SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 45 Linked Discourses on the Eightfold Path – Maggasaṁyutta > SN 45.150 Seeds

Linked Discourses 45.150 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 45.150

12. Hard Work – 12. Balakaraṇīyavagga

SN 45.150 Seeds – Bījasutta

“All the plants and seeds that achieve growth, increase, and maturity do so depending on the earth and grounded on the earth.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ye kecime bījagāmabhūtagāmā vuḍḍhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjanti, sabbe te pathaviṁ nissāya pathaviyaṁ patiṭṭhāya evamete bījagāmabhūtagāmā vuḍḍhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjanti;

In the same way, a bhikkhu develops and cultivates the noble eightfold path depending on and grounded on ethics, achieving growth, increase, and maturity in good qualities.

evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto vuḍḍhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ pāpuṇāti dhammesu.

And how does a bhikkhu develop the noble eightfold path depending on and grounded on ethics, achieving growth, increase, and maturity in good qualities?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto vuḍḍhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ pāpuṇāti dhammesu?

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 …pe…

That’s how a bhikkhu develops and cultivates the noble eightfold path depending on and grounded on ethics, achieving growth, increase, and maturity in good qualities.”

evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto vuḍḍhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ pāpuṇāti dhammesū”ti.