1-2 Wisdom Stages
The Buddha passed through three stages in realizing the Four Noble Truths.
He realized all three wisdom stages by himself,
because there was no one to teach him.
1. Sacca-nana
In the first wisdom stage, called sacca-nana, he realized:
1) The Truth of Suffering ( Dukkha Sacca ) which has eleven types:
birth (of five khandas), decay (old age of five khandas),
death (of five khandas), sorrow, lamentation, pain (bodily), grief (mental suffering), despair,
association with the unpleasant, separation from the pleasant, not getting what you want.
All dukkha is clinging caused by the five khandas.
2) Cause of Suffering (Samudaya Sacca):
kammatanha (sensual crav-ing), bhavatanha (craving for existence),
vibhavatanha (craving for non-existence). (See ¡§Noble Truths,¡¨ 1.4.5)
3) Cessation of Suffering (Nirodha Sacca) :
Nirodha (Nibbana) is the dhamma that extinguishes the cause of suffering (Samadaya Sacca)
and the result (Dukkha Sacca). When the cause is extinguished, the result is extinguished.
4) The Path to End Suffering (Magga Sacca) :
The Eight-Fold Path is the Middle Way (Majjhima Patipatta) and is the only practice that
can reach Cessation of Suffering.
2. Kicca-Nana
This is actual practice based on stage I .
Dukkha must be realized by practice; Samudaya must be eradicated by practice;
Nirodha must be reached by practice; Magga Sacca must be developed by practice.
3. Kata-nana
Kata-nana is fruition, or knowledge of what has been done with regard to the Four Noble Truths.
The three yanas (sacca-nana, kicca-nana, kata-nana) are known as
¡§Thrice-revolve knowledge and insight¡¨ ---
the three aspects of intuitive knowledge regarding the Four Noble Truths.
The Buddha passed through these three stages of the Four Noble Truths on Enlightenment night
(4x3=12 stages that he passed through).
Then he realized knowledge of the three yanas (sacca-nana, kicca-nana, kata-nana),
each time with the Four Noble Truths.
The yogi who wants to end suffering like the Buddha, must understand the first wisdom
(sacca-nana), then follow the practice and understand the practice too (kicca-nana).
Then the two wisdoms have to work together,
as we are doing now in practice.
If you realize the first wisdom (sacca-nana), and practice the second (kicca-nana),
then times the Four Noble Truths we have 4x2 = 8, which is where your vipassana practice is now.
If you realize result (kata-nana), it is 4x3 = 12,
at which point the yogi reaches lokuttara dhamma (supramundane).
In the sermon delivered shortly after his enlightenment
(¡§Setting in Motion the Wheel of Doctrine¡¨),
the Buddha described the 3 Wisdom Stages as follows:
And so long, monks, as the vision of knowledge of these four ariyan truths,
with the 3 sections and 12 modes as they really are, was not well purified by me,
so long was I, monks, not thoroughly awakened as to the world with its devas, with its Maras,
with its Brahmas,
with its recluses and brahmans, its atures with devas and men. this I knew.
But when, monks, the vision of knowledge of these four ariyan truths,
with the 3 sections and 12 modes as they really are, was well purified by me, then was I, monks, thoroughly awakened
with the supreme full awakening as to the world¡KThis I knew.
Moreover, the vision of knowledge arose in me: ¡§Freedom of mind is for me unshakeable,
this is the last birth, there is not now again-becoming.¡¨
(Book of the Discipline, IV, 16, 21)
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