Sammaditthi Sutta
The Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (Pali for "Right View Discourse") is a Pali Canon discourse that provides an elaboration on the Buddhist notion of "right view" by the Buddha's chief disciple, Ven. Sariputta. The Chinese canon contains two corresponding translations, the Maha Kotthita Sutra (大拘絺羅經) and the Kotthita Sutra (拘絺羅經).
Right view is the first factor of the Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path, the path that leads to the cessation of suffering. Right view is considered the "forerunner" of all other path factors. Historically, this particular discourse has been used as a primer for monks in South and Southeast Asian monasteries and is read aloud monthly in Mahayana schools.
In the Pali Canon, the Sammaditthi Sutta is the ninth discourse in the Majjhima Nikaya ("Middle-length Collection," abbreviated as either "MN" or "M") and is designated by either "MN 9" or "M.1.1.9" or "M i 46". In the Chinese canon, the Maha Kotthita Sutra (大拘絺羅經) is found in the Taisho Tripitaka Vol. 1, No. 26, page 461, sutra 29 and the Kotthita Sutra (拘絺羅經) is found in the Taisho Tripitaka Vol. 2, No. 99, page 94, sutra 344.
Text
In this discourse, Ven. Sariputta addresses a congregation of monks (bhikkhu) about how (in English and Pali):
"... a noble disciple is one of right view,
whose view is straight,
who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma,
and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
... ariyasāvako sammādiṭṭhi hoti.
Ujugatāssa diṭṭhi.
Dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgato
āgato imaṃ saddhammanti.
At the monks' repeated urging, Ven. Sariputta then identifies the following sixteen cases (pariyāya) through which a noble disciple could achieve right view:
the Unwholesome and the Wholesome
Nutriments
the Four Noble Truths (discussed as one case)
the twelve causes (nidana) of Dependent Origination (discussed as twelve individual cases)
the Taints
Right view is achieved for the last fifteen of these cases by understanding (pajānāti) the four phases of each case:
the constituents of the case
its origin
its cessation
the way leading to its cessation
Unwholesome and wholesome
Ven. Sariputta describes the "unwholesome" (akusala) as entailing ten different actions of three different types:
physical actions: killing (pāṇātipāto), stealing (adinnādānaṃ) and sexual misconduct (kāmesumicchācāro);
verbal actions: lying (musāvādo), divisive speech (pisuṇāvācā), harsh speech (pharusāvācā) and idle chatter (samphappalāpo);
mental actions: covetousness (abhijjhā), ill will (byāpādo) and wrong view (micchādiṭṭhi).
The "root of the unwholesome" (akusalamūla) is threefold:
greed (lobho)
hatred (doso)
delusion (moho)
The wholesome (kusala) entails abstention (veramaṇī) from the aforementioned unwholesome physical and verbal acts as well as non-covetness (anabhijjhā), non-ill will (abyāpādo) and right view (sammādiṭṭhi). The wholesome's root (kusalamūla) is nongreed (alobho), nonhatred (adoso) and nondelusion (amoho).
Understanding (pajānāti) these twenty actions and six roots, the noble disciple abandons greed, aversion, conceit and ignorance, arouses wisdom, ends suffering and is one of right view.
Nutriments
Ven. Sariputta describes the "nutriments" (āhāro) as fourfold:
physical food (kabaliṅkāro)
contact (phasso)
mental volition (manosañcetanā)
consciousness (viññāṇa)
The arising (origin) of nutriment is due to the arising of craving. The cessation of nutriment is the cessation of craving. The way leading to the cessation of nutriment is the Noble Eightfold Path. Understanding nutriment, its origin, cessation and the way leading to its cessation, the noble disciple abandons greed, aversion, conceit and ignorance, arouses wisdom, ends suffering and is one of right view.
Four noble truths
The 12 Nidānas:
Ignorance
↓
Formations
↓
Consciousness
↓
Name & Form
↓
Six Sense Bases
↓
Contact
↓
Feeling
↓
Craving
↓
Clinging
↓
Becoming
↓
Birth
↓
Old Age & Death
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Ven. Sariputta describes the Four Noble Truths using traditional canonical phrases:
suffering (dukkha) is birth, aging, sickness, death, ... in short, the five aggregates of clinging.
the origin of suffering (dukkhasamudaya) is craving (tanha) ... for sensual pleasures, being and non-being.
the cessation of suffering (dukkhanirodha) is ... the letting go and rejecting of craving.
the way leading to the cessation of suffering (dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā) is the Noble Eightfold Path (ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo).
Understanding suffering, its origin, cessation and the way leading to its cessation, the noble disciple abandons greed, aversion, conceit and ignorance, arouses wisdom, ends suffering and is one of right view.
Twelve causes
Ven. Sariputta then describes individually each of the twelve causes (represented in the sidebar to the right) of Dependent Origination using traditional canonical phrases, starting with "aging and death" (jaramarana) and regressing to "ignorance" (avijjā).
