1. “Bhikkhus, just as any feats to be performed by physical strength are all performed by depending on the earth, standing on the earth, and that is how they are performed, so too, it is by depending on virtue, standing on virtue, that a bhikkhu develops the noble eightfold path, makes much of the noble eightfold path.
“And how is it, bhikkhus, that by depending on virtue, standing on virtue, a bhikkhu develops the noble eightfold path, makes much of the noble eightfold path? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view depending on seclusion, depending on fading away, depending on cessation, resulting in relinquishment; he develops right thought … right speaking … right action … right living … right effort … right mindfulness … he develops right concentration depending on seclusion, depending on fading away, depending on cessation, resulting in relinquishment. That is how, by depending on virtue, standing on virtue, a bhikkhu develops the noble eightfold path, makes much of the noble eightfold path.
“Bhikkhus, just as these seeds and plants that come to growth, increase and maturity all do so by depending on the earth, standing on the earth, and that is how they come to growth, increase and maturity, so too, it is by depending on virtue, by standing on virtue, that a bhikkhu developing the noble eightfold path, making much of the noble eightfold path, reaches growth, increase and maturity in [good] ideas.
“And how is it, bhikkhus, that by depending on virtue, standing on virtue, a bhikkhu developing the noble eightfold path, making much of the noble eightfold path, reaches growth, increase and maturity in [good] ideas? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view depending on seclusion, … [as above] … develops right concentration depending on seclusion, depending on fading away, depending on cessation, resulting in relinquishment”.
2. In the case of right view there are five kinds of seclusion, five kinds of fading away, five kinds of cessation, five kinds of relinquishment, and twelve dependent factors.
In the case of right thought …
In the case of right speaking …
In the case of right acting …
In the case of right living …
In the case of right effort …
In the case of right mindfulness …
In the case of right concentration …
3. In the case of right view what are the five kinds of seclusion?
They are seclusion by suppression, seclusion by substitution of opposites, seclusion by cutting off, seclusion by tranquillization, and seclusion as escape.
Seclusion by suppression is seclusion of the hindrances in one developing the first jhana. Seclusion by substitution of opposites is seclusion of the recourse to wrong view in one developing concentration partaking of penetration. Seclusion by cutting off is in one developing the supramundane path that leads to destruction [of defilement]. Seclusion by tranquillizing is at the moment of fruition. Seclusion as escape is cessation, nibbana.
These are the five kinds of seclusion in the case of right view. And [in the case of seclusion] he is (1) filled with zeal, (2) resolved with faith, and (3) his cognizance is quite steady.
4. In the case of right view what are the five kinds of fading away?
They are fading away by suppression, fading away by substitution of opposites, fading away by cutting off, fading away by tranquillization and fading away as escape.
Fading away by suppression is fading away of the hindrances in one developing the first jhana. Fading away by substitution of opposites is fading away of the recourse to wrong view … [and so on as in § 3] … Fading away as escape is cessation, nibbana.
These are the five kinds of fading away in the case of right view. And [in the case of fading away] he is (4) filled with zeal, (5) resolved with faith, and (6) his cognizance is quite steady.
5. In the case of right view what are the five kinds of cessation?
They are cessation by suppression, cessation by substitution of opposites, cessation by cutting off, cessation by tranquillization, and cessation as escape.
Cessation by suppression is cessation of the hindrances in one developing the first jhana … [and so on as in § 3] … Cessation as escape is cessation, nibbana.
These are the five kinds of cessation in the case of right view. And [in the case of cessation] he is (7) filled with zeal, (8) resolved with faith, and (9) his cognizance is quite steady.
6. In the case of right view what are the five kinds of relinquishment?
They are relinquishment by suppression, relinquishment by substitution of opposites, relinquishment by cutting off, relinquishment by tranquillization, and relinquishment as escape.
Relinquishment by suppression is relinquishment of the hindrances in one developing the first jhana … [and so on as in § 3] … Relinquishment as escape is cessation, nibbana.
These are the five kinds of relinquishment in the case of right view. And [in the case of relinquishment] he is (10) filled with zeal, (11) resolved with faith, and (12) his cognizance is quite steady.
These are the five kinds of seclusion, five kinds of fading away, five kinds of cessation, five kinds of relinquishment, and twelve dependent factors, in the case of right view.
7.–10. In the case of right thought what are the five kinds of seclusion?
11.–14. In the case of right speaking …
15.–18. In the case of right acting …
19.–22. In the case of right living …
23.–26. In the case of right effort …
27.–30. In the case of right mindfulness …
31.–34. In the case of right concentration …
They are seclusion by suppression …
Seclusion by suppression is …
These are the five kinds of seclusion in the case of right concentration. And [in the case of relinquishment] he is (10) filled with zeal, (11) resolved with faith, and (12) his cognizance is quite steady.
These are the five kinds of seclusion, five kinds of fading away, five kinds of cessation, five kinds of relinquishment, and twelve dependent factors, in the case of right concentration.
35.–64. “Bhikkhus, just as any feats to be performed … [repeat § 1 up to] … standing on virtue, that a bhikkhu develops the seven enlightenment factors …
“… developing the seven enlightenment factors, making much of the seven enlightenment factors, reaches growth, increase and maturity in [good] ideas”.
65.–88. … the five powers …
89.–100. … the five faculties …
These are the five kinds of seclusion, five kinds of fading away, five kinds of cessation, five kinds of relinquishment, and twelve dependent factors, in the case of the understanding faculty.
End of Treatise on Seclusion.