The Buddha presents a repeated teaching on the noble eightfold path regarding six discourses on giving up fetters, etc. in this grouped discourse.

SN 45.42-47 Six Discourses on Giving Up Fetters, Etc.

“Sace vo, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ: ‘kimatthiyaṁ, āvuso, samaṇe gotame brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyātha:

‘saṁyojanappahānatthaṁ kho, āvuso, bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti …pe…

‘anusayasamugghātanatthaṁ kho, āvuso, bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti …pe…

‘addhānapariññatthaṁ kho, āvuso, bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti …pe…

‘āsavānaṁ khayatthaṁ kho, āvuso, bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti …pe…

‘vijjāvimuttiphalasacchikiriyatthaṁ kho, āvuso, bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti …pe…

‘ñāṇadassanatthaṁ kho, āvuso, bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti …pe….

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Sace vo, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ:

“Mendicants, if wanderers who follow another religion were to ask you:

‘kimatthiyaṁ, āvuso, samaṇe gotame brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyātha:

‘Reverends, what’s the goal of leading the spiritual life under the ascetic Gotama?’ You should answer them like this:

‘saṁyojanappahānatthaṁ kho, āvuso, bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti …pe…

‘The goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to give up the fetters.’ …

‘anusayasamugghātanatthaṁ kho, āvuso, bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti …pe…

‘… to uproot the underlying tendencies.’ …

‘addhānapariññatthaṁ kho, āvuso, bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti …pe…

‘… to completely understand the course of time.’ …

‘āsavānaṁ khayatthaṁ kho, āvuso, bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti …pe…

‘… to end the defilements.’ …

‘vijjāvimuttiphalasacchikiriyatthaṁ kho, āvuso, bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti …pe…

‘… to realize the fruit of knowledge and freedom.’ …

‘ñāṇadassanatthaṁ kho, āvuso, bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti …pe….

‘… for knowledge and vision.’ …”

Sattamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
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Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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Liberation

Liberation

Liberation can imply a temporary release of the mind, i.e. liberated from certain unwholesome mental qualities or complete liberation from all unwholesome qualities of the mind, i.e. Nibbāna.

Also known as: freedom, release, emancipation, deliverance
Pāli: vimutti, vimokkha, cetovimutti, paññāvimutti, akuppā cetovimutti
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Spiritual life

Spiritual life

A life of celibacy, contemplation, and ethical discipline lived for the sake of liberation; oriented toward inner development rather than sensual pleasures

Also known as: abstinence, celibacy, chastity, holy life, sexual restraint
Pāli: brahmacariya
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Vision

Vision

The corrective clarity that clearly sees into the true nature of things as they actually are.

Also known as: knowledge and vision, seeing clearly, seeing things as they are, seeing the truth, seeing the dhamma
Pāli: dassana, ñāṇadassana, yathābhūtañāṇadassana
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Last updated on July 27, 2026