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 45.162 Discriminations

“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, vidhā. Katamā tisso? ‘Seyyohamasmī’ti vidhā, ‘sadisohamasmī’ti vidhā, ‘hīnohamasmī’ti vidhā imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso vidhā.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ vidhānaṁ abhiññāya pariññāya parikkhayāya pahānāya ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo. Katamo ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁimāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave tissannaṁ vidhānaṁ abhiññāya pariññāya parikkhayāya pahānāya ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo”ti.

(Yathā esanā, evaṁ vitthāretabbaṁ.)

Dutiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, vidhā.

“Mendicants, there are three kinds of discrimination.

Katamā tisso?

What three?

‘Seyyohamasmī’ti vidhā, ‘sadisohamasmī’ti vidhā, ‘hīnohamasmī’ti vidhā

One discriminates, thinking that ‘I’m better’ or ‘I’m equal’ or ‘I’m worse’.

imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso vidhā.

These are the three kinds of discrimination.

Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ vidhānaṁ abhiññāya pariññāya parikkhayāya pahānāya ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo.

The noble eightfold path should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these three kinds of discrimination.

Katamo ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo?

What is the noble eightfold path?

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.

imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave tissannaṁ vidhānaṁ abhiññāya pariññāya parikkhayāya pahānāya ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo”ti.

This is the noble eightfold path that should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these three kinds of discrimination.”

(Yathā esanā, evaṁ vitthāretabbaṁ.)

(Tell in full as in the section on searches.)

Dutiyaṁ.

Topics & 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
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Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
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Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026