The Connected Discourses of the Buddha

by Bhikkhu Bodhi

  24 (4) The Way (2)

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, whether for a layperson or one gone forth, I do not praise the wrong way. Whether it is a layperson or one gone forth who is practising wrongly, [19] because of undertaking the wrong way of practice he does not attain the method, the Dhamma that is wholesome.24 And what, bhikkhus, is the wrong way? It is: wrong view ... wrong concentration. This is called the wrong way. Whether it is a layperson or one gone forth who is practising wrongly, because of undertaking the wrong way of practice he does not attain the method, the Dhamma that is wholesome.

  “Bhikkhus, whether for a layperson or one gone forth, I praise the right way. Whether it is a layperson or one gone forth who is practising rightly, because of undertaking the right way of practice he attains the method, the Dhamma that is wholesome. And what, bhikkhus, is the right way? It is: right view ... right concentration. This is called the right way. Whether it is a layperson or one gone forth who is practising rightly, because of undertaking the right way of practice he attains the method, the Dhamma that is wholesome.”

  25 (5) The Inferior Person (1)

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, I will teach you the inferior person and the superior person. Listen to that….

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the inferior person? Here someone is of wrong view, wrong intention, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness, wrong concentration. This is called the inferior person.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the superior person? Here someone is of right view, right intention, right speech, [20] right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This is called the superior person.”

  26 (6) The Inferior Person (2)

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, I will teach you the inferior person and the one who is worse than the inferior person. I will teach you the superior person and the one who is better than the superior person. Listen to that….

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the inferior person? Here someone is of wrong view ... wrong concentration. This is called the inferior person.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the one who is worse than the inferior person? Here someone is of wrong view ... wrong concentration, wrong knowledge, wrong liberation.25 This is called the one who is worse than the inferior person.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the superior person? Here someone is of right view ... right concentration. This is called the superior person.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the one who is better than the superior person? Here someone is of right view ... right concentration, right knowledge, right liberation. This is called the one who is better than the superior person.”

  27 (7) The Pot

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, just as a pot without a stand is easily knocked over, while one with a stand is difficult to knock over, so the mind without a stand is easily knocked over, while the mind with a stand is difficult to knock over. [21]

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the stand of the mind? It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view ... right concentration. This is the stand of the mind.

  “Bhikkhus, just as a pot ... so the mind without a stand is easily knocked over, while the mind with a stand is difficult to knock over.”

  28 (8) Concentration

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, I will teach you noble right concentration with its supports and its accessories.26 Listen to that….

  “And what, bhikkhus, is noble right concentration with its supports and its accessories? There are: right view ... right mindfulness. The one-pointedness of mind equipped with these seven factors is called noble right concentration ‘with its supports,’ and also ‘with its accessories.’”

  29 (9) Feeling

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, there are these three feelings. What three? Pleasant feeling, painful feeling, neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling. These are the three feelings.

  “The Noble Eightfold Path, bhikkhus, is to be developed for the full understanding of these three feelings. What is the Noble Eightfold Path? It is: right view ... right concentration. [22] The Noble Eightfold Path is to be developed for the full understanding of these three feelings.”

  30 (10) Uttiya

  At Sāvatthı̄. Then the Venerable Uttiya approached the Blessed One ... and said to him:

  “Here, venerable sir, when I was alone in seclusion a reflection arose in my mind thus: ‘Five cords of sensual pleasure have been spoken of by the Blessed One. But what now are those five cords of sensual pleasure?’”

  “Good, good, Uttiya! These five cords of sensual pleasure have been spoken of by me. What five? Forms cognizable by the eye that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, sensually enticing, tantalizing. Sounds cognizable by the ear ... Odours cognizable by the nose ... Tastes cognizable by the tongue ... Tactile objects cognizable by the body that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, sensually enticing, tantalizing. These are the five cords of sensual pleasure spoken of by me.

  “The Noble Eightfold Path, Uttiya, is to be developed for the abandoning of these five cords of sensual pleasure. And what is the Noble Eightfold Path? It is: right view ... right concentration. This Noble Eightfold Path is to be developed for the abandoning of these five cords of sensual pleasure.”

