DiscoverSNSN 45–56SN 45SN 45.13

The Buddha teaches on the noble eightfold path regarding a trainee, guiding mendicants in the development of the path factors for liberation.

SN 45.13 A Trainee

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “‘sekkho, sekkho’ti, bhante, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, sekkho hotī”ti?

“Idha, bhikkhu, sekkhāya sammādiṭṭhiyā samannāgato hoti …pe… sekkhena sammāsamādhinā samannāgato hoti. Ettāvatā kho, bhikkhu, sekkho hotī”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and asked him,

“‘sekkho, sekkho’ti, bhante, vuccati.

“Sir, they speak of the one called ‘a trainee’.

Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, sekkho hotī”ti?

How is a trainee defined?”

“Idha, bhikkhu, sekkhāya sammādiṭṭhiyā samannāgato hoti …pe… sekkhena sammāsamādhinā samannāgato hoti.

“Mendicant, it’s someone who has a trainee’s right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.

Ettāvatā kho, bhikkhu, sekkho hotī”ti.

That’s how a trainee is defined.”

Tatiyaṁ.

Qualities:

Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

☀️ bright quality

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

☀️ bright quality

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Right effort

Right effort

☀️ bright quality

Energy and resolve directed toward preventing unwholesome states from arising, abandoning arisen unwholesome states, cultivating wholesome states, and maintaining arisen wholesome states; persistent application of the mind aligned with the path.

Also known as: right endeavor, right striving
Pāli: sammāvāyāma, padhāna
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Right livelihood

Right livelihood

☀️ bright quality

Means of living that does not cause harm to others or oneself; earning a living ethically without deceit, exploitation, or violence.

Also known as: correct livelihood, right mode of earning a living
Pāli: sammāājīva
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Right speech

Right speech

☀️ bright quality

Speech that is purified by abstaining from falsehood, divisive talk, harsh words, and idle chatter.

Also known as: truthful speech, honest speech, kind speech, beneficial speech, harmonious speech, articulate words, eloquent communication
Pāli: sammāvācā
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Right view

Right view

☀️ bright quality

View that is in line with the Dhamma — teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth.

Also known as: right understanding, right belief, view that is inline with the Dhamma
Pāli: sammādiṭṭhi
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Last updated on July 27, 2026

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