an.4.25 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

The Spiritual Life

“Bhikkhus, this spiritual life is not lived for the sake of deceiving people and cajoling them; nor for the benefit of gain, honor, and praise; nor for the benefit of winning in debates; nor with the thought: ‘Let the people know me thus.’ But rather, this spiritual life is lived for the sake of restraint, abandoning, dispassion, and cessation.”

The Blessed One taught the spiritual life,
not based on tradition, culminating in nibbāna,
lived for the sake of
restraint and abandoning.

This is the path of the great beings,
the path followed by the great seers.
Those who practice it
as taught by the Buddha,
acting upon the Teacher’s guidance,
will make an end of suffering.

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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The Spiritual Life

“Mendicants, this spiritual life is not lived for the sake of deceiving people or flattering them, nor for the benefit of possessions, honor, or popularity, nor for the benefit of winning debates, nor thinking, ‘So let people know about me!’
This spiritual life is lived for the sake of restraint, giving up, fading away, and cessation.
The Buddha taught the spiritual life
not because of tradition,
but for the sake of restraint and giving up,
and because it culminates in extinguishment.
This is the path followed by the great souls,
the great hermits.
Those who practice it
as it was taught by the Buddha,
doing the teacher’s bidding,
make an end of suffering.”