Saṃyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
38. Jambukhādaka Saṃyutta

Sutta 4

Kimatthiya Sutta

What Purpose?

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Provenance, terms and conditons

 

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[1][pts][olds] On one occasion Ven. Sāriputta was staying in Magadha near Nāla Village.

Then Jambukhādaka the wanderer went to Ven. Sāriputta and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him.

After an exchange of friendly greetings and courtesies, he sat to one side.

As he was sitting there he said to Ven. Sāriputta: "Friend Sāriputta, with what purpose is the holy life lived under Gotama the contemplative?"

"The holy life is lived under the Blessed One with the purpose of the full comprehension of stress and suffering."

"But is there a path, is there a practice for the full comprehension of this stress and suffering?"

"Yes, there is a path, there is a practice for the full comprehension of this stress and suffering."

"Then what is the path, what is the practice for the full comprehension of this stress and suffering?"

"Precisely this noble eightfold path, my friend: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

This is the path, this is the practice for the full comprehension of this stress and suffering."

"It's an auspicious path, my friend, an auspicious practice for the full comprehension of this stress and suffering—enough for the sake of heedfulness."

 

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Of Related Interest:

SN 22:23