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The Sutra on the Eight Realizations of The Great Beings
Religion
- GenresBuddhismSpirituality
22 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1987
4 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Thich Nhat Hanh
973 books12.8k followersThích Nhất Hạnh was a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist who then lived in southwest France where he was in exile for many years. Born Nguyễn Xuân Bảo, Thích Nhất Hạnh joined a Zen (Vietnamese: Thiền) monastery at the age of 16, and studied Buddhism as a novitiate. Upon his ordination as a monk in 1949, he assumed the Dharma name Thích Nhất Hạnh. Thích is an honorary family name used by all Vietnamese monks and nuns, meaning that they are part of the Shakya (Shakyamuni Buddha) clan. He was often considered the most influential living figure in the lineage of Lâm Tế (Vietnamese Rinzai) Thiền, and perhaps also in Zen Buddhism as a whole.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 30, 2022
A wonderful short text on some of the important steps in one’s journey on the Path of Dhamma.
The eight realisations of great beings are presented in a concise manner, with some elaboration offered by the venerable master Thich Nhat Hanh on each point.
This text alone is not enough to help one unacquainted with the Buddhist teachings and practice start their journey in the Dhamma land, but can offer a strong enough inspiration to motivate one in further inquiry. Towards this end the commentator offers a couple of suggestions, namely the Anapanasati Sutta and Satipathanna Sutta.
For the practitioner, it can be an incredibly supportive and inspiring text, helping one in reinforcing their determination, refreshing some of the aspects of practice and how to bring it into daily life, just to name a few of the benefits of reading and keeping a copy of this text.
For those familiar with other literature from master Thich, you will easily recognise his kindness and compassion in the commentary.
May all who read this short sutta get benefited by it. 💜✌️🙏
The eight realisations of great beings are presented in a concise manner, with some elaboration offered by the venerable master Thich Nhat Hanh on each point.
This text alone is not enough to help one unacquainted with the Buddhist teachings and practice start their journey in the Dhamma land, but can offer a strong enough inspiration to motivate one in further inquiry. Towards this end the commentator offers a couple of suggestions, namely the Anapanasati Sutta and Satipathanna Sutta.
For the practitioner, it can be an incredibly supportive and inspiring text, helping one in reinforcing their determination, refreshing some of the aspects of practice and how to bring it into daily life, just to name a few of the benefits of reading and keeping a copy of this text.
For those familiar with other literature from master Thich, you will easily recognise his kindness and compassion in the commentary.
May all who read this short sutta get benefited by it. 💜✌️🙏
February 22, 2025
The Eight Realizations of The Great Beings
Wholeheartedly, day and night, a disciple of the Buddha should recite and meditate on the Eight Realizations discovered by the Mahasattvas, the Great Beings.
The First Realization is the awareness that the world is impermanent. All political regimes are subject to fall; all things composed of the four elements are empty and contain the seeds of suffering. Human beings are composed of the five skandhas, aggreates, and are without a separate self. They are always in the process of change – constantly being born and constantly dying. They are empty of self, without sovereignty. The mind is the source of all confusion, and the body is the forest of all impure actions. If we mediate on these facts, we can gradually be released from samsara, the round of birth and death.
The Second Realization is the awareness that more desire brings more suffering. All hardships in daily life arise from greed and desire. Those with little desire and ambition are able to relax their bodies and minds, free from entanglement.
The Third Realization is that the human mind is always searching for possessions and never feels fulfilled. This causes impure actions to ever increase. Bodhisattvas however, always remember the principle of having few desires. They live a simple life in peace in order to practice the Way, and consider the realization of perfect understanding as their only career.
The Fourth Realization is the awareness of the extent to which laziness is an obstacle to practice. For this reason, we must practice diligently to destroy the unwholesome mental factors, which bind us, and to conquer the four kinds of Mara, in order to free ourselves from the prisons of the five aggregates and the three worlds.
The Fifth Realization is the awareness that ignorance is the cause of the endless round of birth and death. Therefore, Bodhisattvas always remember to listen and learn in order to develop their understanding and eloquence. This enables them to educate living beings and bring them to the realm of great joy.
The Sixth Realization is the awareness that poverty creates hatred and anger, which creates a vicious cycle of negative thoughts and activity. When practicing generosity, Bodhisattvas consider everyone, friends and enemies alike, as equal. They do not condemn anyone’s past wrong-doing, nor do they hate those who are presently causing harm.