In this formulation, the next further back cause is the "origin" of the current cause. Thus, for instance, the origin of "aging and death" is "birth" (jati), the origin of "birth" is "becoming" (bhava), etc. Here, the origin of "ignorance" is the "taints" (āsava, see below). The cause's cessation is its temporal predecessor's cessation (for instance, old age and death cease when birth ceases). The way leading to the cessation of any of these twelve causes is the Noble Eightfold Path.
Understanding any one of these twelve causes, its origin, cessation and the way leading to its cessation, the noble disciple abandons greed, aversion, conceit and ignorance, arouses wisdom, ends suffering and is one of right view.
Taints
Naturally following through on his assertion that ignorance arises from the taints, Ven. Sariputta next enumerates the three taints (tayo āsava):
the taint of sensual desire (kāmāsavo)
the taint of being (bhavāsavo)
the taint of ignorance (avijjāsavo)
The origin of the taints is in turn ignorance (avijjā).
Understanding the taints, their origin (ignorance), cessation (the cessation of ignorance) and the way leading to their cessation (the Noble Eightfold Path), the noble disciple abandons greed, aversion, conceit and ignorance, arouses wisdom, ends suffering and is one of right view.
Upon hearing this last case described, the monks were satisfied.
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Throughout the Pali Canon, other discourses underline and amplify the topics discussed in this discourse. Below is a sample of such discourses regarding the definition of right view, wholesome and unwholesome actions, and the roots of greed, hate and delusion.
Magga-vibhanga Sutta (SN 45.8)
In the "An Analysis of the Path" discourse (SN 45.8), the Buddha is recorded as uttering a brief formula for defining "right view":
"Knowledge with regard to stress (dukkha),
knowledge with regard to the origination of stress,
knowledge with regard to the stopping of stress,
knowledge with regard to the way of practice
leading to the stopping of stress...."
... dukkhe ñāṇaṃ
dukkhasamudaye ñāṇaṃ
dukkhanirodhe ñāṇaṃ
dukkhanirodhagāminiyā
paṭipadāya ñāṇaṃ....
This pithy phrase reflects the core process of the Sammaditthi Sutta insomuch that each of the discourse's cases is analyzed in terms of its existence, its origin, its cessation and the way leading to its cessation (that is, the Noble Eightfold Path).[23]
This condensed formulaic definition of "right view" is found in other canonical discourses as well as in the Abhidhamma Pitaka.[24] In addition, in the Pali literature, this same definition is provided for "wisdom" (vijjā), "non-delusion" (amoho), and the "four knowledges of this world" (aparāni cattāri ñāṇāni).
Saleyyaka Sutta (MN 41)
In the "The Brahmans of Sala" discourse (MN 41), as elsewhere in the Canon, the Buddha elaborates in detail on the ten unwholesome and ten wholesome actions. For instance, regarding unwholesome mental actions, the Buddha is recorded as having stated:
"And how are there three kinds of mental conduct not in accordance with the Dhamma, unrighteous conduct? Here someone is covetous: he is a coveter of another's chattels and property thus: 'Oh, that what is another's were mine!' Or he has a mind of ill-will, with the intention of a mind affected by hate thus: 'May these beings be slain and slaughtered, may they be cut off, perish, or be annihilated!' Or he has wrong view, distorted vision, thus: 'There is nothing given, nothing offered, nothing sacrificed, no fruit and ripening of good and bad kammas (action), no this world, no other world, no mother, no father, no spontaneously (born) beings, no good and virtuous monks and brahmans that have themselves realized by direct knowledge and declare this world and the other world....'"
Mula Sutta (AN 3.69)
In the "Roots" discourse (AN 3.69), the Buddha describes the three roots of greed, hate (or aversion) and delusion in the following power-driven fashion:
"Greed itself is unskillful. Whatever a greedy person fabricates by means of body, speech, or intellect, that too is unskillful. Whatever suffering a greedy person – his mind overcome with greed, his mind consumed – wrongly inflicts on another person through beating or imprisonment or confiscation or placing blame or banishment, [with the thought,] 'I have power. I want power,' that too is unskillful. Thus it is that many evil, unskillful qualities/events – born of greed, caused by greed, originated through greed, conditioned by greed – come into play."
The same exact formula is used for "aversion" and "delusion" substituting these words for "greed."
Additionally, the Buddha describes how a person overcome with these roots has on-going problems:
"And a person like this is called one who speaks at the wrong time, speaks what is unfactual, speaks what is irrelevant, speaks contrary to the Dhamma, speaks contrary to the Vinaya.... When told what is factual, he denies it and doesn't acknowledge it. When told what is unfactual, he doesn't make an ardent effort to untangle it [to see], 'This is unfactual. This is baseless.'...
"A person like this – his mind overcome with evil, unskillful qualities born of greed... born of aversion... born of delusion, his mind consumed – dwells in suffering right in the here-&-now – feeling threatened, turbulent, feverish – and at the break-up of the body, after death, can expect a bad destination."