  [23]

  IV. PRACTICE

  31 (1) Practice (1)

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, I will teach you wrong practice and right practice. Listen to that….

  “And what, bhikkhus, is wrong practice? It is: wrong view .... wrong concentration. This is called wrong practice.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is right practice? It is: right view ... right concentration. This is called right practice.”

  32 (2) Practice (2)

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, I will teach you the one practising wrongly and the one practising rightly. Listen to that….

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the one practising wrongly? Here someone is of wrong view ... wrong concentration. This is called the one practising wrongly.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the one practising rightly? Here someone is of right view … right concentration. This is called the one practising rightly.”27

  33 (3) Neglected

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, those who have neglected the Noble Eightfold Path have neglected the noble path28 leading to the complete destruction of suffering. Those who have undertaken the Noble Eightfold Path have undertaken the noble path leading to the complete destruction of suffering. [24]

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the Noble Eightfold Path? It is: right view … right concentration. Those who have neglected this Noble Eightfold Path … Those who have undertaken this Noble Eightfold Path have undertaken the noble path leading to the complete destruction of suffering.”

  34 (4) Going Beyond

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, these eight things, when developed and cultivated, lead to going beyond from the near shore to the far shore. What eight? Right view … right concentration. These eight things, when developed and cultivated, lead to going beyond from the near shore to the far shore.”29

  This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this:“Few are those among humankind

  Who go beyond to the far shore.

  The rest of the people merely run

  Up and down along the bank.

  “When the Dhamma is rightly expounded

  Those who practise in accord with the Dhamma

  Are the people who will go beyond

  The realm of Death so hard to cross.

  “Having left behind the dark qualities,

  The wise man should develop the bright ones.

  Having come from home into homelessness,

  Where it is hard to take delight—

  “There in seclusion he should seek delight,

  Having left behind sensual pleasures.

  Owning nothing, the wise man

  Should cleanse himself of mental defilements.

  “Those wh
ose minds are well developed

  In the factors of enlightenment,

  Who through nonclinging find delight

  In the relinquishment of grasping:

  Those luminous ones with taints destroyed

  Are fully quenched in the world.” [25]

  35 (5) Asceticism (1)

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, I will teach you asceticism and the fruits of asceticism. Listen to that….

  “And what, bhikkhus, is asceticism? It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view ... right concentration. This is called asceticism.

  “And what, bhikkhus, are the fruits of asceticism? The fruit of stream-entry, the fruit of once-returning, the fruit of nonreturning, the fruit of arahantship. These are called the fruits of asceticism.”

  36 (6) Asceticism (2)

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, I will teach you asceticism and the goal of asceticism. Listen to that….

  “And what, bhikkhus, is asceticism? It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view ... right concentration. This is called asceticism.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the goal of asceticism? The destruction of lust, the destruction of hatred, the destruction of delusion. This is called the goal of asceticism.”

  37 (7) Brahminhood (1)

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, I will teach you brahminhood and the fruits of brahminhood. Listen to that….

  “And what, bhikkhus, is brahminhood? It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view ... right concentration. This is called brahminhood.

  “And what, bhikkhus, are the fruits of brahminhood? [26] The fruit of stream-entry, the fruit of once-returning, the fruit of nonreturning, the fruit of arahantship. These are called the fruits of brahminhood.”

  38 (8) Brahminhood (2)

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, I will teach you brahminhood and the goal of brahminhood. Listen to that….

  “And what, bhikkhus, is brahminhood? It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view ... right concentration. This is called brahminhood.

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the goal of brahminhood? The destruction of lust, the destruction of hatred, the destruction of delusion. This is called the goal of brahminhood.”

  39 (9) The Holy Life (1)

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, I will teach you the holy life and the fruits of the holy life. Listen to that….

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the holy life? It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view ... right concentration. This is called the holy life.

  “And what, bhikkhus, are the fruits of the holy life? The fruit of stream-entry, the fruit of once-returning, the fruit of nonreturning, the fruit of arahantship. These are called the fruits of the holy life.”

