S±vatthinid±na½. “Ariya½ vo, bhikkhave, aµµhaªgika½ magga½ desess±mi vibhajiss±mi. Ta½ suº±tha, s±dhuka½ manasi karotha; bh±siss±m²”ti. “Eva½, bhante” ti kho te bhikkh³ bhagavato paccassosu½. Bhagav± etadavoca:

At S±vatthi “Monks, I will teach and classify the Noble Eightfold Path. Listen and attend well, I will speak. "Yes, Venerable Sir," the monks replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said thus:

“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, ariyo aµµhaªgiko maggo? Seyyathida½: samm±diµµhi samm±saªkappo, samm±v±c± samm±kammanto, samm±-±j²vo, samm±v±y±mo samm±sati samm±sam±dhi.

“Monks, what then, is the Noble Eightfold Path? It is as follows; Right view, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Exertion, Right Mindfulness and Right Development of the Mind.’

“Katam± ca, bhikkhave, samm±diµµhi? Ya½ kho, bhikkhave, dukkhe ñ±ºa½, dukkhasamudaye ñ±ºa½, dukkhanirodhe ñ±ºa½, dukkhanirodhag±miniy± paµipad±ya ñ±ºa½. aya½ vuccati, bhikkhave, samm±diµµhi.

“Monks, what then is Right View? It is knowledge of affliction, knowledge of the genesis of affliction, knowledge of the extinction of affliction, knowledge of the way of progress leading to the extinction of affliction. Monks, this is called Right View.

“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, samm±saªkappo? Yo kho, bhikkhave, nekkhammasaªkappo, aby±p±dasaªkappo, avihi½s±saªkappo. aya½ vuccati, bhikkhave, samm±saªkappo.

“Monks, what then is Right Intention? Monks, it is intent on dispassion, intent on benevolence, intent on mercy. Monks, this is called Right Intention.

“Katam± ca, bhikkhave, samm±v±c±? Y± kho, bhikkhave, mus±v±d± veramaº², pisuº±ya v±c±ya veramaº², pharus±ya v±c±ya veramaº², samphappal±p± veramaº². aya½ vuccati, bhikkhave, samm±v±c±.

“Monks, what then is Right Speech? Monks, it is abstaining from speaking falsely, abstaining from malicious speech, abstaining from unkind speech, abstaining from frivolous speech. Monks, this is called Right Speech.

“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, samm±kammanto? Y± kho, bhikkhave, p±º±tip±t± veramaº², adinn±d±n± veramaº², abrahmacariy± veramaº². aya½ vuccati, bhikkhave, samm±kammanto.

“Monks, what then is Right Action? Monks, it is abstaining from taking life, abstaining from taking what is not given and abstaining from uncastity. Monks, this is called Right Action.

“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, samm±-±j²vo? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyas±vako micch±-±j²va½ pah±ya samm±-±j²vena j²vita½ kappeti– aya½ vuccati, bhikkhave, samm±-±j²vo.

“Monks, what then is Right Livelihood? Monks, it is where a disciple of the noble ones, abandoning wrong livelihood, maintains his life with right livelihood. Monks, this is called Right Livelihood.

“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, samm±v±y±mo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anuppann±na½ p±pak±na½ akusal±na½ dhamm±na½ anupp±d±ya chanda½ janeti v±yamati v²riya½ ±rabhati citta½ paggaºh±ti padahati, uppann±na½ p±pak±na½ akusal±na½ dhamm±na½ pah±n±ya chanda½ janeti v±yamati v²riya½ ±rabhati citta½ paggaºh±ti padahati, anuppann±na½ kusal±na½ dhamm±na½ upp±d±ya chanda½ janeti v±yamati v²riya½ ±rabhati citta½ paggaºh±ti padahati, uppann±na½ kusal±na½ dhamm±na½ µhitiy± asammos±ya bhiyyobh±v±ya vepull±ya bh±van±ya p±rip³riy± chanda½ janeti v±yamati v²riya½ ±rabhati citta½ paggaºh±ti padahati– aya½ vuccati, bhikkhave, samm±v±y±mo.

