The "Connected Discourses on the Eightfold Path" contains discourses focusing on the Noble Eightfold Path, the Buddha's core teaching on the way of practice leading to awakening. These teachings explore each factor of the path — right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right collectedness — offering guidance on how to cultivate these factors in daily life. By examining the path to awakening, these discourses provide insights into the conditions for spiritual growth and liberation.
Maggasaṁyutta - Connected Discourses on the Eightfold Path
Avijjā vagga - The Chapter on Ignorance
The first chapter of the Connected Discourses on the Eightfold Path, containing discourses 1–10.
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.
Vihāra vagga - The Chapter on Meditation
The second chapter of the Connected Discourses on the Eightfold Path, containing discourses 11–20.
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.
The venerable Bhadda asks the venerable Ānanda about the wrong spiritual practice.
The venerable Bhadda asks the venerable Ānanda about the right spiritual practice.
Micchatta vagga - The Chapter on the Wrong Way
The third chapter of the Connected Discourses on the Eightfold Path, containing discourses 21–30.
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.
Paṭipatti vagga - The Chapter on Practice
The fourth chapter of the Connected Discourses on the Eightfold Path, containing discourses 31–40.
The noble eightfold path is the spiritual life. The fruits of the spiritual life are stream-entry, once-returning, non-returning, and arahantship.
Sūriyapeyyāla vagga - Abbreviated Texts on the Sun
The sixth chapter of the Connected Discourses on the Eightfold Path, containing discourses 49–62.
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 radical attention in the development and cultivation of the noble eightfold path.
Ekadhammapeyyāla vagga - Abbreviated Texts on One Thing
The seventh chapter of the Connected Discourses on the Eightfold Path, containing discourses 63–76.
Good friendship is greatly beneficial for the arising, development and extensive cultivation of the Noble Eightfold Path.
Gaṅgāpeyyāla vagga - Abbreviated Texts on the Ganges
The ninth chapter of the Connected Discourses on the Eightfold Path, containing discourses 91–98.
A bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.
Appamādapeyyāla vagga - Abbreviated Texts on Diligence
The eleventh chapter of the Connected Discourses on the Eightfold Path, containing discourses 139–146.
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.
Balakaraṇīya vagga - The Chapter on Hard Work
The twelfth chapter of the Connected Discourses on the Eightfold Path, containing discourses 149–160.
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.
Ogha vagga - The Chapter on Floods
The fourteenth chapter of the Connected Discourses on the Eightfold Path, containing discourses 171–180.
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.
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 virtue, aspiration, self-development, view, and diligence in the development and cultivation of the noble eightfold path.
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.