The Buddha teaches on the noble eightfold path regarding going to the far shore, guiding mendicants in the development of the path factors for liberation.

SN 45.34 Going to the Far Shore

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā apārā pāraṁ gamanāya saṁvattanti. Katame aṭṭha? Seyyathidaṁsammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi. Ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā apārā pāraṁ gamanāya saṁvattantī”ti.

Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

“Appakā te manussesu,
ye janā pāragāmino;
Athāyaṁ itarā pajā,
tīramevānudhāvati.

Ye ca kho sammadakkhāte,
dhamme dhammānuvattino;
Te janā pāramessanti,
maccudheyyaṁ suduttaraṁ.

Kaṇhaṁ dhammaṁ vippahāya,
sukkaṁ bhāvetha paṇḍito;
Okā anokamāgamma,
viveke yattha dūramaṁ.

Tatrābhiratimiccheyya,
hitvā kāme akiñcano;
Pariyodapeyya attānaṁ,
cittaklesehi paṇḍito.

Yesaṁ sambodhiyaṅgesu,
sammā cittaṁ subhāvitaṁ;
Ādānapaṭinissagge,
anupādāya ye ratā;
Khīṇāsavā jutimanto,
te loke parinibbutā”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā apārā pāraṁ gamanāya saṁvattanti.

“Mendicants, when these eight things are developed and cultivated they lead to going from the near shore to the far shore.

Katame aṭṭha?

What eight?

Seyyathidaṁsammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

They are right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā apārā pāraṁ gamanāya saṁvattantī”ti.

When these eight things are developed and cultivated they lead to going from the near shore to the far shore.”

Idamavoca bhagavā.

That is what the Buddha said.

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Appakā te manussesu,

“Few are those among humans

ye janā pāragāmino;

who cross to the far shore.

Athāyaṁ itarā pajā,

The rest just run

tīramevānudhāvati.

around on the near shore.

Ye ca kho sammadakkhāte,

When the teaching is well explained,

dhamme dhammānuvattino;

those who practice accordingly

Te janā pāramessanti,

are the ones who will cross over

maccudheyyaṁ suduttaraṁ.

Death’s dominion so hard to pass.

Kaṇhaṁ dhammaṁ vippahāya,

Rid of dark qualities,

sukkaṁ bhāvetha paṇḍito;

an astute person should develop the bright.

Okā anokamāgamma,

Leaving home behind

viveke yattha dūramaṁ.

for the seclusion so hard to enjoy,

Tatrābhiratimiccheyya,

try to find satisfaction there,

hitvā kāme akiñcano;

having left behind sensual pleasures.

Pariyodapeyya attānaṁ,

Owning nothing, an astute person

cittaklesehi paṇḍito.

should cleanse themselves of mental corruptions.

Yesaṁ sambodhiyaṅgesu,

And those whose minds are rightly developed

sammā cittaṁ subhāvitaṁ;

in the awakening factors;

Ādānapaṭinissagge,

letting go of attachments,

anupādāya ye ratā;

they delight in not grasping.

Khīṇāsavā jutimanto,

With defilements ended, brilliant,

te loke parinibbutā”ti.

they are quenched in this world.”

Catutthaṁ.

Qualities:

Delight

Delight

A mental quality of relishing and taking pleasure in what is experienced—especially in sensuality or the prospect of continued becoming. When it fastens onto gratification, it nourishes craving and keeps the mind circling around what it wants to experience again.

Also known as: relishing, enjoyment, taking pleasure
Pāli: nandi, ārāmatā
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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