  40 (10) The Holy Life (2)

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, I will teach you the holy life and the goal of the holy life. Listen to that….

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the holy life? It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view ... right concentration. This is called the holy life. [27]

  “And what, bhikkhus, is the goal of the holy life? The destruction of lust, the destruction of hatred, the destruction of delusion. This is called the goal of the holy life.”

  V. WANDERERS OF OTHER SECTS30

  41 (1) The Fading Away of Lust

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, if wanderers of other sects ask you: ‘For what purpose, friends, is the holy life lived under the ascetic Gotama?’—being asked thus, you should answer them thus: ‘It is, friends, for the fading away of lust that the holy life is lived under the Blessed One.’

  “Then, bhikkhus, if the wanderers of other sects ask you: ‘But, friends, is there a path, is there a way for the fading away of lust?’—being asked thus, you should answer them thus: ‘There is a path, friends, there is a way for the fading away of lust.’

  “And what, bhikkhus, is that path, what is that way [28] for the fading away of lust? It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view ... right concentration. This is the path, this is the way for the fading away of lust.

  “Being asked thus, bhikkhus, you should answer those wanderers of other sects in such a way.”

  42 (2)–48 (8) The Abandoning of the Fetters, Etc.

  “Bhikkhus, if wanderers of other sects ask you: ‘For what purpose, friends, is the holy life lived under the ascetic Gotama?’—being asked thus, you should answer them thus: ‘It is, friends, for the abandoning of the fetters ... for the uprooting of the underlying tendencies ... for the full understanding of the course31 … for the destruction of the taints ... for the realization of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation ... for the sake of knowledge and vision ... [29] … for the sake of final Nibbāna without clinging that the holy life is lived under the Blessed One.’

  “Then, bhikkhus, if the wanderers of other sects ask you: ‘But, friends, is there a path, is there a way for attaining final Nibbāna without clinging?’—being asked thus, you should answer them thus: ‘There is a path, friends, there is a way for attaining final Nibbāna without clinging.’

  “And what, bhikkhus, is that path, what is that way for attaining final Nibbāna without clinging? It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view ... right concentration. This is the path, this is the way for attaining final Nibbāna without clinging.

  “Being asked thus, bhikkhus, you should answer those wanderers of other sects in such a way.”

  VI. THE SUN REPETITION SERIES

  (i) BASED UPON SECLUSION VERSION

  49 (1) Good Friend

  At Sāvatthı̄. “Bhikkhus, this is the forerunner and precursor of the rising of the sun, that is, the dawn. So too, bhikkhus, [30] for a bhikkhu this is the forerunner and precursor for the arising of the Noble Eightfold Path, that is, good friendship.32 When a bhikkhu has a good friend, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate this Noble Eightfold Path.

  “And how does a bhikkhu who has a good friend develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release…. He develops right concentration, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu who has a good friend develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path.”

  50 (2)–55 (7) Accomplishment in Virtue, Etc.

  “Bhikkhus, this is the forerunner and precursor of the rising of the sun, that is, the dawn. So too, bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu this is the forerunner and precursor for the arising of the Noble Eightfold Path, that is, accomplishment in virtue … accomplishment in desire ... accomplishment in self ... accomplishment in view ... accomplishment in diligence … [31] … accomplishment in careful attention.33 When a bhikkhu is accomplished in careful attention, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate this Noble Eightfold Path.

  “And how does a bhikkhu who is accomplished in careful attention develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release…. He develops right concentration, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu who is accomplished in careful attention develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path.”

  (ii) REMOVAL OF LUST VERSION

  56 (1) Good Friend

  “Bhikkhus, this is the forerunner and precursor of the rising of the sun, that is, the dawn. So too, bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu this is the forerunner and precursor for the arising of the Noble Eightfold Path, that is, good friendship. When a bhikkhu has a good friend, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate this Noble Eightfold Path.

  “And how does a bhikkhu who has a good friend develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view, which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion…. He develops right concentration, which ha
s as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu who has a good friend develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path.”