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MAHA-PARINIBBÂNA-SUTTA.
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23
CHAPTER II. 1. Now the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ânanda, and said : 'Come, Ananda, let us go on to Kotigâma.
'So be it, Lord!' said Ânanda, in assent, to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One proceeded with a great company of the brethren to Kotigâma; and there he stayed in the village itself 1.
2. And at that place the Blessed One addressed the brethren, and said: 'It is through not understanding and grasping four Noble Truths, O brethren, that we have had to run so long, to wander so long in this weary path of transmigration, both you and I!'
* And what are these four ?'
"The noble truth about sorrow; the noble truth about the cause of sorrow; the noble truth about the cessation of sorrow; and the noble truth about the path that leads to that cessation. But when these noble truths are grasped and known the craving for existence is rooted out, that which leads to renewed existence is destroyed, and then there is no more birth!'
3. Thus spake the Blessed One; and when the Happy One had thus spoken, then again the Teacher said:
1 As will be observed from the similar passages that follow, there is a regular sequence of clauses in the set descriptions of the Buddha's movements. The last clause should specify the particular grove or house where the Blessed One stayed; but it is also in this and one or two other cases) inserted with due regularity even when it adds nothing positive to the sense.
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