Maggasaṁyutta - Connected Discourses on the Eightfold Path

Ignorance is the forerunner in the arising of unwholesome qualities, and wisdom is the forerunner in the arising of wholesome qualities.

When Ānanda says that good friendship is half of the spiritual life, the Buddha corrects him, saying that it is the whole of the spiritual life. The Buddha explains that good friendship is the basis for the development of the Noble Eightfold Path.

When Sāriputta says that good friendship is the whole of the spiritual life, the Buddha agrees, explaining that good friendship is the basis for the development of the Noble Eightfold Path.

For what purpose is the spiritual life lived under the Buddha.

The Buddha explains in detail each factor of the noble eightfold path—right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right collectedness.

Just as only a well-directed spike of rice can pierce the hand, only a bhikkhu with a well-directed view and path-cultivation can pierce ignorance, arouse true knowledge, and realize Nibbāna through cultivating the noble eightfold path.

Emerging from seclusion, the Buddha describes dwelling in the meditative state he had experienced immediately after Awakening. He explains that all the mental factors—from wrong view to right collectedness, as well as desire, thought, and perception, whether active or subsided—serve as conditions for feeling, even the attainment of the final goal giving rise to feeling.

One is a trainee if they have the right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right collectedness.

The venerable Bhadda asks the venerable Ānanda about the ”wrong spiritual practice.”

The venerable Bhadda asks the venerable Ānanda about the right spiritual practice.

The Buddha distinguishes the wrong way of practice and the right way of practice.

The Buddha distinguishes the wrong way of practice and the right way of practice and their outcomes.

Who is a person without integrity and who is a person of integrity.

The Buddha shares a simile of a water pot without a stand being easily knocked over, and likens it to a mind without support.

The Buddha defines practicing wrongly as possessing the eight factors of the wrong path, and practicing rightly as possessing the eight factors of the noble eightfold path.

The noble eightfold path is the spiritual life. The fruits of the spiritual life are stream-entry, once-returning, non-returning, and arahantship.

The Buddha explains the importance of good friendship in the development and cultivation of the noble eightfold path.

The Buddha explains the importance of accomplishment in virtue, aspiration, self-development, view, and diligence in the development and cultivation of the noble eightfold path.

The Buddha explains the importance of accomplishment in radical attention in the development and cultivation of the noble eightfold path.

The Buddha teaches that accomplishment in radical attention naturally leads to the cultivation and frequent practice of the noble eightfold path, culminating in the dispelling of passion, aversion, and delusion.

Good friendship is greatly beneficial for the arising, development and extensive cultivation of the Noble Eightfold Path.

The Buddha explains the importance of accomplishment in virtue, aspiration, self-development, view, and diligence in the development and cultivation of the noble eightfold path.

The Buddha teaches that accomplishment in radical attention is the foundation for cultivating the noble eightfold path.

The Buddha outlines the benefits of accomplishment in virtue, aspiration, self-development, view, and diligence in the arising of the noble eightfold path.

The Buddha teaches that accomplishment in radical attention naturally leads to the cultivation and frequent practice of the noble eightfold path, culminating in the dispelling of passion, aversion, and delusion.

The Buddha outlines the benefits of accomplishment in virtue, aspiration, self-development, view, and diligence in the arising of the noble eightfold path.

The Buddha teaches that accomplishment in radical attention naturally leads to the cultivation and frequent practice of the noble eightfold path, culminating in the dispelling of passion, aversion, and delusion.

A bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

The Tathāgata is regarded the foremost among beings, and diligence is regarded the foremost among qualities.

The elephant’s footprint is considered the foremost because of its size. In the same way, whatever wholesome qualities there are, they are all rooted in diligence, and they meet together in diligence; diligence is considered the foremost among the qualities.

The Buddha uses similes of a building with a peaked roof, fragrances, and regional kings to illustrate the importance of diligence in developing the Noble Eightfold Path.

Just as it is impossible to make the river Ganges flow against its natural course, so too is it impossible for a bhikkhu whose mind has long been inclined toward seclusion to abandon the Noble Eightfold Path and return to lay life.

The four floods of sensual pleasures, continued existence, views, and ignorance are described in brief. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way to directly knowing, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these floods.

The four bonds of sensual pleasures, continued existence, views, and ignorance are described in brief. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way to directly knowing, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these bonds.

The four kinds of clinging - 1) clinging to sensual pleasures, 2) clinging to views, 3) clinging to rules and observances, and 4) clinging to a doctrine of self - are described in brief. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way for direct knowledge, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these four kinds of clinging.

The four knots of 1) craving, 2) ill will, 3) clinging to rules and observances, and 4) clinging to the idea that ‘This is the truth’ are described in brief. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way for direct knowledge, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these knots.

The seven underlying tendencies - 1) sensual desire, 2) aversion, 3) wrong view, 4) doubt, 5) conceit, 6) attachment to existence, and 7) ignorance - are described in brief. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way for direct knowledge, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these tendencies.

The five cords of sensual pleasure are described in brief. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way for direct knowledge, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these five cords of sensual pleasure.

The five hindrances - 1) sensual desire, 2) ill will, 3) dullness and drowsiness, 4) restlessness and worry, and 5) doubt - are described in brief. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way for direct knowledge, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these five hindrances.

The five aggregates that are subject to clinging - 1) form, 2) feeling, 3) perception, 4) intentional constructs, and 5) consciousness - are described in brief. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way for direct knowledge, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these five aggregates that are subject to clinging.

The five lower fetters - 1) personality view, 2) doubt, 3) attachment to rites and rituals, 4) sensual desire, and 5) ill will - are described in brief. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way for direct knowledge, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these five lower fetters.

The five higher fetters - 1) Passion for worldly existence, 2) passion for formless existence, 3) conceit, 4) restlessness, and 5) ignorance - are described in brief. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way for direct knowledge, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these five higher fetters.