SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 45 Linked Discourses on the Eightfold Path – Maggasaṁyutta > SN 45.96 Sixth Discourse on Slanting East

Linked Discourses 45.96 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 45.96

9. Abbreviated Texts on the Ganges – 9. Gaṅgāpeyyālavagga

SN 45.96 Sixth Discourse on Slanting East – Chaṭṭhapācīnaninnasutta

“Bhikkhū, all the great rivers—that is,

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yā kācimā mahānadiyo, seyyathidaṁ—

the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—slant, slope, and incline towards the east.

gaṅgā, yamunā, aciravatī, sarabhū, mahī, sabbā tā pācīnaninnā pācīnapoṇā pācīnapabbhārā;

In the same way, a bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the noble eightfold path slants, slopes, and inclines to extinguishment.

evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro.

And how does a bhikkhu who develops the noble eightfold path slant, slope, and incline to extinguishment?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro?

It’s when a bhikkhu develops right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samādhi, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.

That’s how a bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the noble eightfold path slants, slopes, and inclines to extinguishment.”

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro”ti.