In juxtaposition, the person whose unwholesome roots are abandoned experiences present moment ease:
"In a person like this, evil, unskillful qualities born of greed... born of aversion... born of delusion have been abandoned, their root destroyed, like an uprooted palm tree, deprived of the conditions of existence, not destined for future arising. He dwells in ease right in the here-&-now – feeling unthreatened, placid, unfeverish – and is unbound right in the here-&-now."
Post-canonical commentary
The traditional Pali commentary (atthakatha) to the Majjhima Nikaya is the Papañcasūdani (abbrev., Ps. or MA). It includes a line-by-line analysis of this discourse. Portions of this commentary can also be found in the Visuddhimagga. Both of these texts are attributed to Buddhaghosa.
Supramundane right view
Persons of Right View
(According to the Pali Commentary)
type of
right view type of person understanding
mundane
right view
(lokiya) "worldling"
(puthujjana) Buddhists &
non-Buddhists believes in
one's own
kamma
Buddhists
only does not
hold to a
"view of self"
supra-
mundane
right view
(lokuttara) disciple in higher training
(sekha): stream-enterer,
once-returner, non-returner "fixed"
right view
one beyond training
(asekha): arahant right view
"beyond
training"
The Papañcasūdani identifies different types of right view contingent on one's breadth and depth of understanding (see the table to the right). According to this commentary, when Ven. Sariputta discusses one "who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma and has arrived at the true Dhamma," he is referring to one who has attained "supramundane right view," thus holding out this higher achievement as a milestone for his audience.
Understanding unwholesome and wholesome
According to the Pali commentary, the unwholesome and the wholesome can be understood within the four-phase framework (suffering-origin-cessation-path) used to analyze this discourse's other fifteen cases. From one perspective, the unwholesome and the wholesome are a form of suffering (dukkha). Likewise, their respective roots (greed, nongreed, etc.) are thus "the origin of suffering" (dukkha-samudaya); the non-arising of the roots is the cessation of this suffering (dukkha-nirodha); and, the understanding of unwholesome and wholesome actions and their roots, abandoning the roots, and understanding their cessation is the noble path (ariya-magga).
In addition, the ten courses of unwholesome action and ten courses of wholesome action can be understood in terms of the following five aspects: mental state (whether or not volition was a primary factor); category (result of prior action or roots or both); object (formation or beings); feeling (painful, pleasant or neutral); and, root (greed, hate and/or delusion).
Further description of the nutriments
In elaborating upon the nutriments, the commentary states:
Physical food nourishes the materiality. Understanding this nutriment leads to understanding the lust for the five sense pleasures which fetter the noble disciple to rebirth.
Contact nourishes the three types of feeling (pleasant, unpleasant and neutrality). Understanding this nutriment leads to understanding the three feelings.
Mental volition nourishes the three kinds of being (sense-sphere, fine-material and immaterial beings). Understanding this nutriment leads to understanding the three cravings.
Consciousness nourishes the mentality-materiality of "rebirth-linking." Understanding this nutriment leads to understanding mentality-materiality.
After understanding any of the three latter nutriments, "there is nothing further for the noble disciple to do."
Beginningless samsara
The commentary notes:
"Because with the arising of the taints there is the arising of ignorance, and with the arising of ignorance there is the arising of the taints. Thus the taints are a condition for ignorance, and ignorance is a condition for the taints. Having shown this, (it follows that) no first point of ignorance is manifest, and because none is manifest the undiscoverability of any beginning of samsara is proven."
Thirty-two explanations of Truth
As this discourse analyzes each of the sixteen cases in terms of the Four Noble Truths (that is, in terms of each case's definition, origin, cessation and the path leading to cessation) and that it provides a twofold analysis (in terms of a brief initial statement followed by a more detailed explanation), and that understanding each of these can lead to arahantship, the commentary concludes:
"Thus in the entire Word of the Buddha comprised in the five great Nikayas, there is no sutta except for this Discourse on Right View where the Four (Noble) Truths are explained thirty-two times and where arahantship is explained thirty-two times."
See also
Noble Eightfold Path
Four Noble Truths
Dependent Co-Arising
Four stages of enlightenment
Notes
^ http://www.suttacentral.net/disp_correspondence.php?division_acronym=MN&sutta_number=9.0&sutta_coded_name=Samm%C4%81di%E1%B9%AD%E1%B9%ADhi&volpage_info=MN%20I%2046&sutta_id=43
^ a b http://w3.cbeta.org/cgi-bin/goto.pl?linehead=T01n0026_p0461b22
^ http://w3.cbeta.org/cgi-bin/goto.pl?linehead=T02n0099_p0094b02
^ See, for instance, the "Setting Rolling the Wheel of Truth" discourse (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, SN 56.11) (Ñanamoli, 1981).
