sn.45.18 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

The Cock’s Park (1)

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Venerable Ānanda and the Venerable Bhadda were dwelling at Paṭaliputta in the Cock’s Park. Then, in the evening, the Venerable Bhadda emerged from seclusion, approached the Venerable Ānanda, and exchanged greetings with him. When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side and said to the Venerable Ānanda:

“Friend Ānanda, it is said, ‘the unholy life, the unholy life.’ What now, friend, is the unholy life?”

“Good, good, friend Bhadda! Your intelligence is excellent, friend Bhadda, your ingenuity is excellent, your inquiry is a good one. For you have asked me: ‘Friend Ānanda, it is said, “the unholy life, the unholy life.” What now, friend, is the unholy life?’”

“Yes, friend.”

“This eightfold wrong path, friend, is the unholy life; that is, wrong view … wrong concentration.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

---

At the Chicken Monastery (1st)

So I have heard.
At one time the venerables Ānanda and Bhadda were staying near Pāṭaliputta, in the Chicken Monastery.
Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Bhadda came out of retreat, went to Venerable Ānanda, and exchanged greetings with him.
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to Ānanda:
“Reverend, they speak of this thing called ‘not the spiritual path’.
What is not the spiritual path?”
“Good, good, Reverend Bhadda!
Your approach and articulation are excellent, and it’s a good question.
For you asked:
‘They speak of this thing called “not the spiritual path”.
What is not the spiritual path?’”
“Yes, reverend.”
“What is not the spiritual path is simply the wrong eightfold path, that is:
wrong view, wrong thought, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness, and wrong immersion.”