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 39

Paṭhama Brahma-Cariya Suttaṃ

The Best Practice (a)

Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids

Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[24]

[1][bodh] THUS have I heard:

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 best practice^[1]
and the fruits of the best practice.

Do ye listen to it.

And what, monks, is the best practice?

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 best practice.'

 

§

 

And what, monks, are
the fruits of the best practice?

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 best practice.'"

 

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^[1] Brahmicariya. Cf. n. supra, and on cap. vi, i, I also translate elsewhere as 'the holy life.'