The Buddha teaches and analyzes the noble eightfold path—right view, purpose, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and immersion—explaining each factor from ethics and renunciation through the four absorptions.

SN 45.161 Searches

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, esanā. Katamā tisso? Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo. Katamo ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabboti.

Tisso imā kho, bhikkhave, esanā. Katamā tisso? Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo. Katamo ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti rāgavinayapariyosānaṁ dosavinayapariyosānaṁ mohavinayapariyosānaṁ.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabboti.

Tisso imā kho, bhikkhave, esanā. Katamā tisso? Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo. Katamo ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti amatogadhaṁ amataparāyanaṁ amatapariyosānaṁ.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabboti.

Tisso imā kho, bhikkhave, esanā. Katamā tisso? Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo. Katamo ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti nibbānaninnaṁ nibbānapoṇaṁ nibbānapabbhāraṁ.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabboti.

Tisso imā, bhikkhave, esanā. Katamā tisso? Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ pariññāya …pe… ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabboti.

(Yadapi abhiññā, tadapi pariññāya vitthāretabbaṁ.)

Tisso imā, bhikkhave, esanā. Katamā tisso? Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ parikkhayāya …pe… ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabboti.

(Yadapi abhiññā, tadapi parikkhayāya vitthāretabbaṁ.)

Tisso imā, bhikkhave, esanā. Katamā tisso? Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ pahānāya ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo. Katamo ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ pahānāya ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo”ti.

(Yadapi abhiññā, tadapi pahānāya vitthāretabbaṁ.)

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, esanā.

“Mendicants, there are these three searches.

Katamā tisso?

What three?

Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā

The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path.

imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā.

These are the three searches.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo.

The noble eightfold path should be developed to directly know these three searches.

Katamo ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo?

What is the noble eightfold path?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ …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.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabboti.

This is the noble eightfold path that should be developed to directly know these three searches.”

Tisso imā kho, bhikkhave, esanā.

“Mendicants, there are these three searches.

Katamā tisso?

What three?

Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā

The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path.

imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā.

These are the three searches.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo.

The noble eightfold path should be developed to directly know these three searches.

Katamo ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo?

What is the noble eightfold path?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti rāgavinayapariyosānaṁ dosavinayapariyosānaṁ mohavinayapariyosānaṁ.

It’s when a mendicant develops right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion, which culminate in the removal of greed, hate, and delusion.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabboti.

This is the noble eightfold path that should be developed to directly know these three searches.”

Tisso imā kho, bhikkhave, esanā.

“Mendicants, there are these three searches.

Katamā tisso?

What three?

Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā

The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path.

imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā.

These are the three searches.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo.

The noble eightfold path should be developed to directly know these three searches.

Katamo ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo?

What is the noble eightfold path?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti amatogadhaṁ amataparāyanaṁ amatapariyosānaṁ.

It’s when a mendicant develops right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion, whose objective, destination, and culmination is freedom from death.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabboti.

This is the noble eightfold path that should be developed to directly know these three searches.”

Tisso imā kho, bhikkhave, esanā.

“Mendicants, there are these three searches.

Katamā tisso?

What three?

Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā

The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path.

imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā.

These are the three searches.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo.

The noble eightfold path should be developed to directly know these three searches.

Katamo ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo?

What is the noble eightfold path?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti nibbānaninnaṁ nibbānapoṇaṁ nibbānapabbhāraṁ.

It’s when a mendicant develops right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion, which slants, slopes, and inclines to extinguishment.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabboti.

This is the noble eightfold path that should be developed to directly know these three searches.”

Tisso imā, bhikkhave, esanā.

“Mendicants, there are these three searches.

Katamā tisso?

What three?

Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā

The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path.

imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā.

These are the three searches.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ pariññāya …pe… ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabboti.

The noble eightfold path should be developed to completely understand …”

(Yadapi abhiññā, tadapi pariññāya vitthāretabbaṁ.)

(Tell in full with “completely understand” instead of “directly know”.)

Tisso imā, bhikkhave, esanā.

“Mendicants, there are these three searches.

Katamā tisso?

What three?

Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā

The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path.

imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā.

These are the three searches.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ parikkhayāya …pe… ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabboti.

The noble eightfold path should be developed to finish …”

(Yadapi abhiññā, tadapi parikkhayāya vitthāretabbaṁ.)

(Tell in full with “finish” instead of “directly know”.)

Tisso imā, bhikkhave, esanā.

“Mendicants, there are these three searches.

Katamā tisso?

What three?

Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā

The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path.

imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā.

These are the three searches.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ pahānāya ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo.

The noble eightfold path should be developed to give up …”

Katamo ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo?

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

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ pahānāya ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo”ti.

(Yadapi abhiññā, tadapi pahānāya vitthāretabbaṁ.)

(Tell in full with “give up” instead of “directly know”.)

Paṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

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

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

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

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

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

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