The Buddha describes the three kinds of purity - by body, speech and mind.

ITI 66  Soceyya sutta - Purity

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, soceyyāni. Katamāni tīṇi? Kāyasoceyyaṁ, vacīsoceyyaṁ, manosoceyyaṁimāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi soceyyānī”ti.

“There are three kinds of purity, bhikkhus. What three? |Bodily purity::purity of bodily conduct [kāyasoceyya]|, |verbal purity::purity of verbal conduct [vacīsoceyya]|, and |mental purity::purity of mental conduct [manosoceyya]|—these, bhikkhus, are the three kinds of purity.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:

“Kāyasuciṁ vacīsuciṁ,
cetosucimanāsavaṁ;
Suciṁ soceyyasampannaṁ,
āhu sabbappahāyinan”ti.

“Bodily purity, verbal purity,
and the taint-less purity of mind;
A moral person |accomplished in::fulfilled regarding, consummate in, endowed with [sampanna]| purity,
is said to have abandoned all [evil].”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:

“There are three kinds of purity, bhikkhus. What three? |Bodily purity::purity of bodily conduct [kāyasoceyya]|, |verbal purity::purity of verbal conduct [vacīsoceyya]|, and |mental purity::purity of mental conduct [manosoceyya]|—these, bhikkhus, are the three kinds of purity.”

The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:

“Bodily purity, verbal purity,
and the taint-less purity of mind;
A moral person |accomplished in::fulfilled regarding, consummate in, endowed with [sampanna]| purity,
is said to have abandoned all [evil].”

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, soceyyāni. Katamāni tīṇi? Kāyasoceyyaṁ, vacīsoceyyaṁ, manosoceyyaṁimāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi soceyyānī”ti.

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Kāyasuciṁ vacīsuciṁ,
cetosucimanāsavaṁ;
Suciṁ soceyyasampannaṁ,
āhu sabbappahāyinan”ti.

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

Last updated on September 13, 2025

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