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an.11.1 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

What is the Purpose?

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s monastery. Then Ven. Ananda went to the Blessed One and on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One: “What is the purpose of skillful virtues? What is their reward?”

“Skillful virtues have freedom from remorse as their purpose, Ananda, and freedom from remorse as their reward.”

“And what is the purpose of freedom from remorse? What is its reward?”

“Freedom from remorse has joy as its purpose, joy as its reward.”

“And what is the purpose of joy? What is its reward?”

“Joy has rapture as its purpose, rapture as its reward.”

“And what is the purpose of rapture? What is its reward?”

“Rapture has serenity as its purpose, serenity as its reward.”

“And what is the purpose of serenity? What is its reward?”

“Serenity has pleasure as its purpose, pleasure as its reward.”

“And what is the purpose of pleasure? What is its reward?”

“Pleasure has concentration as its purpose, concentration as its reward.”

“And what is the purpose of concentration? What is its reward?”

“Concentration has knowledge & vision of things as they actually are as its purpose, knowledge & vision of things as they actually are as its reward.”

“And what is the purpose of knowledge & vision of things as they actually are? What is its reward?”

“Knowledge & vision of things as they actually are has disenchantment as its purpose, disenchantment as its reward.”

“And what is the purpose of disenchantment? What is its reward?”

“Disenchantment has dispassion as its purpose, dispassion as its reward.”

“And what is the purpose of dispassion? What is its reward?”

“Dispassion has knowledge & vision of release as its purpose, knowledge & vision of release as its reward.

“Thus in this way, Ananda, skillful virtues have freedom from remorse as their purpose, freedom from remorse as their reward. Freedom from remorse has joy as its purpose, joy as its reward. Joy has rapture as its purpose, rapture as its reward. Rapture has serenity as its purpose, serenity as its reward. Serenity has pleasure as its purpose, pleasure as its reward. Pleasure has concentration as its purpose, concentration as its reward. Concentration has knowledge & vision of things as they actually are as its purpose, knowledge & vision of things as they actually are as its reward. Knowledge & vision of things as they actually are has disenchantment as its purpose, disenchantment as its reward. Disenchantment has dispassion as its purpose, dispassion as its reward. Dispassion has knowledge & vision of release as its purpose, knowledge & vision of release as its reward.

“In this way, Ananda, skillful virtues lead step-by-step to the consummation of arahantship.”

- Translator: Thanissaro Bhikkhu

- Editor: Gabriel Laera

What’s the Purpose?

So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
“Sir, what’s the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics?”
“Ānanda, having no regrets is the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics.”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of having no regrets?”
“Joy is the purpose and benefit of having no regrets.”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of joy?”
“Rapture …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of rapture?”
“Tranquility …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of tranquility?”
“Bliss …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of bliss?”
“Immersion …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of immersion?”
“Truly knowing and seeing …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of truly knowing and seeing?”
“Disillusionment …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of disillusionment?”
“Dispassion …”
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of dispassion?”
“Knowledge and vision of freedom is the purpose and benefit of dispassion.
So, Ānanda, the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics is not having regrets.
Joy is the purpose and benefit of not having regrets.
Rapture is the purpose and benefit of joy.
Tranquility is the purpose and benefit of rapture.
Bliss is the purpose and benefit of tranquility.
Immersion is the purpose and benefit of bliss.
Truly knowing and seeing is the purpose and benefit of immersion.
Disillusionment is the purpose and benefit of truly knowing and seeing.
Dispassion is the purpose and benefit of disillusionment.
And knowledge and vision of freedom is the purpose and benefit of dispassion.
So, Ānanda, skillful ethics progressively lead up to the highest.”