DiscoverSNSN 45–56SN 45SN 45.21

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

SN 45.21 The Wrong Way

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Micchattañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi, sammattañca. Taṁ suṇātha.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, micchattaṁ? Seyyathidaṁ—micchādiṭṭhi …pe… micchāsamādhi. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, micchattaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, sammattaṁ? Seyyathidaṁ—sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sammattan”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Micchattañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi, sammattañca.

“Mendicants, I will teach you the wrong way and the right way.

Taṁ suṇātha.

Listen …

Katamañca, bhikkhave, micchattaṁ?

And what is the wrong way?

Seyyathidaṁ—micchādiṭṭhi …pe… micchāsamādhi.

It is wrong view, wrong purpose, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness, and wrong immersion.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, micchattaṁ.

This is called the wrong way.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, sammattaṁ?

And what is the right way?

Seyyathidaṁ—sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

It is right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sammattan”ti.

This is called the right way.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

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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Vigour

Vigour

☀️ bright quality

Energetic effort and resilience in practice. It is the refusal to shrink back, the 'uphill' force that initiates and sustains wholesome actions against the gravity of habit.

Also known as: energy, effort, enthusiasm, zeal, application of will, persistence
Pāli: vīriya
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Last updated on July 27, 2026

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