful choices that nurture both well-being and spiritual growth.

From Bliss to Insight: The Evolution of Meditation

The Buddha’s journey included deep meditative states, even reaching the highest Jhanas (meditative absorption). However, after enlightenment, he emphasized Vipassana (insight meditation) and instructed us to stay at the 4th absorption. Going beyond the 4th absorption creates the karma for rebirth in formless realm.

Note: Jhanas are achieved when we let go our sensory interaction and that enables our mind to stay focused. In this case, exteme letting go leads to a complete isolation of our minds.

On the other hand, without Jhanas, our minds are not focused enough for insights to arise during Vipassana.

As can be seen, even meditative absorption requires a balanced approach.

Understanding Nirvana: Experience Over Intellect

Nirvana isn’t just a concept; it’s a transformative experience marked by the cessation of craving, hatred, and delusion, leading to profound inner peace.

Unfortunately, many of us tend to disregard the Noble Truths and label it as basic after gaining some intellectual understanding about it.

In reality, the first sermon summarised the entire teachings of Buddhism. It is the essence of Dharma. Many believe that subsequent sermons are just elaborations spoken to teach less endowed people. Remember, before he started to teach, Buddha surveyed the world for people who are most endowed to understand Nirvana. He settled for the 5 ascetics and spoke this sutta to introduce his discovery of Nirvana.

Conclusion: A Timeless Guide for Modern Life

The Buddha’s first sermon remains profoundly relevant. It offers a practical framework for life, emphasizing the importance of balance, insight and the right approach for success in our endeavour.

In the next post, we will explore the first Noble Truth as expounded in the sutta. The first Noble Truth identifies the challenges in life and help us see the problem clearly.

May all be well and happy.

May all be well and happy.