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

The Great Chapter,
Book I (Chapter 45): Kindred Sayings on the Way
Of Other Views — Repetition

Sutta 45

Asavakhaya Suttaṁ

Destruction of the Āsavas

 

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THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then a great number of monks came to see the Exalted One
on coming to him greeted him courteously,
and after the exchange of greetings and compliments
sat down at one side.

Seated at one side the Exalted One said to them: -

"Monks, if the wanderers holding other views should thus question you:

'What is it, friends, for which the holy life is lived
under (the rule of) Gotama the recluse?'

Thus questioned, monks,
ye should reply thus
to those wanderers of other views:

'With the aim of destruction of the āsavas, friends,
the holy life is lived
under the rule of Gotama the recluse.'

But if, monks, the wanderers of other views
should thus question you:

'But, friends, is there a way,
is there a practice
leading to the destruction of the āsavas?' -

thus questioned, monks,
thus should ye make reply
to those wanderers of other views:

'Friends, there is indeed a way,
there is indeed a practice
leading to the destruction of the āsavas.'

And what, monks, is the way,
what the practice
leading to the destruction of the āsavas?

It is just this Ariyan eightfold way,
to wit:

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

This, monks, is the way,
this is the practice
leading to the destruction of the āsavas.

Thus questioned, monks,
thus should ye make reply
to those wanderers holding other views."