The Buddha teaches on the noble eightfold path regarding the brahmin life (1st), guiding mendicants to develop right view through right immersion on the path to liberation.

SN 45.37 The Brahmin Life (1st)

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Brahmaññañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi, brahmaññaphalāni ca. Taṁ suṇātha.

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

Katamāni ca, bhikkhave, brahmaññaphalāni? Sotāpattiphalaṁ, sakadāgāmiphalaṁ, anāgāmiphalaṁ, arahattaphalaṁ imāni vuccanti, bhikkhave, brahmaññaphalānī”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Brahmaññañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi, brahmaññaphalāni ca.

“Mendicants, I will teach you life as a brahmin and the fruits of life as a brahmin.

Taṁ suṇātha.

Listen …

Katamañca kho, bhikkhave, brahmaññaṁ?

And what is life as a brahmin?

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, brahmaññaṁ.

This is called life as a brahmin.

Katamāni ca, bhikkhave, brahmaññaphalāni?

And what are the fruits of life as a brahmin?

Sotāpattiphalaṁ, sakadāgāmiphalaṁ, anāgāmiphalaṁ, arahattaphalaṁ

The fruits of stream-entry, once-return, non-return, and perfection.

imāni vuccanti, bhikkhave, brahmaññaphalānī”ti.

These are called the fruits of life as a brahmin.”

Sattamaṁ.

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