66. Seated Buddha, date unknown,

Kyaikbawlaw Pagoda, Kyaikto, Burma, gilt bronze.

 

 

[The twelve-spoked Wheel of Dharma]

“And, monks, as long as this knowledge and vision of mine – with its three rounds and twelve permutations concerning these four noble truths as they actually are present – was not pure, I did not claim to have directly awakened to the right self-awakening unexcelled in the cosmos with its deities, Maras, and Brahmas, with its contemplatives and priests, its royalty and commonfolk. But as soon as this knowledge and vision of mine – with its three rounds and twelve permutations concerning these four noble truths as they actually are present – was truly pure, then I did claim to have directly awakened to the right self-awakening unexcelled in the cosmos with its deities, Maras and Brahmas, with its contemplatives and priests, its royalty and commonfolk. Knowledge and vision arose in me: ‘Unprovoked is my release. This is the last birth. There is now no further becoming.’”

 

[The Noble Sangha is born]

That is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, the group of five monks delighted at his words. And while this explanation was being given, there arose to the Venerable Kaundinya the dustless, stainless Dharma eye: Whatever is subject to origination is all subject to cessation.