Teachings¶
The Noble Eightfold Path
Ariy'aṭṭhaṅgika-magga
[DN 22.18]
ayam-eva ariyo aṭṭh'aṅgiko maggo seyyathīdaṃ sammā-diṭṭhi sammā-saṅkappo sammā-vācā sammā-kammanto sammā-ājīvo sammā-vāyāmo sammā-sati sammā-samādhi.
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ayaṃ- | pron | masc.nom.sg | this |
| eva | ind | only, just, so, even | |
| ariyo | adj | masc.nom.sg | noble, distinguished |
| aṭṭhaṅgiko | adj | masc.nom.sg | with eight parts; eight-limbed, eight-fold |
| maggo | noun | masc.nom.sg | road, path, track |
| seyyathīdaṃ | ind | as follows, i.e. | |
| sammādiṭṭhi | noun | fem.nom.sg | correct outlook, right view |
| sammāsaṅkappo | noun | masc.nom.sg | correct intention, right thoughts |
| sammāvācā | noun | fem.nom.sg | correct speech |
| sammākammanto | noun | masc.nom.sg | correct behaviour, right actions |
| sammāājīvo | noun | masc.nom.sg | correct livelihood |
| sammāvāyāmo | noun | masc.nom.sg | correct effort |
| sammāsati | noun | masc.nom.sg | correct awareness, right mindfulness |
| sammāsamādhi | noun | masc.nom.sg | correct composure, stability of mind |
this is the noble eightfold path, as follows: right view, right intention, right speech, right actions, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right stability of mind.
katamā ca bhikkhave sammā-diṭṭhi?
And what monks is right view?
yaṃ kho bhikkhave dukkhe ñāṇaṃ, dukkha-samudaye ñāṇaṃ, dukkha-nirodhe ñāṇaṃ, dukkha-nirodha-gāminiyā paṭipadāya ñāṇaṃ, ayaṃ vuccati bhikkhave sammā-diṭṭhi.
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| katamā ca | pron | fem.nom.sg | and what? |
| sammādiṭṭhi | noun | fem.nom.sg | correct outlook, right view |
| yaṃ | pron | nt.nom.sg | that which, what |
| kho | ind | indeed | |
| dukkhe | noun | nt.loc.sg | in discomfort, suffering, pain, unease something unsatisfactory, problem, trouble |
| ñāṇaṃ | noun | nt.nom.sg | knowledge, understanding, insight |
| dukkhasamudaye | noun | masc.loc.sg | in origin of suffering, source of unsatisfactory |
| ñāṇaṃ | noun | nt.nom.sg | knowledge, understanding, insight |
| dukkhanirodhe | noun | masc.loc.sg | in cessation of suffering, disappearance of suffering |
| ñāṇaṃ | noun | nt.nom.sg | knowledge, understanding, insight |
| dukkhanirodha- | noun | cessation of suffering, disappearance of | suffering |
| gāminiyā | adj | fem.loc.sg | leading to |
| paṭipadāya | noun | fem.loc.sg | way, path of progress, path of practice |
| ñāṇaṃ | noun | nt.nom.sg | knowledge, understanding, insight |
| ayaṃ | pron | fem.nom.sg | this |
| vuccati | verb | pr.3.sg | is said to be, is called |
| sammādiṭṭhi | noun | fem.nom.sg | correct outlook, right view |
Understanding of suffering, understanding of the origin of suffering, understanding of the cessation of suffering, understanding of the path leading to the cessation of suffering, this monks is called right view.
katamo ca bhikkhave sammā-saṅkappo?
And what monks is right intention?
nekkhamma-saṅkappo, abyāpāda-saṅkappo, avihiṃsā-saṅkappo, ayaṃ vuccati bhikkhave sammā-saṅkappo.
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| nekkhamma- | noun | renunciation, giving up (worldly things) | |
| saṅkappo | noun | masc.nom.sg | intention, volition, thought |
| abyāpāda- | noun | goodwill, kindness, friendliness, benevolence | lit. not ill-will |
| saṅkappo | noun | masc.nom.sg | intention, volition, thought, |
| avihiṃsā- | noun | non-violence, non-cruelty, non-harm | |
| saṅkappo | noun | masc.nom.sg | intention, volition, thought |
The intention of renunciation, the intention of non-ill-will, the intention of non-cruelty, this monks is called right intention.
katamā ca bhikkhave sammā-vācā?
