• Immediately after his enlightenment, the Buddha gave a talk that contained within it the foundation for all further Buddhist teachings. The text of this remarkable discourse is presented here and is brilliantly illuminated by a respected, contemporary teacher of the Theravada tradition. This discourse by the Buddha, called “The Sutta That Set in Motion the Wheel of the Truth,” is revered by all schools of Buddhism, yet it isn’t studied regularly due to the density of the material it contains. Ajahn Sucitto’s engaging, chapter-by-chapter unpacking of the text makes it accessible for everyone, showing how it serves as a complete digest of all the Buddhist teachings, and thus, as a worthy guide for life. His commentary includes enlightening discussions of fundamental Buddhist ideas and principles such as:
  
• The Middle Way,
  
•  The Eightfold Path,
  
•  The Four Noble Truths,
  
•  Buddhist cosmology,
  
•  Karma,
  
•  Enlightenment.

Ajahn Sucitto was ordained in Thailand in 1976 and has been teaching in the West since 1981. He is the abbot of Cittaviveka in England, the first Buddhist forest monastery established in the West. He is also the author of Rude Awakenings as well as several books for free distribution. For more information, see www.cittaviveka.org.

	Contents: Turning the Wheel of Truth: Commentary on the Buddha's First Teaching
	A Note on the Text, Translation, and Abbreviations	ix
	Introduction: The Teaching and its Background	1
	The Turning of the Wheel Sutta	3
1.	A Path Through the Jungle	17
2.	The Budddha's Middle Way	25
3.	The First Noble Truth: Having to Hold On Is Suffering	33
4.	The Second Noble Truth: Craving	49
5.	Looking Again at the Second Noble Truth: The Blind Driver	61
6.	The Third Noble Truth: Switching Off the Dark	77
7.	The Fourth Noble Truth: The Great Way`	87
8.	Facing the Wall	99
9.	Abandonment: Stepping Out of the Fire	109
10.	Realization: Absolute Honesty	123
11.	Cultivation: The Wheel on the Road	137
12.	The Host of Mara	151
13.	Selfless Motivation	161
14.	Unshakable and Unsupported	171
15.	What Kondanna Saw	183
16.	Heaven (and Hell) on Earth	193
17.	It Doesn't Get Better Than This....or Does It?	205
18.	Light in the World	215
	Credits	226