The Sadhu cry spread out,
illuminating the entire world.
Ten thousand world systems trembled with the Sadhu.
A radiant light shone forth.
That Blessed Sage,
through countless hundreds of thousands of eons,
out of deep great compassion for the welfare of the world—resolving,
"I shall ferry all beings across the ocean of suffering"—
with firm determination and great perseverance,
uttered this supreme Udana:
"Indeed, Kondanna has understood! Indeed, Kondanna has understood!"
Thus it was proclaimed to the world.
The sacred grounds of Isipatana were filled with vast groves of trees out of season, heavy with blossoms. The flower pollen, stirred by dew drops, fragranced the environment. A mild breeze blowing from the midst of the great forest dispelled the weariness of the body and mind. Flowing among the clusters of trees, the calm, cool water of the royal river adorned the temple premises. For a moment, the entire world fell silent.
From this very moment, Kondanna became the very first disciple in the Buddha's dispensation.
Having attained Supreme Buddhahood on the full moon Poya day of the month of Vesak, the Blessed One spent the seven weeks near the Bodhi tree experiencing the bliss of liberation. Contemplating the profound nature of the Noble Dhamma He had realized, the Lord of the World reflected thus:
Lifting up the pair of blue eyes,
looking at the worldly realm,
breaking the tight bonds of youth,
bound by affection,
young children day by day bringing great grief,
fulfilling perfections,
to realize the profound Dhamma,
the path to escape suffering—to me, a bewildered mind,
does it make sense? Does it feel?
The Blessed One contemplated whether beings whose minds are defiled by greed, hatred, and delusion could ever understand the Noble Dhamma, which is so profound that "Teaching it to others is a weariness, yet it is out of compassion," and thus His mind hesitated to teach the Dhamma.
Seeing this, Sahampati Brahma beseeched the Blessed One, inviting Him to teach the Noble Dhamma, which can be understood by those with little dust in their eyes. He investigated the background of the ascetics Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputra, but discovered they had already passed away.
Thereafter, the Blessed One saw the group of five monks who had previously served Him and sought the path of merit with Him:
Living in the ultimate happiness
Harboring a good life
Full of purity
Calm and restrained
They sought Him, but He could not be found. To live alone was frightening, and they turned back from their quest, searching for Him.
Moving forward, not carrying robes, not begging for alms, rising from a seat of royal lineage...
Hearing that the ascetic Gotama was spending the great full moon Poya day nearby, the Blessed One addressed the group of five monks:
"Monks, these two extremes should not be followed by one who has gone forth..."
The profound result of His six-year noble search—revealing to the world the noble path to escape suffering—unfolded as follows:
There are two extremes that a seeker engaged in the noble search must avoid:
- Kamasukallikanuyoga: Indulgence in sensual pleasures
- Attakilamatanuyoga: Indulgence in self-mortification
Indulgence in sensual pleasures is vulgar, common, ignoble, and unbeneficial. Likewise, self-mortification is painful, ignoble, and unbeneficial. Avoiding both of these extremes, the Blessed One taught the middle path that gives rise to clear vision and wisdom—namely, the Noble Eightfold Path.
Immediately upon the conclusion of the discourse on the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, the Venerable Kondanna attained the fruit of Stream-Entry (Sotapatti).
Attaining Sotapatti is the first step in obtaining noble discipleship within this dispensation, and joining the stream leading to Nibbana. It is the foundational step taken to escape suffering. Having listened to the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, the Venerable Kondanna rejoiced and attained noble discipleship.
The teachings of the Buddha regarding a Sotapanna individual are as follows:
"Endowed with noble dhammas, he is bound for supreme enlightenment, certain to escape falling into states of woe, and established in enlightenment."
The Sotapanna individual does not fall into the four woeful states and strives forward to eradicate defilements. The Stream-Enterer is on the path to becoming a Once-Returner (Sakadagami). Having attained the Sakadagami path, they reach the Sakadagami fruit, then advance to the Anagami path, the Anagami fruit, the Arahant path, and finally the Arahant fruit. Progressing step by step, moving forward on the path of the noble ones means that once established in the Sotapatti fruit, the path to definite enlightenment is opened.
Following the exposition of the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, the Venerable Kondanna and twelve crore Brahmas attained the fruit of Stream-Entry.
The Venerable Kondanna became the first human to attain Stream-Entry after listening to the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. On subsequent days, the Venerable Vappa (on the first day), the Venerable Bhaddiya (on the second day), the Venerable Mahanama (on the third day), and the Venerable Assaji (on the fourth day) were established in the Sotapatti fruit. By the fifth day, all of them were established in Arahantship.
Opening the Stream-Entry path, this true Dhamma stream spread throughout the ten directions, bringing peace and tranquility to worldly beings and opening the door to certain enlightenment.
Upatissa and Kolita entered the Noble Path under the guidance of the Venerable Assaji. Upon meeting the Great Arahant Assaji, Upatissa the paribbajaka was given the opportunity to listen to a verse embodying the essence of the Buddha's teaching:
"Ye dhamma hetuppabhava tesam hetum tathagato aha tesam ca yo nirodho evam vadi maha samano"
By merely hearing the first few lines of that verse, Upatissa attained the Sotapatti fruit. Afterward, Kolita, having inquired about that Dhamma from Upatissa and listening to the full verse, also became a noble Stream-Enterer.
The Buddha visited King Bimbisara of Magadha along with the group of Jatila Arahants. There, King Bimbisara and his retinue listened to the noble true Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, and at the conclusion of the discourse, King Bimbisara and many others were established in the Stream-Entry fruit.
The Venerable Ananda, who was the Buddha's attendant, was a noble disciple who remained established in the Sotapatti fruit until the early morning of the day the first Dhamma Council was held. The deity Sakka is also a noble disciple established in the Sotapatti fruit. The Sakyan named Mahanama is likewise recorded in the Buddha's revelations as being established in the Sotapatti fruit. Furthermore, Buddhist literature contains numerous accounts of householders and wandering ascetics who listened to the Dhamma from the Buddha and attained the Sotapatti fruit.
Thus, entering the path to escape suffering begins with attaining the Sotapatti fruit. A Stream-Enterer is securely delivered from the four woeful states, never falling into them again, and ultimately eradicates all suffering to realize Nibbana.
Having listened to the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta taught by the Tathagata to the group of five monks in the Isipatana Deer Park, the Venerable Kondanna became a Stream-Enterer. The Blessed One revealed His supreme glory to the world, and made the following Udana:
"Indeed, Kondanna has understood! Indeed, Kondanna has understood!"