Reading guide
The purpose of going forth, stated directly
This project's own reading: rather than describing what a gentleman does after going forth, this discourse names the going-forth itself as already purposed toward one end — comprehending the four truths — a claim this discourse's own next companion, SN 56.4, will restate from a different angle.
Key terms
The text
§1“Mendicants, whatever gentlemen—past, future, or present—rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness, all of them do so in order to truly comprehend the four noble truths.
§2What four? The noble truths of suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering. Whatever gentlemen—past, future, or present—rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness, all of them do so in order to truly comprehend the four noble truths.
§3That’s why you should practice meditation to understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.”
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