| 8. The Bhagava was staying
at Savatthi. (He said:) bhikkhus, I shall give a
discourse on the Ariya Path of Eight Constituents; I shall give an analytical
exposition on it. Listen well to the discourse; give careful attention to it; I
shall speak.
'Very well,
Venerable Sir,' replied the bhikkhus. The Bhagava spoke thus:
What,
bhikkhu, is the Ariya Path of Eight Constituents? It is only this, namely,
Right View ... p ... Right Concentration: And, bhikkhus, what is Right View?
Insight-knowledge of dukkha, Insight-knowledge of the origin of dukkha,
Insight-knowledge of the cessation of dukkha, Insight-knowledge of the path
leading to the cessation of dukkha (i.e., the path leading to Nibbana). This,
Bhikkhus, is called the Right View.
And,
bhikkhus, what is Right Thinking? Thoughts directed to liberation from
sensuality, thoughts free from ill will (i.e., thoughts of goodwill), thoughts
free from cruelty (i.e., thoughts of compassion). This, bhikkhus, is called
Right Thought.
And,
bhikkhus, what is Right Speech? Abstaining from falsehood, from slandering or
back-biting, from coarse abusive speech, from frivolous and unbeneficial talk.
This, bhikkhu, is called Right Speech.
And,
bhikkhu, what is Right Action? Abstaining from killing, from taking what is not
given, from wrongful indulgence in sexual pleasures. This, bhikkhus, is Right
Action.
And
bhikkhus, what is Right Livelihood? Bhikkhus, in this Teaching the Noble
disciple completely abstains from a wrong way of livelihood, and makes his
living by a right means of livelihood. This, bhikkhus, is called Right
Livelihood.
And,
bhikkhus, what is Right Effort? Bhikkhus, in this Teaching the bhikkhu
generates will, makes effort, rouses energy, applies his mind and strives most
ardently to prevent the arising of evil demeritorious states of mind that have
not yet arisen. He generates will, makes effort, rouses energy, applies his
mind and strives most ardently to abandon evil demeritorious states of mind
that have arisen. He generates will, makes effort, rouses energy, applies his
mind and strives most ardently to develop meritorious states of mind that have
not yet arisen. He generates will, makes effort, rouses energies, applies his
mind and strives most ardently to maintain the meritorious states of mind that
have arisen, to prevent then lapsing, to increase them, to cause them to grow,
to mare them develop in full (in samatha, vipassana meditation.) This,
bhikkhus, is called Right Effort.
And,
bhikkkhus, what is Right Mindfulness? Bhikkhus, in this Teaching the bhikkhu
keeps his mind steadfastly on the body (kaya) with diligence, comprehension and
mindfulness, thus keeping away worldly covetousness and distress. The bhikkhu
keeps his mind steadfastly on sensation (vedana) with diligence, comprehension
and mindfulness, thus keeping away worldly covetousness and distress. The
Bhikkhu concentrates steadfastly on the mind (citta) with diligence,
comprehension and mindfulness, thus keeping away worldly covetousness and
distress. The bhikkhu keeps his mind steadfastly on the dhamma (mind objects)
with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness. thus keeping away worldly
covetousness and distress. This, Bhikkhus, is called Right
Mindfulness.
And,
bhikkhus, what is Right Concentration? Bhikkhus, the bhikkhu in this Teaching,
being detached from sensual pleasures and demeritorious factors, achieves and
remains in the first jhana which has vitakka, (initial application of the
mind), vicara (sustained application of the mind), piti (delightful
satisfaction) and sukha (bliss) born of detachment from the hindrances
(nivarana). Having got rid of vitakka and vicara, the bhikkhu achieves and
remains in the second jhana, with internal tranquillity, with enhancement of
one-pointedness of mind, devoid of vitakka and vicara, but with piti and sukha
born of concentration. Having been detached from piti, that bhikkhu dwells in
equanimity with mindfulness and clear comprehension, and experiences sukha in
mind and body. He achieves and remains in the third jhana. that which causes a
person who attains it to be praised by the Noble Ones as one who has equanimity
and mindfulness one who abides in sukha. By dispelling both pain and pleasures,
and by the previous disappearance of sadness and gladness, that bhikkhu
achieves and remains in the fourth jhana, a state of equanimity and absolute
purity of mindfulness, without pain and pleasure. This, bhikkhus, is called
Right Mindfulness.
End of the Vibanga Sutta,
the eight in this Vagga.
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