sn.45.41 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

The Fading Away of Lust

At Savatthī. “Bhikkhus, if wanderers of other sects ask you: ‘For what purpose, friends, is the holy life lived under the ascetic Gotama?’—being asked thus, you should answer them thus: ‘It is, friends, for the fading away of lust that the holy life is lived under the Blessed One.’

“Then, bhikkhus, if the wanderers of other sects ask you: ‘But, friends, is there a path, is there a way for the fading away of lust?’—being asked thus, you should answer them thus: ‘There is a path, friends, there is a way for the fading away of lust.’

“And what, bhikkhus, is that path, what is that way for the fading away of lust? It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view … right concentration. This is the path, this is the way for the fading away of lust.

“Being asked thus, bhikkhus, you should answer those wanderers of other sects in such a way.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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The Fading Away of Greed

At Sāvatthī.
“Mendicants, if wanderers who follow another path were to ask you:
‘Reverends, what’s the purpose of leading the spiritual life under the ascetic Gotama?’ You should answer them like this:
‘The purpose of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is the fading away of greed.’
If wanderers who follow other paths were to ask you:
‘Is there a path and a practice for the fading away of greed?’ You should answer them like this:
‘There is a path and a practice for the fading away of greed.’
And what is that path, what is that practice for the fading away of greed?
It 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.
This is the path, this is the practice for the fading away of greed.
When questioned by wanderers who follow other paths, that’s how you should answer them.”