And what monks is right speech?
musā-vādā veramaṇī, pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇī, pharusāya vācāya veramaṇī, samphappalāpā veramaṇī, ayaṃ vuccati bhikkhave sammā-vācā
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| musāvādā | noun | masc.abl.sg | from lying, false speech; lit. speaking falsely |
| veramaṇī | noun | fem.nom.sg | abstinence, abstaining from |
| pisuṇāya | adj | fem.abl.sg | from divisive, defamatory, slanderous |
| vācāya | noun | fem.abl.sg | from speech, words, statement |
| veramaṇī | noun | fem.nom.sg | abstinence, abstaining from |
| pharusāya | adj | fem.abl.sg | unkind, harsh, rough |
| vācāya | noun | fem.abl.sg | from speech, words, statement |
| veramaṇī | noun | fem.nom.sg | abstinence, abstaining from |
| samphappalāpā | noun | masc.abl.sg | frivolous chatter, talking rubbish, idle chatter |
| veramaṇī | noun | fem.nom.sg | abstinence, abstaining from |
Abstaining from false speech, abstaining from divisive speech, abstaining from harsh speech, abstaining from idle chatter. This monks is called right speech.
katamo ca bhikkhave sammā-kammanto?
And what monks is right actions?
pāṇātipātā veramaṇī, adinnādānā veramaṇī, kāmesu-micchācārā veramaṇī, ayaṃ vuccati bhikkhave sammā-kammanto.
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| pāṇātipātā | noun | masc.abl.sg | from killing living beings |
| adinnādānā | noun | masc.abl.sg | from theft, stealing, lit. taking what is not given |
| kāmesumicchācārā | noun | nt.abl.sg | sexual misconduct, wrong behaviour in sexual matters |
Abstaining from killing living beings, abstaining from taking what is not given, abstaining from sexual misconduct. This monks is called right actions.
katamo ca bhikkhave sammā-ājīvo?
And what monks is right livelihood?
idha bhikkhave ariya-sāvako micchā-ājīvaṃ pahāya sammā-ājīvena jīvitaṃ kappeti, ayaṃ vuccati bhikkhave sammā-ājīvo.
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| idha | ind | here, in this regard, in this case | |
| ariyasāvako | noun | masc.nom.sg | disciple of the noble ones |
| micchā- | ind | wrongly, falsely, incorrectly, improperly | |
| ājīvaṃ | noun | masc.acc.sg | livelihood, way of earning a living |
| pahāya | verb | ger | leaving behind, giving up, abandoning |
| sammāājīvena | noun | masc.ins.sg | correct livelihood |
| jīvitaṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | livelihood, lifestyle, way of life |
| kappeti | verb | pr.3.sg | prepares, makes, forms, fashions, constructs |
Here disciple of the noble ones abandoning improper way of earning a living, makes his lifestyle by correct livelihood. this monks is called right livelihood.
katamo ca bhikkhave sammā-vāyāmo?
And what monks is right effort?
idha bhikkhave bhikkhu anuppannānaṃ pāpakānaṃ akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ anuppādāya chandaṃ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṃ ārabhati cittaṃ paggaṇhāti padahati
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| idha | ind | here, in this regard, in this case | |
| bhikkhu | noun | masc.nom.sg | monk |
| anuppannānaṃ | pp | masc.gen.pl | of unborn; unarisen; not existing; nonexistent |
| pāpakānaṃ | adj | masc.gen.pl | of bad, wicked, wrong, worthless |
| akusalānaṃ | adj | masc.gen.pl | of unskillful, unbeneficial, unwholesome |
| dhammānaṃ | noun | masc.gen.pl | of states of mind |
| anuppādāya | noun | nt.dat.sg | for non arising, non-appearance, not coming into existence |
| chandaṃ | noun | masc.acc.sg | desire, wish, intention, impulse |
| janeti | verb | pr.3.sg | generates, produces, lit. causes production of |
| vāyamati | verb | pr.3.sg | tries, makes an effort, strives for exerts oneself |
| vīriyaṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | effort, energy, might, power |
| ārabhati | verb | pr.3.sg | begins, starts, undertaking, arouses |
| cittaṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | mind |
| paggaṇhāti | verb | pr.3.sg | applies effort, strives on, goes for it endeavours, exerts |
| padahati | verb | pr.3.sg | exerts oneself, strives, applies oneself lit. put forward |
Here monks a monk generates intention for the non-arising of unarisen worthless, unskillful states of mind, he exerts oneself, arouses energy, exerts (his) mind and strives.
