Born in Imphal, Manipur, graduated as an engineer in Kolkata, having participated in the Indian Freedom Movement, this extraordinary person joined the army and saw enough violence of the II World War. That led him to renounce everything and he went in search of peace and truth. At last through reading the holy Dhammapada, he came to the path of the Buddha and got ordained in Kushinagar under the most Venerable Chandamani Mahathera and came to be known as Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita.
A visionary and hard working Buddhist monk, he scarified his whole life in study, practice and teaching of the Buddha's words and putting that compassionate teachings into practice by establishing Maha Bodhi Society, Bengaluru in 1956. Since then he worked tirelessly in the field of spirituality, education, medical and social services and established meditation centers, hospitals and educational institutions in India and abroad. He had the distinction of being a member of the Editorial Board of the Sixth Buddhist Synod (Chattha Sangayana) in Yangon, which brought out a complete edition of the Buddhist scriptures in the original Pali language.
This is the centenary year of his birth and Mahabodhi organizations and his countless disciples are celebrating the Birth Centenary with meaningful activities as mark of paying respect to the great teacher Most Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita. We feel privileged to present this book as a part of this centenary celebrations series.

Setting in motion the wheel of truth-Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta is the first publication in the wheel series which will bring out the discourses of the Buddha as found in their original form in the Pali Tipitaka. The Pali scriptures have preserved the teachings of the Buddha in their pristine purity.
Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta is the first Discourse which Lord Buddha delivered at the historic Sage's Landing Retreat (Isipatana), in modern Sarnath, near Varanasi. This Sutta is the Quintessence of the Dhamma. Therefore it has been specially venerated through out the world. Ancient kings of India got this Sutta inscribed on gold, silver and copper plates and distributed them widely so that people may design their lives on the truths enunciated by the Master.
This publication of the Buddha Vachana Trust has been brought out as a humble Dhamma-offering, so that the Light of the Buddha may for long prevail in this world.
The first edition was brought out by the translator on the Full- moon Day of Phalguni, 1st March 1980.