^ See, for instance, the "Great Forty Discourse" (Maha-cattarisaka Sutta, MN 117) (Thanissaro, 1997a); and, Bodhi's introductory comments in Ñanamoli & Bodhi (1991).
^ Ñanamoli & Bodhi (1991); and, Bodhi (2005), p. 303.
^ "MN 9" denotes that this discourse is the ninth discourse of the 152 discourses in the Majjhima Nikaya. As an example, Thanissaro (2005b) uses this designation.
^ "M.1.1.9" denotes that this is the ninth discourse in the first chapter (Mūlapariyāyavaggo, lit. "beginning arrangement chapter") of the first volume (Mūlapaṇṇāsako, lit. "beginning group of fifty (discourses)") in the Majjhima Nikaya. As an example, La Trobe University (n.d.) uses this designation.
^ "M i 46" denotes that, in the Pali Text Society edition of the Canon, this discourse starts on page 46 of the first volume of the Majjhima Nikaya.
^ Ñanamoli & Bodhi (1991).
^ This brief formula (with minor variations) is a frequent refrain throughout this discourse. The refrain is used by Ven. Sariputta to first introduce the initial question, then as part of the monks' querying of Ven. Sariputta (transitionally between cases), and then as part of Ven. Sariputta's introduction to and closure of his discussion of each case. (See Ñaṇamoli & Bodhi, 2001, pp. 52-53, for a brief discussion regarding repetitious phrases in the Pali Canon, used as both pedagogic and mnemonic devices.)
^ In the introductory remarks of Ñanamoli & Bodhi (1991), Bodhi notes that the phrase "(one) who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma and has arrived at this true Dhamma" refers to a stream-enterer (sotapanna). In terms of the other path achievers, it is further worth noting that Ven. Sariputta closes each case's section with the following refrain:
"When a noble disciple has thus understood ...,
he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to greed,
he abolishes the underlying tendency to aversion,
he extirpates the underlying tendency to the view and conceit 'I am,'
and by abandoning ignorance and arousing true knowledge
he here and now makes an end of suffering.
In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view,
... and has arrived at this true Dhamma." (Ñanamoli & Bodhi, 1991).
Yato kho āvuso ariyasāvako evaṃ ... pajānāti,
so sabbaso rāgānusayaṃ pahāya
paṭighānusayaṃ paṭivinodetvā
asmīti diṭṭhimānānusayaṃ samūhanitvā
avijjaṃ pahāya vijjaṃ uppādetvā
diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantaṅkaro hoti.
Ettāvatāpi kho āvuso ariyasāvako sammādiṭṭhi hoti.
... Āgato imaṃ saddhammanti. (La Trobe University, n.d., v. 10.)
In Bodhi's introduction to Ñanamoli & Bodhi (1991) and in Bodhi (2005), p. 446, n. 12, Bodhi points out that (according to the commentarial Papañcasūdani) eliminating the underlying tendencies of lust (rāgānusaya) and aversion (paṭighānusaya) is the path of the non-returner (anagami) while eliminating the underlying tendency to the view of and pride (māno) in a self is the path of the arahant. See Fetter (Buddhism) for overlapping information.
^ La Trobe University (n.d.).
^ The Pali word pariyāya is uttered by the monks when questioning Ven. Sariputta for another way or method by which one could be of right view:
(Monks:] Saying, "Good, friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view... and has arrived at this true Dhamma?"
[Ven. Sariputta:] "There might be, friends." (Ñanamoli & Bodhi, 1991).
(Monks:] Sādhāvusoti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato sāriputtassa bhāsitaṃ abhinanditvā anumoditvā āyasmantaṃ sāriputtaṃ uttariṃ pañhaṃ āpucchuṃ: siyā panāvuso aññopi pariyāyo yathā ariyasāvako sammādiṭṭhi hoti ... āgato imaṃ saddhammanti?
[Ven. Sariputta:] Siyā āvuso.... (La Trobe University, n.d., vv. 11-12.)
In effect, these topics (the unwholesome, the nutriments, etc.) are substrata for developing right view. The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Definition states that, according to Buddhaghosa, pariyāya can be understood in three ways: (1) "turn, course"; (2) "instruction, presentation"; and, (3) "cause, reason, also case, matter." (Rhys Davids & Stede, 1921-25, p. 433, entry for "Pariyāya," imbedded URL retrieved 20 Sep 2007.) For this article, given these authoritative definitions, the term "case" has been chosen. As additional alternatives, Ñanamoli & Bodhi (1991) translate pariyāya simply as "way" and Thanissaro (2005b) translates it as "line of reasoning."
^ The phrase "four phases" is a Bodhi (2005, pp. 335, 448 n. 23) translation of catuparivaṭṭaṃ (or, according to the SLTP, catuparivattaṃ), more literally, "four turnings." In the Pali Canon, the Buddha explicitly uses these four phases to describe the manner in which he directly knows (abbhaññāsiṃ) the five aggregates of clinging (upādāna) in the Upādāna Parivaṭṭa Sutta ("Phases of Clinging Discourse," SN 22.56) (Bodhi, 2005, pp. 335-37).