uppannānaṃ pāpakānaṃ akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ pahānāya chandaṃ janeti vāyamati
vīriyaṃ ārabhati cittaṃ paggaṇhāti padahati
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| uppannānaṃ | pp | masc.gen.pl | of arisen, appeared, come into existence |
| pāpakānaṃ | adj | masc.gen.pl | of bad, wicked, wrong, worthless |
| akusalānaṃ | adj | masc.gen.pl | of unskilful, unbeneficial, useless |
| dhammānaṃ | noun | masc.gen.pl | of states of mind |
| pahānāya | noun | nt.dat.sg | for giving up, letting go, removal, abandoning |
He generates intention for the abandoning of arisen worthless, unskillful states of mind, he exerts oneself, arouses energy, exerts his mind and strives.
anuppannānaṃ kusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ uppādāya chandaṃ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṃ ārabhati cittaṃ paggaṇhāti padahati
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| anuppannānaṃ | pp | masc.gen.pl | of unborn, unarisen, not yet existent |
| kusalānaṃ | adj | masc.gen.pl | of beneficial, useful, good, wholesome |
| dhammānaṃ | noun | masc.gen.pl | of states of mind |
| uppādāya | noun | masc.dat.sg | for arising, appearing, coming into being |
He generates intention for the arising of unarisen worthless, unskilful states of mind, he exerts oneself, arouses energy, exerts his mind and strives.
uppannānaṃ kusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya
bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṃ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṃ ārabhati cittaṃ paggaṇhāti padahati
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| uppannānaṃ | pp | masc.gen.pl | of arisen, appeared, come into existence |
| kusalānaṃ | adj | masc.gen.pl | of beneficial, useful, good, wholesome |
| dhammānaṃ | noun | masc.gen.pl | of states of mind |
| ṭhitiyā | noun | fem.dat.sg | for stability, constancy, endurance, long lasting, strengthening, lit. standing |
| asammosāya | noun | masc.dat.sg | for not forgetting, non-confusion |
| bhiyyobhāvāya | noun | masc.dat.sg | for growth, increase, multiplication |
| vepullāya | noun | nt.dat.sg | for full development, maturity |
| bhāvanāya | noun | fem.instr.sg | by development, cultivation, meditation |
| pāripūriyā | noun | fem.dat.sg | for fulfillment, completion, culmination maturity |
He generates intention for the strengthening, not forgetting, increase, maturity and fulfillment by development of arisen wholesome states of mind, he exerts oneself, arouses energy, exerts his mind and strives.
ayaṃ vuccati bhikkhave sammā-vāyāmo
this monks is called right effort
katamā ca, bhikkhave, sammāsati?
and what monks is right mindfulness?
idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhā-domanassaṃ
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| idha- | ind | here | |
| bhikkhu | noun | masc.nom.sg | monk |
| kāye | noun | masc.loc.sg | in body |
| kāya- | noun | body | |
| anupassī | noun | masc.nom.sg | observer; one who contemplates |
| viharati | verb | pr.3.sg | he stays |
| ātāpī | adj | masc.nom.sg | ardent; strenuous , with continuous effort, lit. burning |
| sampajāno | adj | masc.nom.sg | thoughtful, clearly aware, attentive knowing |
| satimā | adj | masc.nom.sg | mindful, fully present, attentive |
| vineyya | verb | ger | removing, getting rid (of) |
| loke | noun | masc.loc.sg | in world |
| abhijjhā- | noun | fem | wishing, wanting, covetousness, greed |
| domanassaṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | (mental) suffering, distress dissatisfaction |
Here a monk stays with the body, contemplating the body, resolute, clearly aware and fully present, removing greed and dissatisfaction towards the world
vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhā-domanassaṃ
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| vedanāsu | noun | masc.loc.pl | in feelings, sensations |
| vedanānupassī | noun | masc.nom.sg | observer of feelings |
Here a monk stay with the feelings, contemplating the feelings, resolute, clearly aware and fully present, removing greed and dissatisfaction towards the world
citte cittānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhā-domanassaṃ
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| citte | noun | masc.loc.pl | in mind |
| cittānupassī | noun | masc.nom.sg | observer of mind |
Here a monk stays with the mind, contemplating the mind, resolute, clearly aware and fully present, removing greed and dissatisfaction towards the world
dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhā-domanassaṃ
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| dhammesu | noun | masc.loc.pl | in mental phenomena, Dhammas |
| dhammānupassī | noun | masc.nom.sg | observer of mental phenomena of Dhammas |
Here a monk stays with the mental phenomena (Dhammas), contemplating the mental phenomena (Dhammas), resolute, clearly aware and fully present, removing greed and depression towards the world.
