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- Samyutta Nikaya XLV.8
- Magga-vibhanga Sutta
- An Analysis of the Path
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
I have heard that at one time the Blessed One was staying in Savatthi
at Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's park.
There he addressed the monks, saying, "Monks."
"Yes, lord," the monks responded to him.
The Blessed One said, "I will teach & analyse for you the Noble Eightfold
Path. Listen & pay close attention. I will speak."
"As you say, lord," the monks responded to him.
The Blessed One said, "Now what, monks, is the Noble Eightfold Path? Right view,
right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right
mindfulness, right concentration.
"And what, monks, is right view? Knowledge with regard to stress, knowledge with
regard to the origination of stress, knowledge with regard to the stopping of stress,
knowledge with regard to the way of practice leading to the stopping of stress: This,
monks, is called right view.
"And what is right resolve? Being resolved on renunciation, on freedom from ill
will, on harmlessness: This is called right resolve.
"And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, abstaining from divisive speech,
abstaining from abusive speech, abstaining from idle chatter: This, monks, is called right
speech.
"And what, monks, is right action? Abstaining from taking life, abstaining from
stealing, abstaining from sexual intercourse: This, monks, is called right action.
"And what, monks, is right livelihood? There is the case where a noble disciple,
having abandoned dishonest livelihood, keeps his life going with right livelihood: This,
monks, is called right livelihood.
"And what, monks, is right effort? (i) There is the case where a monk
generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence, upholds & exerts his intent for
the sake of the non-arising of evil, unskillful qualities that have not yet arisen. (ii)
He generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence, upholds & exerts his intent for
the sake of the abandonment of evil, unskillful qualities that have arisen. (iii)
He generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence, upholds & exerts his intent for
the sake of the arising of skillful qualities that have not yet arisen. (iv) He
generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence, upholds & exerts his intent for
the maintenance, non-confusion, increase, plenitude, development, & culmination of
skillful qualities that have arisen: This, monks, is called right effort.
"And what, monks, is right mindfulness? (i) There is the case where a monk
remains focused on the body in & of itself -- ardent, aware, & mindful -- putting
away greed & distress with reference to the world. (ii) He remains focused on
feelings in & of themselves -- ardent, aware, & mindful -- putting away greed
& distress with reference to the world. (iii) He remains focused on the mind in
& of itself -- ardent, aware, & mindful -- putting away greed & distress with
reference to the world. (iv) He remains focused on mental qualities in & of
themselves -- ardent, aware, & mindful -- putting away greed & distress with
reference to the world. This, monks, is called right mindfulness.
"And what, monks, is right concentration? (i) There is the case where a
monk -- quite withdrawn from sensual pleasures, withdrawn from unskillful (mental)
qualities -- enters & remains in the first jhana: rapture & pleasure born from
withdrawal, accompanied by directed thought & evaluation. (ii) With the
stilling of directed thought & evaluation, he enters & remains in the second
jhana: rapture & pleasure born of concentration, one-pointedness of awareness free
from directed thought & evaluation -- internal assurance. (iii) With the fading
of rapture, he remains in equanimity, mindful & fully aware, and physically sensitive
of pleasure. He enters & remains in the third jhana, of which the Noble Ones declare,
'Equanimous & mindful, he has a pleasurable abiding.' (iv) With the abandoning
of pleasure & pain -- as with the earlier disappearance of elation & distress --
he enters & remains in the fourth jhana: purity of equanimity & mindfulness,
neither pleasure nor pain. This, monks, is called right concentration."
That is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, the monks delighted at his words.