SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 45 Linked Discourses on the Eightfold Path – Maggasaṁyutta > SN 45.8 Analysis

Linked Discourses 45.8 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 45.8

1. Ignorance – 1. Avijjāvagga

SN 45.8 Analysis – Vibhaṅgasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Bhikkhū, I will teach and analyze for you the noble eightfold path.

“Ariyaṁ vo, bhikkhave, aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ desessāmi vibhajissāmi.

Listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”

Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

“And what is the noble eightfold path?

“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo?

It is right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samādhi.

Seyyathidaṁ—sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

And what is right view?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sammādiṭṭhi?

Knowing about suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, dukkhe ñāṇaṁ, dukkhasamudaye ñāṇaṁ, dukkhanirodhe ñāṇaṁ, dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya ñāṇaṁ—

This is called right view.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sammādiṭṭhi.

And what is right thought?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sammāsaṅkappo?

It is the thought of renunciation, good will, and harmlessness.

Yo kho, bhikkhave, nekkhammasaṅkappo, abyāpādasaṅkappo, avihiṁsāsaṅkappo—

This is called right thought.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sammāsaṅkappo.

And what is right speech?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sammāvācā?

Avoiding speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, or nonsensical.

Yā kho, bhikkhave, musāvādā veramaṇī, pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇī, pharusāya vācāya veramaṇī, samphappalāpā veramaṇī—

This is called right speech.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sammāvācā.

And what is right action?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sammākammanto?

Avoiding killing living creatures, stealing, and sexual activity.

Yā kho, bhikkhave, pāṇātipātā veramaṇī, adinnādānā veramaṇī, abrahmacariyā veramaṇī—

This is called right action.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sammākammanto.

And what is right livelihood?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sammāājīvo?

It’s when a noble disciple gives up wrong livelihood and earns a living by right livelihood.

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako micchāājīvaṁ pahāya sammāājīvena jīvitaṁ kappeti—

This is called right livelihood.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sammāājīvo.

And what is right effort?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sammāvāyāmo?

It’s when a bhikkhu generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati,

They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen are given up.

uppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya chandaṁ janeti …pe…

They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have not arisen do arise.

anuppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ uppādāya chandaṁ janeti …pe…

They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fulfilled by development.

uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati—

This is called right effort.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sammāvāyāmo.

And what is right mindfulness?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sammāsati?

It’s when a bhikkhu meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ;

They meditate observing an aspect of feelings—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.

vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ;

They meditate observing an aspect of the mind—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.

citte cittānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ;

They meditate observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.

dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ—

This is called right mindfulness.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sammāsati.

And what is right samādhi?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sammāsamādhi?

It’s when a bhikkhu, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of samādhi, with internal clarity and confidence, and unified mind, without placing the mind and keeping it connected.

Vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

And with the fading away of rapture, they enter and remain in the third absorption, where they meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, personally experiencing the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’

Pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampajāno, sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeti, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

Giving up pleasure and pain, and ending former happiness and sadness, they enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.

Sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati—

This is called right samādhi.”

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sammāsamādhī”ti.