sn.45.19 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

The Cock’s Park (2)

At Paṭaliputta. “Friend Ānanda, it is said, ‘the holy life, the holy life.’ What now, friend, is the holy life and what is the final goal of the holy 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 holy life, the holy life.” What now, friend, is the holy life and what is the final goal of the holy life?’”

“Yes, friend.”

“This Noble Eightfold Path, friend, is the holy life; that is, right view … right concentration. The destruction of lust, the destruction of hatred, the destruction of delusion: this, friend, is the final goal of the holy life.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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At the Chicken Monastery (2nd)

At Pāṭaliputta.
“Reverend, they speak of this thing called the ‘spiritual path’.
What is the spiritual path? And what is the culmination of 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 “the spiritual path”.
What is the spiritual path? And what is the culmination of the spiritual path?’”
“Yes, reverend.”
“The spiritual path is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:
right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.
The ending of greed, hate, and delusion:
this is the culmination of the spiritual path.”