^ Consistent with the Pali commentaries, Bodhi (2005), p. 446, n. 10 and Ñanamoli & Bodhi (1991), "Part Two," refer to these as the "ten courses of unwholesome action." The first four unwholesome actions are of course the same as the first four actions from which a layperson undertakes to abstain in the Five Precepts.
Moreover, in regards to the ten courses of wholesome action, the first seven actions (here referred to as "verbal" and "physical") are identical to the traditional formulae for defining the Noble Eightfold Path's factors of Right Speech (sammā-vācā) and Right Action (sammā-kammanta). (While there is overlap between the three wholesome mental factors and Right Intention (sammā-saṅkappa), for instance, regarding non-ill will, nonetheless these are not identical.) Perhaps most significant is that, outside of this discourse's discussion of Right View, the other Noble Eightfold Path factors do not reference the roots of wholesome and unwholesome actions.
^ These formulaic phrases for the Four Noble Truths can also be found, for instance, in the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (SN 56.11) (Ñanamoli, 1981) and in the Mahasatipatthana Sutta (DN 22) (Thanissaro, 2000).
^ These formulaic phrases for the twelve causes can also be found, for instance, in the Paticca-samuppada-vibhanga Sutta (SN 12.2) (Thanissaro, 1997b).
^ In his introduction to his translation, Thanissaro (2005b) underlines:
"... Ven. Sariputta points out that understanding the relationship between any two adjacent factors in the pattern of dependent co-arising provides enough discernment to abandon unskillful obsessions and put an end to suffering. There is no need to comprehend the entire pattern, for the whole is implicit in each paired relationship. This is a point with important practical implications."
^ Thus, ignorance arises from the taints (or "mental fermentations," in Thanissaro's translation) and the taints arise from ignorance. Noting the circularity of this part of the causal chain, Thanissaro (2005b) simply notes:
"... Ven. Sariputta here continues the pattern of dependent co-arising past ignorance – the usual endpoint – to look for its origination, which is mental fermentation. Because these fermentations in turn depend on ignorance, the discussion shows how ignorance tends to prompt more ignorance."
^ Magga-vibhanga Sutta (SN 45.8) (Thanissaro, 1996).
^ Vibhaṅga Sutta, Samyutta Nikaya, book 5, 1.1.8, BJT Page 14 (La Trobe University, n.d.).
^ Ostensibly, the first case regarding the wholesome and the unwholesome does not follow this Four-Noble-Truth pattern; nonetheless, as reflected in this article below, the Pali commentary suggests a manner in which to construe the first case in just this manner.
^ In the Sutta Pitaka, in addition to being used by the Buddha in SN 45.8, this formulaic definition for right view is also found in the Mahasatipatthana Sutta ("Great Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse", DN 22) (Thanissaro, 2000) and the Saccavibhaṅga Sutta ("Analysis of the Truth Discourse," MN 141, stated by Ven. Sariputta) (Ñaṇamoli & Bodhi, 2001, pp. 1097-1101), as well as in the para-canonical Nettipakarana, book 1, v. 3.2.14. In the Abhidhamma Pitaka, this formulation is found in the Vibhanga.
^ In the para-canonical Nettipakarana.
^ In the Abhidhamma Pitaka's Dhammasangani.
^ In the Digha Nikaya's Saṅgīti Sutta ("Chanting Together Discourse," DN 33). Here, aparā is being translated as "of this world." Perhaps similarly, in the Khuddaka Nikaya's Patisambhidamagga, these four knowledges are listed as the first four of "fourteen Buddha knowledges" (cūddasa buddhañāṇāni).
^ Saleyyaka Sutta (MN 41) (Ñanamoli & Khantipalo, 1993). (For the sake of brevity and copyright considerations, more is not excerpted here from this discourse.)
^ Mula Sutta (AN 3.69) (Thanissaro, 2005a). (Square-bracketed phrase included in the original.)
^ Ibid. (Some ellipses included in original.)
^ Ibid. (Ellipses included in original.)
^ "MA" = "Majjhima Nikaya - Atthakatha," that is, "Middle-Length Collection - Commentary."
^ A complete translation of the Papañcasūdani commentary on this discourse can be found on-line at Ñanamoli & Bhikkhu (1991), "Part Two: The Commentary to the Discourse on Right View."
^ For instance, compare the Papañcasūdani and the Visuddhimagga (Ch. XI) regarding the nutriments.
^ For example, as stated in the fifth remembrance identified in the Upajjhatthana Sutta.
^ Ñaṇamoli & Bodhi (2001), pp. 1184-85, n. 114; and, Ñanamoli & Bhikkhu (1991), "Part Two," v. 2.
^ Ñanamoli & Bhikkhu (1991), "Part Two," vv. 3 and 8.
