After reaching enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, Siddhartha Gautama—now known as the Buddha—did not flee to the mountains or conceal his wisdom. Instead, he went for miles to a tranquil forest near Varanasi known as Sarnath. In the Deer Park, Buddha delivered his first sermon, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, which means “Setting the Wheel of Dharma in Motion.” This wasn’t simply a speech. It was the beginning of a whole path of inner emancipation.
Why did he teach?
At first, Buddha hesitated. He wondered if humanity were ready for this truth—something more profound than rituals, gods, or blind faith. Then he felt sympathy. He learned that, while most people are lost in their cravings and suffering, individuals with “just enough dust in their eyes” can understand and be released. So he decided to teach, not to convert or to be revered, but to alleviate humanity’s suffering.
Audience: The Five Ascetics
Buddha’s initial audience was neither monarchs nor priests. It was five monks who had previously experienced intense fasting and discipline alongside him. They had abandoned him before when he took the middle route. But when they saw him now—calm, bright, and transformed—they realized he’d found something genuine. They sat in quiet while Buddha spoke.
What did He Teach?
1. The Middle Path.
Buddha began with a direct statement: “Stop going to extremes.” There’s no need to abuse your body or wallow in pleasure. Both cause anguish. He taught the Middle Way, a life balanced between denial and indulgence that fosters clarity, awareness, and tranquility.
2. The Four Noble Truths.
This was the essence of his sermon: straightforward, direct, and revolutionary.
First Truth: Dukkha (Suffering Exists). Life is not a constant source of delight. Pain, loss, aging, anxiety, and emptiness exist even when everything appears to be in order. Buddha did not sugarcoat it.
Second Truth: Samudaya (Cause of Suffering). Suffering stems from craving—the want for more, the attachment to people, success, identity, or control. We suffer not because life is harsh, but because we cling.
Third Truth: Nirodha (End of Suffering). Suffering ends when cravings end. Liberation is possible. Peace is not a fantasy—it is a state reached when attachments are dropped.
Fourth Truth: Magga (The Path to End Suffering). The Noble Eightfold Path is a practical path that includes right knowledge, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. Not commandments. Not religion. It is simply a means to live consciously.
Why Did This Sermon Matter?
This was not philosophy written in books. It was a survival guide for the human intellect. Buddha did not speak of gods or heavens; he spoke of you—your suffering, your thinking, and your freedom. His teaching was intended for more than just monks. It was intended for anyone who was weary of being confused and restless. It was at this point that spirituality moved away from rituals and toward awareness.
Transformation Begins.
By the end of his talk, Kondanna, one of the monks, had a deep understanding. He became the first disciple and the first enlightened follower. The wheel of dharma has officially started revolving.
Why Does It Still Matter Today?
Because Buddha did not present theories. He gave tools. Are you feeling anxious? Understand the fundamental cause, not simply the symptoms. Feeling hollow despite your accomplishments? This is the first noble truth in action. Tired of extreme lifestyles? This is the Middle Path beckoning you back. His first sermon is still a mirror, demonstrating how we cause our own pain and how we might end it. Buddha’s first sermon was not about religion, but about freedom. And he did not require belief. He just stated, “See it for yourself.”