ayaṃ vuccati bhikkhave sammā-sati
this moks is called right mindfulness
katamo ca bhikkhave sammā-samādhi
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| katamo | pron | masc.nom.sg | what? which (of the many)? |
| ca | ind | and | |
| bhikkhave | noun | masc.voc.pl | o monks |
| sammā- | ind | perfectly, rightly, correctly | |
| samādhi | noun | masc.nom.sg | perfect peace of mind, stability of mind, stillness of mind |
and what monks is right stability of mind?
idha bhikkhave bhikkhu vivicc'eva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi,
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| idha | ind | here, in this regard, in this case | |
| bhikkhave | noun | masc.voc.pl | o monks |
| bhikkhu | noun | masc.nom.sg | monk |
| vivicca- | verb | ger | separating oneself from, aloof from |
| eva | ind | just | |
| kāmehi | noun | masc.abl.pl | from pleasures, sensual pleasures |
| vivicca | verb | ger | separating oneself from, aloof from |
| akusalehi | adj | masc.abl.pl | from unskillful, unbeneficial, useless |
| dhammehi | noun | masc.abl.pl | from mental states |
Here, monks, monk separating oneself from sensual pleasures, separating oneself from unskillful mental states
savitakkaṃ savicāraṃ vivekajaṃ pītisukhaṃ paṭhamaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| savitakkaṃ | adj | nt.acc.sg | with thinking, with reflection |
| savicāraṃ | adj | nt.acc.sg | with investigation, with consideration |
| vivekajaṃ | adj | nt.acc.sg | born from seclusion, born from discrimination |
| pītisukhaṃ | adj | nt.acc.sg | with joy and happiness, delight and ease |
| paṭhamaṃ | adj | nt.acc.sg | the first |
| jhānaṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | state of meditation |
| upasampajja | verb | ger | reaching, attaining, arriving at |
| viharati | verb | pr.3.sg | lives; abides; dwells |
he attaining and remains in the first state of meditation, (which) with thinking, with investigation and with the delight and ease born from seclusion
vitakkavicārānaṃ vūpasamā ajjhattaṃ sampasādanaṃ cetaso ekodibhāvaṃ avitakkaṃ avicāraṃ samādhijaṃ pītisukhaṃ dutiyaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati.