^ Ñanamoli & Bhikkhu (1991), "Part Two," vv. 4 and 6.
^ Ñanamoli & Bhikkhu (1991), "Part Two," v. 11.
^ a b Ñanamoli & Bhikkhu (1991), "Part Two," v. 70.
Sammaditthi Sutta
The Discourse on Right View
1. Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was living at Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's Park. There the Venerable Sariputta addressed the bhikkhus thus: "Friends, bhikkhus." — "Friend," they replied. The Venerable Sariputta said this:
2. "'One of right view, one of right view' is said, friends. In what way is a noble disciple one of right view, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma, and has arrived at this true Dhamma?"
"Indeed, friend, we would come from far away to learn from the Venerable Sariputta the meaning of this statement. It would be good if the Venerable Sariputta would explain the meaning of this statement. Having heard it from him, the bhikkhus will remember it."
"Then, friends, listen and attend closely to what I shall say."
"Yes, friend," the bhikkhus replied. The Venerable Sariputta said this:
(The Wholesome and the Unwholesome)
3. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands the unwholesome, the root of the unwholesome, the wholesome, and the root of the wholesome, in that way he is one of right view, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma, and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
4. "And what, friends, is the unwholesome, what is the root of the unwholesome, what is the wholesome, what is the root of the wholesome? Killing living beings is unwholesome; taking what is not given is unwholesome; misconduct in sensual pleasures is unwholesome; false speech is unwholesome; malicious speech is unwholesome; harsh speech is unwholesome; gossip is unwholesome; covetousness is unwholesome; ill will is unwholesome; wrong view is unwholesome. This is called the unwholesome.
5. "And what is the root of the unwholesome? Greed is a root of the unwholesome; hate is a root of the unwholesome; delusion is a root of the unwholesome. This is called the root of the unwholesome.
6. "And what is the wholesome? Abstention from killing living beings is wholesome; abstention from taking what is not given is wholesome; abstention from misconduct in sensual pleasures is wholesome; abstention from false speech is wholesome; abstention from malicious speech is wholesome; abstention from harsh speech is wholesome; abstention from gossip is wholesome; non-covetousness is wholesome; non-ill will is wholesome; right view is wholesome. This is called the wholesome.
7. "And what is the root of the wholesome? Non-greed is a root of the wholesome; non-hate is a root of the wholesome; non-delusion is a root of the wholesome. This is called the root of the wholesome.
8. "When a noble disciple has thus understood the unwholesome, the root of the unwholesome, the wholesome, and the root of the wholesome, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to lust, he abolishes the underlying tendency to aversion, he extirpates the underlying tendency to the view and conceit 'I am,' and by abandoning ignorance and arousing true knowledge he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
(Nutriment)
9. Saying, "Good, friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" — "There might be, friends.
10. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands nutriment, the origin of nutriment, the cessation of nutriment, and the way leading to the cessation of nutriment, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
11. "And what is nutriment, what is the origin of nutriment, what is the cessation of nutriment, what is the way leading to the cessation of nutriment? There are these four kinds of nutriment for the maintenance of beings that already have come to be and for the support of those seeking a new existence. What four? They are physical food as nutriment, gross or subtle; contact as the second; mental volition as the third; and consciousness as the fourth. With the arising of craving there is the arising of nutriment. With the cessation of craving there is the cessation of nutriment. The way leading to the cessation of nutriment is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.
12. "When a noble disciple has thus understood nutriment, the origin of nutriment, the cessation of nutriment, and the way leading to the cessation of nutriment, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to greed, he abolishes the underlying tendency to aversion, he extirpates the underlying tendency to the view and conceit 'I am,' and by abandoning ignorance and arousing true knowledge he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
(The Four Noble Truths)
13. Saying, "Good, friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" — "There might be, friends.
14. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the way leading to the cessation of suffering, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
15. "And what is suffering, what is the origin of suffering, what is the cessation of suffering, what is the way leading to the cessation of suffering? Birth is suffering; aging is suffering; sickness is suffering; death is suffering; sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair are suffering; not to obtain what one wants is suffering; in short, the five aggregates affected by clinging are suffering. This is called suffering.
16. "And what is the origin of suffering? It is craving, which brings renewal of being, is accompanied by delight and lust, and delights in this and that; that is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving for being and craving for non-being. This is called the origin of suffering.
17. "And what is the cessation of suffering? It is the remainderless fading away and ceasing, the giving up, relinquishing, letting go and rejecting of that same craving. This is called the cessation of suffering.
18. "And what is the way leading to the cessation of suffering? It is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view...right concentration. This is called the way leading to the cessation of suffering.
