DiscoverSNSN 45–56SN 45SN 45.39

The Buddha teaches that the spiritual path is the noble eightfold path and that its culmination is the ending of greed, hate, and delusion.

SN 45.39 The Spiritual Path (1st)

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Brahmacariyañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi, brahmacariyaphalāni ca. Taṁ suṇātha.

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

Katamāni ca, bhikkhave, brahmacariyaphalāni? Sotāpattiphalaṁ, sakadāgāmiphalaṁ, anāgāmiphalaṁ, arahattaphalaṁ— imāni vuccanti, bhikkhave, brahmacariyaphalānī”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Brahmacariyañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi, brahmacariyaphalāni ca.

“Mendicants, I will teach you the spiritual path and the fruits of the spiritual path.

Taṁ suṇātha.

Listen …

Katamañca, bhikkhave, brahmacariyaṁ?

And what is the spiritual path?

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, brahmacariyaṁ.

This is called the spiritual path.

Katamāni ca, bhikkhave, brahmacariyaphalāni?

And what are the fruits of the spiritual path?

Sotāpattiphalaṁ, sakadāgāmiphalaṁ, anāgāmiphalaṁ, arahattaphalaṁ—

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

imāni vuccanti, bhikkhave, brahmacariyaphalānī”ti.

These are called the fruits of the spiritual path.”

Navamaṁ.

Qualities:

Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

☀️ bright quality

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

☀️ 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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