The Buddha teaches on the noble eightfold path regarding extinguishment with no fuel for grasping, guiding mendicants to develop right view through right immersion on the path to liberation.

SN 45.48 Extinguishment With No Fuel For Grasping

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

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

Sace pana vo, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ: ‘atthi panāvuso, maggo, atthi paṭipadā anupādāparinibbānāyā’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyātha: ‘atthi kho, āvuso, maggo, atthi paṭipadā anupādāparinibbānāyā’ti.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, maggo, katamā ca paṭipadā anupādāparinibbānāya? Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, maggo, ayaṁ paṭipadā anupādāparinibbānāyāti.

Evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyāthā”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Aññatitthiyapeyyālaṁ.

Tassuddānaṁ

Virāgasaṁyojanaṁ anusayaṁ,
Addhānaṁ āsavā khayā;
Vijjāvimuttiñāṇañca,
Anupādāya aṭṭhamī.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“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:

‘anupādāparinibbānatthaṁ kho, āvuso, bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti.

‘The goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is complete extinguishment with no fuel for grasping.’

Sace pana vo, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ:

If wanderers of other religions were to ask you:

‘atthi panāvuso, maggo, atthi paṭipadā anupādāparinibbānāyā’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyātha:

‘Is there a path and a practice for complete extinguishment with no fuel for grasping?’ You should answer them like this:

‘atthi kho, āvuso, maggo, atthi paṭipadā anupādāparinibbānāyā’ti.

‘There is a path and a practice for complete extinguishment with no fuel for grasping.’

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, maggo, katamā ca paṭipadā anupādāparinibbānāya?

And what is that path, what is that practice for complete extinguishment with no fuel for grasping?

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.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, maggo, ayaṁ paṭipadā anupādāparinibbānāyāti.

This is the path, this is the practice for complete extinguishment with no fuel for grasping.

Evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyāthā”ti.

When questioned by wanderers of other religions, that’s how you should answer them.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Aññatitthiyapeyyālaṁ.

Tassuddānaṁ

Virāgasaṁyojanaṁ anusayaṁ,

Addhānaṁ āsavā khayā;

Vijjāvimuttiñāṇañca,

Anupādāya aṭṭhamī.

Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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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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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026