19. "When a noble disciple has thus understood suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the way leading to the cessation of suffering...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
(Aging and Death)
20. Saying, "Good, friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" — "There might be, friends.
21. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands aging and death, the origin of aging and death, the cessation of aging and death, and the way leading to the cessation of aging and death, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
22. "And what is aging and death, what is the origin of aging and death, what is the cessation of aging and death, what is the way leading to the cessation of aging and death? The aging of beings in the various orders of beings, their old age, brokenness of teeth, grayness of hair, wrinkling of skin, decline of life, weakness of faculties — this is called aging. The passing of beings out of the various orders of beings, their passing away, dissolution, disappearance, dying, completion of time, dissolution of the aggregates, laying down of the body — this is called death. So this aging and this death are what is called aging and death. With the arising of birth there is the arising of aging and death. With the cessation of birth there is the cessation of aging and death. The way leading to the cessation of aging and death is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view...right concentration.
23. "When a noble disciple has thus understood aging and death, the origin of aging and death, the cessation of aging and death, and the way leading to the cessation of aging and death...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
(Birth)
24. Saying, "Good, friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" — "There might be, friends.
25. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands birth, the origin of birth, the cessation of birth, and the way leading to the cessation of birth, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
26. "And what is birth, what is the origin of birth, what is the cessation of birth, what is the way leading to the cessation of birth? The birth of beings into the various orders of beings, their coming to birth, precipitation [in a womb), generation, manifestation of the aggregates, obtaining the bases for contact — this is called birth. With the arising of being there is the arising of birth. With the cessation of being there is the cessation of birth. The way leading to the cessation of birth is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view...right concentration.
27. "When a noble disciple has thus understood birth, the origin of birth, the cessation of birth, and the way leading to the cessation of birth...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
(Being)
28. Saying, "Good, friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" — "There might be, friends.
29. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands being, the origin of being, the cessation of being, and the way leading to the cessation of being, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
30. "And what is being, what is the origin of being, what is the cessation of being, what is the way leading to the cessation of being? There are these three kinds of being: sense-sphere being, fine-material being and immaterial being. With the arising of clinging there is the arising of being. With the cessation of clinging there is the cessation of being. The way leading to the cessation of being is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view...right concentration.
31. "When a noble disciple has thus understood being, the origin of being, the cessation of being, and the way leading to the cessation of being...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
(Clinging)
32. Saying, "Good, friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" — "There might be, friends.
33. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands clinging, the origin of clinging, the cessation of clinging, and the way leading to the cessation of clinging, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
34. "And what is clinging, what is the origin of clinging, what is the cessation of clinging, what is the way leading to the cessation of clinging? There are these four kinds of clinging: clinging to sensual pleasures, clinging to views, clinging to rituals and observances, and clinging to a doctrine of self. With the arising of craving there is the arising of clinging. With the cessation of craving there is the cessation of clinging. The way leading to the cessation of clinging is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view...right concentration.
35. "When a noble disciple has thus understood clinging, the origin of clinging, the cessation of clinging, and the way leading to the cessation of clinging...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
(Craving)
36. Saying, "Good, friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" — "There might be, friends.
37. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands craving, the origin of craving, the cessation of craving, and the way leading to the cessation of craving, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
38. "And what is craving, what is the origin of craving, what is the cessation of craving, what is the way leading to the cessation of craving? There are these six classes of craving: craving for forms, craving for sounds, craving for odors, craving for flavors, craving for tangibles, craving for mind-objects. With the arising of feeling there is the arising of craving. With the cessation of feeling there is the cessation of craving. The way leading to the cessation of craving is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view...right concentration.
39. "When a noble disciple has thus understood craving, the origin of craving, the cessation of craving, and the way leading to the cessation of craving...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
(Feeling)
40. Saying, "Good, friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" — "There might be, friends.
41. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands feeling, the origin of feeling, the cessation of feeling, and the way leading to the cessation of feeling, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
42. "And what is feeling, what is the origin of feeling, what is the cessation of feeling, what is the way leading to the cessation of feeling? There are these six classes of feeling: feeling born of eye-contact, feeling born of ear-contact, feeling born of nose-contact, feeling born of tongue-contact, feeling born of body-contact, feeling born of mind-contact. With the arising of contact there is the arising of feeling. With the cessation of contact there is the cessation of feeling. The way leading to the cessation of feeling is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view...right concentration.
43. "When a noble disciple has thus understood feeling, the origin of feeling, the cessation of feeling, and the way leading to the cessation of feeling...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
(Contact)
44. Saying, "Good, friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" — "There might be, friends.
45. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands contact, the origin of contact, the cessation of contact, and the way leading to the cessation of contact, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
46. "And what is contact, what is the origin of contact, what is the cessation of contact, what is the way leading to the cessation of contact? There are these six classes of contact: eye-contact, ear-contact, nose-contact, tongue-contact, body-contact, mind-contact. With the arising of the sixfold base there is the arising of contact. With the cessation of the sixfold base there is the cessation of contact. The way leading to the cessation of contact is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view...right concentration.