“Monks, what then is Right Exertion? Monks, it is where a monk, through mental exertion, actively takes up and upholds with endeavor and resolve, to bring forth the non-manifestation of evil and unwholesome natures that are not yet manifest; Through mental exertion, actively takes up and upholds with endeavor and resolve, to bring forth the abandonment of evil and unwholesome natures that have manifested; Through mental exertion, actively takes up and upholds with endeavor and resolve, to bring forth the manifestation wholesome natures that are not yet manifest; Through mental exertion, actively takes up and upholds with endeavor and resolve, to bring forth the steadfast, non-perplexed, exceedingly abundant, fullness, cultivation and fulfillment of wholesome natures that have manifested. Monks, this is called Right Exertion.

“Katam± ca, bhikkhave, samm±sati? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu k±ye k±y±nupass² viharati ±t±p² sampaj±no satim±, vineyya loke abhijjh±domanassa½; vedan±su vedan±nupass² viharati ±t±p² sampaj±no satim±, vineyya loke abhijjh±domanassa½; citte citt±nupass² viharati ±t±p² sampaj±no satim±, vineyya loke abhijjh±domanassa½; dhammesu dhamm±nupass² viharati ±t±p² sampaj±no satim±, vineyya loke abhijjh±domanassa½. Aya½ vuccati, bhikkhave, samm±sati.

“Monks, what then is Right Mindfulness? Monks, it is where a monk abides contemplating the body in the body, earnestly attentive, and mindful; overcoming desire and distress for the mundane. He abides contemplating sensations of feeling in sensations of feeling, earnestly attentive, and mindful; overcoming desire and distress for the mundane. He abides contemplating the mental-faculties in mental-faculties, earnestly attentive, and mindful; overcoming desire and distress for the mundane. He abides contemplating the (mental) phenomena in phenomena, earnestly attentive, and mindful; overcoming desire and distress for the mundane. Monks, this is called Right Mindfulness.

“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, samm±sam±dhi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva k±mehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakka½ savic±ra½ vivekaja½ p²tisukha½ paµhama½ jh±na½ upasampajja viharati.

“Monks, what then is Right Concentration? Monks, it is where a monk, completely removed from sensual gratification, removed from unwholesome natures; enters and abides in the first jh±na - of bliss and pleasure arisen from removal, with sustained thought and examination.

“Vitakkavic±r±na½ v³pasam± ajjhatta½ sampas±dana½ cetaso ekodibh±va½ avitakka½ avic±ra½ sam±dhija½ p²tisukha½ dutiya½ jh±na½ upasampajja viharati.

“Sustained thought and examination are calmed; he enters and abides in the second jh±na - of bliss and pleasure arisen from concentration, with one-pointedness of mind, with inward serenity, freed from sustained thought and examination.

“P²tiy± ca vir±g± upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampaj±no, sukhañca k±yena paµisa½vedeti, ya½ ta½ ariy± ±cikkhanti– ‘upekkhako satim± sukhavih±r²’ti tatiya½ jh±na½ upasampajja viharati.

“Bliss falls away. He abides in equanimity, mindful and attentive, sensitive to pleasurable feelings of the body; he enters and abides in the third jh±na - which the Noble Ones proclaim, ‘Composed and mindful, he has a pleasurable abiding’.

“Sukhassa ca pah±n± dukkhassa ca pah±n± pubbeva somanassadomanass±na½ atthaªgam± adukkhamasukha½ upekkh±satip±risuddhi½ catuttha½ jh±na½ upasampajja viharati– aya½ vuccati, bhikkhave, samm±sam±dh²”ti.

“Pleasure is abandoned and pain is abandoned, just as before with the disappearance of mental ease and distress; he enters and abides in the fourth jh±na - not pleasure - not pain, purity of equanimity and mindfulness.

Monks, this is called Right Concentration.

~~~

[Khantijayo Bhikkhu]