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