THE THREE TURNS OF THE WHEEL OF DHARMA

Buddha's first teaching to the five ascetics in Varanasi

Photographed by S. Doan

Buddha Sakyamuni successively turned the wheel of Dharma three times. At the first turning in Varanasi, the Buddha taught the cause and effect of the Four Noble Truths. By introducing the teaching at this level, the Buddha explicitly stated the first two truths of samsara:1) There is suffering ( Dukkha); 2) The cause of suffering ( Samudaya) due to afflictions (Kleshas); and the last two truths of Nirvana: 3) The cessation of suffering ( Nirodha); 4) The path ( Magga) . Here, the law of karma is expounded. This teaching is referred to as being interpretable in meaning, or explicitly stated.

At the second turning of the wheel on Vulture Peak in Rajagriha, the Buddha taught emptiness and the six perfections (paramitas) of: giving, morality, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom to the community of arhats and bodhisattvas. The Prajnaparamita was taught at this second turns of the wheel of Dharma. This teaching is referred to as being definitive in meaning or implicitly taught. At this level, the understanding of the doctrine needs to be realized through the practice.

In Shravasti and other places, the Buddha turned the wheel of dharma the third time and revealed to the Bodhisattvas the intrinsic luminosity nature of the mind. When the veil of delusion is lifted, the nature of the mind is completly pure and empty of thoughts, full of unconditional love, peaceful and bliss. The teaching on the third turning of the wheel of dharma is purely definitive, to be realized by bodhisattvas who are very further along the path. To the bodhisattvas, this is final subtle realization, the threshold into Buddhahood.

Salutations to the mother of the Buddhas of threefold time,
The Wisdom Gone Beyond, inconceivable, and inexpressible,
And the object of the self-awareness, like space,
Its nature is unborn and unstopped.

Excerpt from the Heart Sutra - Prajnaparamita