Saṁyutta Nikāya:
V. Mahā-Vagga
45. Magga Saṁyutta

The Great Chapter,
Book I (Chapter 45): Kindred Sayings on the Way
Chapter II: Dwelling

Sutta 20

Tatiya Kukkuṭārāma Suttaṁ

Cock's Pleasaunce (c)

 

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THUS have I heard:

Once the venerable Ānanda
and the venerable Bhadda
were staying at Cock's Pleasaunce
at Pāṭaliputta.

Then the venerable Bhadda,
rising from his solitude at eventide,
came to see the venerable Ānanda,
and on coming to him
greeted him courteously,
and after the exchange of greetings and courtesies
sat down at one side.

So seated
the venerable Bhadda said this
to the venerable Ānanda:

"'The righteous life!
The righteous life!'
friend Ānanda,
is the saying.

Pray, friend, what is the righteous life?

Who is called a 'righteous liver'?^ed1

In what does the righteous life end?"

"Well said, well said, friend Bhadda!

Welcome is your penetration,
welcome your ready wit,
and goodly is your question.

You ask me:

'"The righteous life!
The righteous life!"
friend Ānanda,
is the saying.

Pray, friend, what is the righteous life?

Who is called a 'righteous liver'?

In what does the righteous life end?

do you not?"

"I do, friend."

"Well, friend, it is just that Ariyan eightfold way,
to wit:

Right view,
right aim,
right speech,
right action,
right living,
right effort,
right mindfulness
right concentration."

Whoso, friend, is possessed of this Ariyan eightfold way,
he is called a 'righteous liver.'¹

The destruction of lust,
the destruction of hatred,
the destruction of illusion,
friend, -
that is what this righteous life ends in."

 

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¹ Brahmacārin, often mistranslated and understood (especially in the East) as 'celibate.'

 

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^ed1 Woodward omits.