47. "When a noble disciple has thus understood contact, the origin of contact, the cessation of contact, and the way leading to the cessation of contact...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
(The Sixfold Base)
48. Saying, "Good, friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" — "There might be, friends.
49. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands the sixfold base, the origin of the sixfold base, the cessation of the sixfold base, and the way leading to the cessation of the sixfold base, he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
50. "And what is the sixfold base, what is the origin of the sixfold base, what is the cessation of the sixfold base, what is the way leading to the cessation of the sixfold base? There are these six bases: the eye-base, the ear-base, the nose-base, the tongue-base, the body-base, the mind-base. With the arising of mentality-materiality there is the arising of the sixfold base. With the cessation of mentality-materiality there is the cessation of the sixfold base. The way leading to the cessation of the sixfold base is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view...right concentration.
51. "When a noble disciple has thus understood the sixfold base, the origin of the sixfold base, the cessation of the sixfold base, and the way leading to the cessation of the sixfold base...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
(Mentality-Materiality)
52. Saying, "Good, friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" — "There might be, friends.
53. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands mentality-materiality, the origin of mentality-materiality, the cessation of mentality-materiality, and the way leading to the cessation of mentality-materiality, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
54. "And what is mentality-materiality, what is the origin of mentality-materiality, what is the cessation of mentality-materiality, what is the way leading to the cessation of mentality-materiality? Feeling, perception, volition, contact and attention — these are called mentality. The four great elements and the material form derived from the four great elements — these are called materiality. So this mentality and this materiality are what is called mentality-materiality. With the arising of consciousness there is the arising of mentality-materiality. With the cessation of consciousness there is the cessation of mentality-materiality. The way leading to the cessation of mentality-materiality is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view...right concentration.
55. "When a noble disciple has thus understood mentality-materiality, the origin of mentality-materiality, the cessation of mentality-materiality, and the way leading to the cessation of mentality-materiality...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
(Consciousness)
56. Saying, "Good, friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question:
"But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" — "There might be, friends.
57. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands consciousness, the origin of consciousness, the cessation of consciousness, and the way leading to the cessation of consciousness, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
58. "And what is consciousness, what is the origin of consciousness, what is the cessation of consciousness, what is the way leading to the cessation of consciousness? There are these six classes of consciousness: eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness, body-consciousness, mind-consciousness. With the arising of formations there is the arising of consciousness. With the cessation of formations there is the cessation of consciousness. The way leading to the cessation of consciousness is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view...right concentration.
59. "When a noble disciple has thus understood consciousness, the origin of consciousness, the cessation of consciousness, and the way leading to the cessation of consciousness...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
(Formations)
60. Saying, "Good friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" — "There might be, friends.
61. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands formations, the origin of formations, the cessation of formations, and the way leading to the cessation of formations, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
62. "And what are formations, what is the origin of formations, what is the cessation of formations, what is the way leading to the cessation of formations? There are these three kinds of formations: the bodily formation, the verbal formation, the mental formation. With the arising of ignorance there is the arising of formations. With the cessation of ignorance there is the cessation of formations. The way leading to the cessation of formations is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view...right concentration.
63. "When a noble disciple has thus understood formations, the origin of formations, the cessation of formations, and the way leading to the cessation of formations...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
(Ignorance)
64. Saying, "Good friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" — "There might be, friends.
65. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands ignorance, the origin of ignorance, the cessation of ignorance, and the way leading to the cessation of ignorance, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
66. "And what is ignorance, what is the origin of ignorance, what is the cessation of ignorance, what is the way leading to the cessation of ignorance? Not knowing about suffering, not knowing about the origin of suffering, not knowing about the cessation of suffering, not knowing about the way leading to the cessation of suffering — this is called ignorance. With the arising of the taints there is the arising of ignorance. With the cessation of the taints there is the cessation of ignorance. The way leading to the cessation of ignorance is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view...right concentration.
67. "When a noble disciple has thus understood ignorance, the origin of ignorance, the cessation of ignorance, and the way leading to the cessation of ignorance...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
(Taints)
68. Saying, "Good, friend," the bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" — "There might be, friends.
69. "When, friends, a noble disciple understands the taints, the origin of the taints, the cessation of the taints, and the way leading to the cessation of the taints, in that way he is one of right view, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
70. "And what are the taints, what is the origin of the taints, what is the cessation of the taints, what is the way leading to the cessation of the taints? There are three taints: the taint of sensual desire, the taint of being and the taint of ignorance. With the arising of ignorance there is the arising of the taints. With the cessation of ignorance there is the cessation of the taints. The way leading to the cessation of the taints is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.
71. "When a noble disciple has thus understood the taints, the origin of the taints, the cessation of the taints, and the way leading to the cessation of the taints, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to lust, he abolishes the underlying tendency to aversion, he extirpates the underlying tendency to the view and conceit 'I am,' and by abandoning ignorance and arousing true knowledge he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
That is what the Venerable Sariputta said. The bhikkhus were satisfied and delighted in the Venerable Sariputta's words.
