DiscoverSNSN 45–56SN 45SN 45.36

The Buddha teaches on the noble eightfold path regarding the ascetic life (2nd), guiding mendicants to develop right view through right immersion on the path to liberation.

SN 45.36 The Ascetic Life (2nd)

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Sāmaññañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi, sāmaññatthañca. Taṁ suṇātha.

Katamañca kho, bhikkhave, sāmaññaṁ? Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ— sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sāmaññaṁ.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sāmaññattho? Yo kho, bhikkhave, rāgakkhayo dosakkhayo mohakkhayo— ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sāmaññattho”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Sāmaññañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi, sāmaññatthañca.

“Mendicants, I will teach you the ascetic life and the goal of the ascetic life.

Taṁ suṇātha.

Listen …

Katamañca kho, bhikkhave, sāmaññaṁ?

And what is the ascetic life?

Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ—

It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:

sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

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

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sāmaññaṁ.

This is called the ascetic life.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sāmaññattho?

And what is the goal of the ascetic life?

Yo kho, bhikkhave, rāgakkhayo dosakkhayo mohakkhayo—

The ending of greed, hate, and delusion.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sāmaññattho”ti.

This is called the goal of the ascetic life.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Qualities:

Ending

Ending

☀️ bright quality

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026

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