Buddhist traditions, Nivedita and Coomaraswamy
Wheel of the Law
After awakening the Buddha hesitates to teach a difficult doctrine, but Brahma appeals to the purpose of his attainment. He then travels to Benares to address five former companions in austerity. The collection explains turning the Wheel of the Law as preaching the good doctrine. Its first discourse rejects wrong desires and bodily mortification, and the teaching becomes accessible to a vast range of hearers.
Also known as Turning the Dharma Wheel · Dharmachakra
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In the sources
Principal account
TraditionalAfter awakening the Buddha hesitates to teach a difficult doctrine, but Brahma appeals to the purpose of his attainment. He then travels to Benares to address five former companions in austerity.
Further detail
TraditionalThe collection explains turning the Wheel of the Law as preaching the good doctrine. Its first discourse rejects wrong desires and bodily mortification, and the teaching becomes accessible to a vast range of hearers.
Context & interpretation
The entry follows the collection’s explanation of turning the wheel and its first-discourse narrative. It does not silently insert a full Noble Eightfold Path or Four Noble Truths exposition absent from the reviewed passage.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
intending to instruct the five hermitsOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 331
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0331
- Original scan leaf
- 331
- Recorded leaf number
- 331
- Current Reader position
- 322
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
he preached the Good DoctrineOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 332
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0332
- Original scan leaf
- 332
- Recorded leaf number
- 332
- Current Reader position
- 323
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Bodhisattva
The Buddha-elect whose long preparation joins sacrifice to the power to enlighten others.
Same subject and traditionNirvana
Release from the fetters of individuality, explained by the collection through a broken pot and open space.
Same subject and traditionThree Jewels
Buddha, the teaching and the community, which the final narrative leaves as enduring points of reliance.