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| vitakkavicārānaṃ | noun | masc.gen.pl | thinking and investigation(s) |
| vūpasamā | noun | masc.abl.sg | from peace, because of calming, subsiding settling |
| ajjhattaṃ | adj | nt.nom.sg | inner; subjective; within oneself; what is internal; oneself |
| sampasādanaṃ | adj | nt.nom.sg | with calmness, tranquillity, serenity |
| cetaso | noun | masc.gen.sg | of mind |
| ekodibhāvaṃ | adj | masc.acc.sg | with singleness; integration; unification lit. unified state |
| avitakkaṃ | adj | nt.acc.sg | free from thinking |
| avicāraṃ | adj | nt.acc.sg | free from investigation |
| samādhijaṃ | adj | nt.acc.sg | produced by stability of mind |
| pītisukhaṃ | adj | nt.acc.sg | with joy and happiness, delight and ease |
| dutiyaṃ | adj | nt.acc.sg | the second |
| jhānaṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | state of meditation |
| upasampajja | verb | ger | reaching, attaining, arriving at |
| viharati | verb | pr.3.sg | lives; abides; dwells |
Because of the settling of thinking and investigation, he attaining and remains in the second state of meditation, (which) with internal tranquillity, with unification of mind, free from thinking, free from investigation, with delight and ease produced by stability of mind
pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati, sato ca sampajāno, sukhañ'ca kāyena paṭisaṃvedeti, yaṃ taṃ ariyā ācikkhanti — upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī'ti tatiyaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| pītiyā | noun | fem.gen.sg | of joy, delight |
| ca | ind | and | |
| virāgā | noun | masc.abl.sg | from waning, fading, lit. discolouring |
| upekkhako | adj | masc.nom.sg | mentally poised; mentally balanced; equanimous; looking on |
| ca | ind | and | |
| viharati | verb | pr.3.sg | stays, dwells |
| sato | adj | masc.nom.sg | mindful, present, attentive |
| ca | ind | and | |
| sampajāno | adj | masc.nom.sg | clearly aware, attentive, knowing |
| sukhaṃ- | noun | nt.acc.sg | ease; comfort |
| ca | ind | and | |
| kāyena | noun | masc.ins.sg | with body, by body |
| paṭisaṃvedeti | verb | pr.3.sg | feels, experiences, undergoes |
| yaṃ | pron | masc.acc.sg | whoever, who, which |
| taṃ | pron | masc.acc.sg | hiṃ |
| ariyā | noun | masc.nom.pl | noble people, men of integrity |
| ācikkhanti — | verb | pr.3.pl | tell about, describe, point out, teach |
| upekkhako | adj | masc.nom.sg | mentally poised; mentally balanced; equanimous; looking on |
| satimā | adj | masc.nom.sg | mindful, fully present, attentive |
| sukhavihārī'ti | adj | masc.nom.sg | who lives at ease, who lives comfortably |
| tatiyaṃ | adj | nt.acc.sg | the third |
| jhānaṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | state of meditation |
| upasampajja | verb | ger | reaching, attaining, arriving at |
| viharati | verb | pr.3.sg | lives; abides; dwells |
Because of fading away of delight, he stays mentally balanced, mindful and clearly aware, experiencing ease by body, he attaining and remains in the third state of meditation, about him noble people say: mentally balanced and mindful he is one who lives at ease”
sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā, pubbeva somanassa-domanassānaṃ atthaṅgamā, adukkhamasukhaṃ upekkhā-sati-pārisuddhiṃ catutthaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| sukhassa | noun | nt.gen.sg | of happiness; ease |
| ca | ind | and | |
| pahānā | noun | nt.abl.sg | from giving up, letting go, removal abandoning |
| dukkhassa | noun | nt.gen.sg | of suffering; pain; misery |
| ca | ind | and | |
| pahānā | noun | nt.abl.sg | from giving up, letting go, removal abandoning |
| pubb'eva | ind | just in front of, just before, previous | as before, as earlier |
| somanassadomanassānaṃ | noun | nt.gen.pl | of (mental) pleasure and displeasure satisfaction and dissatisfaction |
| atthaṅgamā | noun | masc.abl.sg | from disappearance, vanishing, settling down, subsiding, lit. going home |
| adukkhamasukhaṃ | adj | masc.acc.sg | neutral, neither unpleasant nor pleasant neither comfortable nor uncomfortable |
| upekkhā- | noun | mental poise, mental balance, equanimity | composure |
| sati- | noun | mindfulness, presence, recollection | awareness |
| pārisuddhiṃ | noun | fem.acc.sg | purity, purification |
| catutthaṃ | adj | nt.acc.sg | the fourth |
| jhānaṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | state of meditation |
| upasampajja | verb | ger | reaching, attaining, arriving at |
| viharati | verb | pr.3.sg | lives; abides; dwells |
Because of letting go of ease, from letting go of suffering, as from earlier disappearance satisfaction and dissatisfaction, he attaining and remains in the fourth state of meditation, (which) neither unpleasant nor pleasant, with purification of awareness by equanimity
ayaṃ vuccati bhikkhave sammā-samādhi
this monks is called right stability of mind
ayam-eva ariyo aṭṭh'aṅgiko maggo
this is the noble eightfold path