Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
45. Magga Saṃyutta
4. Paṭipatti Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
45. Kindred Sayings on the Way
4. On Conduct
Sutta 37
Paṭhama Brahmañña Suttaṃ
The Highest Life (a)
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"I will teach you, monks,
both the highest life[1]
and the fruits of the highest life.
Do ye listen to it.
And what, monks, is the highest life?
It is just this Ariyan eightfold way,
to wit:
Right view,
right aim,
right speech,
right action,
right living,
right effort,
right mindfulness
right concentration.
This is called
'the highest life.'
§
And what, monks, are
the fruits of the highest life?
They are the fruit of stream-winning,
the fruit of once returning,
the fruit of not returning
and the fruit of arahantship.
These, monks, are called
'the fruits of the highest life.'"
[1] Brahmaññaṇ
