The Buddha teaches on the noble eightfold path regarding a guest house, guiding mendicants to develop right view through right immersion on the path to liberation.

SN 45.159 A Guest House

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, āgantukāgāraṁ. Tattha puratthimāyapi disāya āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, pacchimāyapi disāya āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, uttarāyapi disāya āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, dakkhiṇāyapi disāya āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, khattiyāpi āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, brāhmaṇāpi āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, vessāpi āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, suddāpi āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti; evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto ye dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā, te dhamme abhiññā parijānāti …pe… ye dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā, te dhamme abhiññā pajahati, ye dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā, te dhamme abhiññā sacchikaroti, ye dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā, te dhamme abhiññā bhāveti.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā? Pañcupādānakkhandhātissa vacanīyaṁ. Katame pañca? Seyyathidaṁrūpupādānakkhandho …pe… viññāṇupādānakkhandho. Ime, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā. Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā? Avijjā ca bhavataṇhā ca ime, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā. Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā? Vijjā ca vimutti ca ime, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā. Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā? Samatho ca vipassanā ca ime, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto, ye dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā te dhamme abhiññā parijānāti …pe… ye dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā, te dhamme abhiññā bhāveti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto ye dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā, te dhamme abhiññā parijānāti, ye dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā, te dhamme abhiññā pajahati, ye dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā, te dhamme abhiññā sacchikaroti, ye dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā, te dhamme abhiññā bhāvetī”ti.

Ekādasamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, āgantukāgāraṁ. Tattha puratthimāyapi disāya āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, pacchimāyapi disāya āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, uttarāyapi disāya āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, dakkhiṇāyapi disāya āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, khattiyāpi āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, brāhmaṇāpi āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, vessāpi āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, suddāpi āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti;

“Mendicants, suppose there was a guest house. Lodgers come from the east, west, north, and south. Aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, and menials all stay there.

evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto ye dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā, te dhamme abhiññā parijānāti …pe…

In the same way, a mendicant who develops and cultivates the noble eightfold path completely understands by direct knowledge the things that should be completely understood by direct knowledge.

ye dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā, te dhamme abhiññā pajahati, ye dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā, te dhamme abhiññā sacchikaroti, ye dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā, te dhamme abhiññā bhāveti.

They give up by direct knowledge the things that should be given up by direct knowledge. They realize by direct knowledge the things that should be realized by direct knowledge. They develop by direct knowledge the things that should be developed by direct knowledge.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā?

And what are the things that should be completely understood by direct knowledge?

Pañcupādānakkhandhātissa vacanīyaṁ.

It should be said: the five grasping aggregates.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Seyyathidaṁrūpupādānakkhandho …pe… viññāṇupādānakkhandho.

That is: form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.

Ime, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā.

These are the things that should be completely understood by direct knowledge.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā?

And what are the things that should be given up by direct knowledge?

Avijjā ca bhavataṇhā ca

Ignorance and craving for continued existence.

ime, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā.

These are the things that should be given up by direct knowledge.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā?

And what are the things that should be realized by direct knowledge?

Vijjā ca vimutti ca

Knowledge and freedom.

ime, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā.

These are the things that should be realized by direct knowledge.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā?

And what are the things that should be developed by direct knowledge?

Samatho ca vipassanā ca

Serenity and discernment.

ime, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā.

These are the things that should be developed by direct knowledge.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto, ye dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā te dhamme abhiññā parijānāti …pe… ye dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā, te dhamme abhiññā bhāveti?

And how does a mendicant develop the noble eightfold path in this way?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ

It’s when a mendicant develops right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go.

evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto ye dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā, te dhamme abhiññā parijānāti, ye dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā, te dhamme abhiññā pajahati, ye dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā, te dhamme abhiññā sacchikaroti, ye dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā, te dhamme abhiññā bhāvetī”ti.

That’s how a mendicant develops and cultivates the eightfold path in this way.”

Ekādasamaṁ.

Qualities:

Direct knowledge

Direct knowledge

A deep, firsthand realization or knowing that arises from personal experience, not from study or conceptual understanding; it is an immediate, unmediated apprehension of truth.

Also known as: experiential understanding, direct experience
Pāli: abhiñña
View all discourses →
Discernment

Discernment

Clear seeing that distinguishes what is wholesome from unwholesome, true from false.

Also known as: ability to make out distinctions, ability to discriminate, distinguish, clear seeing, penetrating internal vision
Pāli: viveka, nipaka, niccheyya
View all discourses →
Mindfulness

Mindfulness

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
View all discourses →
Right effort

Right effort

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
View all discourses →
Right livelihood

Right livelihood

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
View all discourses →
Right speech

Right speech

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
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026