After attaining enlightenment, Buddha wanted to share his knowledge with the people around him. However, he felt that many of them would not be able to understand the true essence of his teachings with their sense of perception clouded by negative thoughts and sensual pleasures. Thus he was reluctant to preach the true message of Dhamma fearing that it would be a total waste of time if people were not able to appreciate its real meaning. Nevertheless, he finally decided to go ahead and impart his knowledge to the world and started looking for suitable persons. He thought of Ālara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta, his former teachers but he got to know that they had passed away. Then he decided on five of his former pupils who had earlier deserted him. Knowing that they were living at Benares in the Deer Park at Isipatana, he set out in search of them.

When Buddha reached the Deer Park at Isipatana, the five ascetics resolved not to make any salutation to their former teacher. However, they failed in their resolve and welcomed him as a 'friend.' Buddha gently asked them not to address him in that manner since he was now the 'enlightened one.' He then offered to teach them the Dhamma in its true essence. The five ascetics then asked how could Buddha attain super human insight and vision even though he abandoned the stern austerities and penances that helped achieve this end. However, Buddha kept on reassuring them that he had reached the final truth and would gladly instruct them. The ascetics were not convinced and kept on questioning him. Finally, the Buddha said, "Confess, O monks, did I ever speak to you in this way before?" The ascetics then realized the truth and offered themselves as ready listeners. Thus Buddha went on to deliver his first sermon that paved the way for many such sermons to follow.