DiscoverSNSN 45–56SN 45SN 45.6

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 45.6 A Mendicant (1st)

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “‘brahmacariyaṁ, brahmacariyan’ti, bhante, vuccati. Katamaṁ nu kho, bhante, brahmacariyaṁ, katamaṁ brahmacariyapariyosānan”ti?

“Ayameva kho, bhikkhu, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo brahmacariyaṁ, seyyathidaṁ— sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi. Yo kho, bhikkhu, rāgakkhayo dosakkhayo mohakkhayo— idaṁ brahmacariyapariyosānan”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and asked him,

“‘brahmacariyaṁ, brahmacariyan’ti, bhante, vuccati.

“Sir, they speak of this thing called the ‘spiritual path’.

Katamaṁ nu kho, bhante, brahmacariyaṁ, katamaṁ brahmacariyapariyosānan”ti?

What is the spiritual path? And what is the culmination of the spiritual path?”

“Ayameva kho, bhikkhu, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo brahmacariyaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—

“Mendicant, the spiritual path 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.

Yo kho, bhikkhu, rāgakkhayo dosakkhayo mohakkhayo—

The ending of greed, hate, and delusion.

idaṁ brahmacariyapariyosānan”ti.

This is the culmination of the spiritual path.”

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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