The Seventh Realization is that the five categories of desire lead to difficulties. Although we are in this world, we should try not to be caught up in worldly matters. A monk, for example, has in his possession three robes and one bowl. He lives simply in order to practice the Way. His precepts keep him free from attachment to worldly things, and he treats everyone equally and with compassion.
The Eighth Realization is the awareness that the fire of birth and death is raging, causing endless suffering everywhere. We should take the Great Vow to help everyone, to suffer with everyone, and to guide all living beings to the realm of great joy.
These Eight Realizations are the discoveries of Great Beings, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who have diligently practiced the way of compassion and understanding. They have sailed the Dharmakaya boat to the shore of Nirvana, but they return to the ordinary world, having abandoned the five desires, with their minds and hearts directed toward the noble way, using these Eight Realizations to help all living beings recognize the suffering in this world. If the disciples of the Buddha recite these Eight Realizations and meditate on them, they will put an end to countless misunderstandings and difficulties and progress toward enlightenment, leaving behind the world of birth and death, dwelling forever in peace.
~ The Sutra On The Eight Realizations Of The Great Beings
Translated from Chinese with Commentary By Thich Nhat Hanh
Wholeheartedly, day and night, a disciple of the Buddha should recite and meditate on the Eight Realizations discovered by the Mahasattvas, the Great Beings.
The First Realization is the awareness that the world is impermanent. All political regimes are subject to fall; all things composed of the four elements are empty and contain the seeds of suffering. Human beings are composed of the five skandhas, aggreates, and are without a separate self. They are always in the process of change – constantly being born and constantly dying. They are empty of self, without sovereignty. The mind is the source of all confusion, and the body is the forest of all impure actions. If we mediate on these facts, we can gradually be released from samsara, the round of birth and death.
The Second Realization is the awareness that more desire brings more suffering. All hardships in daily life arise from greed and desire. Those with little desire and ambition are able to relax their bodies and minds, free from entanglement.
The Third Realization is that the human mind is always searching for possessions and never feels fulfilled. This causes impure actions to ever increase. Bodhisattvas however, always remember the principle of having few desires. They live a simple life in peace in order to practice the Way, and consider the realization of perfect understanding as their only career.
The Fourth Realization is the awareness of the extent to which laziness is an obstacle to practice. For this reason, we must practice diligently to destroy the unwholesome mental factors, which bind us, and to conquer the four kinds of Mara, in order to free ourselves from the prisons of the five aggregates and the three worlds.
The Fifth Realization is the awareness that ignorance is the cause of the endless round of birth and death. Therefore, Bodhisattvas always remember to listen and learn in order to develop their understanding and eloquence. This enables them to educate living beings and bring them to the realm of great joy.
The Sixth Realization is the awareness that poverty creates hatred and anger, which creates a vicious cycle of negative thoughts and activity. When practicing generosity, Bodhisattvas consider everyone, friends and enemies alike, as equal. They do not condemn anyone’s past wrong-doing, nor do they hate those who are presently causing harm.
The Seventh Realization is that the five categories of desire lead to difficulties. Although we are in this world, we should try not to be caught up in worldly matters. A monk, for example, has in his possession three robes and one bowl. He lives simply in order to practice the Way. His precepts keep him free from attachment to worldly things, and he treats everyone equally and with compassion.
The Eighth Realization is the awareness that the fire of birth and death is raging, causing endless suffering everywhere. We should take the Great Vow to help everyone, to suffer with everyone, and to guide all living beings to the realm of great joy.
These Eight Realizations are the discoveries of Great Beings, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who have diligently practiced the way of compassion and understanding. They have sailed the Dharmakaya boat to the shore of Nirvana, but they return to the ordinary world, having abandoned the five desires, with their minds and hearts directed toward the noble way, using these Eight Realizations to help all living beings recognize the suffering in this world. If the disciples of the Buddha recite these Eight Realizations and meditate on them, they will put an end to countless misunderstandings and difficulties and progress toward enlightenment, leaving behind the world of birth and death, dwelling forever in peace.
~ The Sutra On The Eight Realizations Of The Great Beings
Translated from Chinese with Commentary By Thich Nhat Hanh
November 23, 2025
We had a teaching on this Sutra in my Sangha. It really spoke to me and I wanted to study it closer. I found this copy, which was translated by my teacher,Thich Nhat Hanh, from the original Chinese. It will take me more meditation on this and study to fully appreciate everything contained here.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews