The Book of the Eights

The eight benefits of practicing the meditation on love.

Eight conditions that lead to the arising of wisdom, its growth and perfection.

Due to eight qualities, a mendicant is displeasing to their fellow monastics, but with the opposite qualities is pleasing.

Due to eight qualities, a mendicant is displeasing to their fellow monastics, but with the opposite qualities is pleasing.

The eight worldly conditions in brief: gain and loss, fame and disgrace, praise and blame, pleasure and pain.

The eight worldly conditions in detail: gain and loss, fame and disgrace, praise and blame, pleasure and pain.

Devadatta’s downfall was the eight worldly conditions.

In a discourse evidently set some time after the Buddha’s passing, Venerable Uttara, staying in a distant land, teaches that a mendicant should review their own failings and those of others. Questioned by Sakka, the Lord of Gods, Uttara affirms that he learned this from the Buddha.

The Buddha praises the grace and restraint of Venerable Nanda.

When a certain monk was admonished, he responded by attacking his reprovers. The Buddha tells the other monks to expel him, explaining that when such a monk lives hidden in the Saṅgha, his corruption can spread to the other monks.

The brahmin Verañja rebukes the Buddha for his lack of respect for senior brahmins. He levels a series of criticisms, each of which the Buddha deflects by redefining terms. The Buddha affirms that his claim to superiority is because he was the first to achieve awakening.

General Sīha, a prominent disciple of the Jains, visits the Buddha against the wishes of Mahāvīra, the Jain leader. He challenges the Buddha by bringing up the various ways that people criticize him. Convinced by the Buddha’s response, Sīha wishes to take refuge in the Buddha; but the Buddha urges him to be cautious and to continue supporting the Jains.

With eight qualities a royal thoroughbred is worthy of a king. Likewise, with eight qualities a mendicant is worthy.

Eight flaws in wild horses, similar to eight flaws in mendicants.

Eight different kinds of stain.

A mendicant with eight qualities is worthy of being sent on a mission.

A woman imprisons a man in eight ways.

A man imprisons a woman in eight ways.

Demons delight in the ocean for eight reasons, and likewise the mendicants delight in the Dhamma for eight reasons.

On a full-moon night, the Buddha was to recite the code of conduct for the monks. However, he remained silent until dawn, due to the presence of a corrupt monk.

The Buddha celebrates the eight amazing qualities of the householder Ugga of Vesālī. Ugga himself speaks of these qualities.

The Buddha celebrates the eight amazing qualities of the householder Ugga of Hatthigāma. Ugga himself speaks of these qualities.

The Buddha celebrates the seven amazing qualities of the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī. When he hears of this, Hatthaka is anxious to know that no lay people were present. Learning of this, the Buddha adds humility as an eight quality.

The Buddha learns from Hatthaka of Āḷavī how he maintains a large following. He then celebrates Hatthaka’s eight good qualities.

Questioned by his relative Mahānāma, the Buddha explains what makes someone a Buddhist lay follower, a virtuous lay follower, and a lay follower practicing for the welfare of all.

Questioned by Jīvaka Komārabhacca, the Buddha explains what makes someone a Buddhist lay follower, a virtuous lay follower, and a lay follower practicing for the welfare of all.

Eight very different kinds of powers.

Eight powers of a perfected one.

Eight lost opportunities for spiritual practice.

Venerable Anuruddha reflects that the teachings are for someone who is of few wishes, content, secluded, energetic, mindful, peaceful, and wise. To these seven thoughts, the Buddha adds an eighth: the teaching is for those who delight in non-proliferation. Practicing in line with these eight thoughts of a great man, Venerable Anuruddha achieves perfection.

Eight ways of giving a gift.

This verse on qualities of a good person appears to be a fragment of text, perhaps originally part of the previous sutta.

Eight grounds for giving.

The rewards of giving are compared to fields of different qualities.

When giving, if you expect a certain result in the next life, you can get it, if the conditions are right.

The good deeds of giving, ethics, and meditation lead to good rebirths, depending on the level to which they are developed.

A good person gives gifts in eight ways.

When a good person is born, it benefits eight kinds of people, like a rain-cloud showering all over the land.

Eight streams of merit, consisting in going for refuge and five kinds of gifts.

Eight kinds of misdeed are conducive to bad outcomes.

When the sabbath is observed by following the eight precepts, one lives for that day like the perfected ones. Such a sabbath is glorious.

When the sabbath is observed by following the eight precepts, one lives for that day like the perfected ones. The benefits are explained at length.

The Buddha teaches the wealthy laywoman Visākhā that when the sabbath is observed by following the eight precepts, one lives for that day like the perfected ones.

The Buddha teaches the layman Vāseṭṭha that when the sabbath is observed by following the eight precepts, one lives for that day like the perfected ones. Vāseṭṭha exclaims that such a practice would be widely beneficial.

The Buddha teaches the laywoman Bojjhā that when the sabbath is observed by following the eight precepts, one lives for that day like the perfected ones. Bojjhā exclaims that such a practice would be widely beneficial.

Some “Agreeable” gods put on a display of music and dance for Venerable Anuruddha, but he is not impressed. He then asks the Buddha how women are reborn in such a heaven.

The Buddha teaches the laywoman Visākhā eight qualities through which a woman may be reborn among the Agreeable gods.

The Buddha teaches the housewife Nakulamātā eight qualities through which a woman may be reborn among the Agreeable gods.

The Buddha teaches the laywoman Visākhā four qualities through which a woman succeeds in this life, and four through which she succeeds in the next.

The Buddha teaches the mendicants four qualities through which a woman succeeds in this life, and four through which she succeeds in the next.

Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, the Buddha’s foster mother, requests ordination from the Buddha. He declines, until urged to relent by Ānanda. He allows Mahāpajāpatī to go forth on eight conditions.

With eight qualities a monk may be appointed to teach the nuns.

Mahāpajāpatī wishes to go on retreat, so the Buddha teaches her eight principles that summarize the Dhamma in brief.

Dīghajāṇu of the Koliyans asks the Buddha to teach in a way suitable for lay people who enjoy life. The Buddha teaches four practical ways to ensure success in this life, and another four ways to ensure success in the next.

The brahmin Ujjaya is going abroad, and asks the Buddha to teach him. The Buddha teaches four practical ways to ensure success in this life, and another four ways to ensure success in the next.

The Buddha explains how addiction to sensual pleasures is perilous.

With eight qualities, a mendicant is worthy.

With eight qualities, a mendicant is worthy.

Eight kinds of person are worthy.

Eight kinds of person are worthy.

The Buddha describes eight cases where a mendicant has a desire for material things. Sometimes they fall under the sway of that desire, but sometimes they rise above it.

Eight sets of qualities pertain to benefiting oneself and others.

A monk asks for teachings before going on retreat, but the Buddha rebukes him, as he has not practiced sincerely. Nevertheless, he persists, and the Buddha teaches him meditation in detail.

At Gayā, the Buddha describes his meditation before awakening. He was able to see lights and forms, converse with gods, and understand the deeds that made them gods.

Eight dimensions of meditative mastery, based on the vision of certain shapes and colors.

Eight meditative liberations, based on the vision of forms and the attainment of the formless.

Eight kinds of ignoble statement that misrepresent the truth.

Eight kinds of noble statement that convey the truth.

Eight kinds of assemblies: aristocrats, brahmins, householders, ascetics, and various deities. The Buddha has visited each of these in disguise.

When the Buddha gives up his life-force, an earthquake is felt. The Buddha explains to Ānanda the eight causes of earthquakes.

Beginning with faith, a mendicant completes all good qualities that fulfill liberation.

Beginning with faith, a mendicant completes all good qualities that fulfill liberation.

Various mendicants practice mindfulness of death, but do so inadequately. The Buddha explains how to do so with proper urgency,

A mendicant should reflect each night on the dangers that lie around them, and practice mindfulness of death with urgency to give up the unwholesome.

Eight accomplishments, both worldly and spiritual.

Eight accomplishments, both worldly and spiritual, in detail.

Sāriputta describes eight cases where a mendicant has a desire for material things. Sometimes they fall under the sway of that desire, but sometimes they rise above it.

Eight sets of qualities pertain to benefiting oneself and others, explained by Sāriputta.

Eight conditions for the decline or success of a trainee mendicant.

Eight grounds for laziness, and the corresponding eight grounds for energy.

Mindfulness and situational awareness are a foundation for developing higher spiritual qualities leading to liberation.

Venerable Puṇṇiya asks the Buddha why he sometimes feels like teaching and other times doesn’t.

The root of all things, and other factors that apply to all things.

The Buddha teaches how to be a success as a master thief. Unusually, this discourse has no “spiritual” counterpart, so it sounds like the Buddha just giving a lesson in thievery!

Different titles for the Buddha.

When the householders of Icchānaṅgala make a racket in the monastery, the Buddha asks his attendant Nāgita what is going on. The Buddha speaks strongly of his dislike for material gains, and his love of seclusion.

Eight reasons the Saṅgha may overturn the bowl against a lay follower.

Eight reasons the lay followers may declare no confidence or confidence regarding a mendicant.

Eight reasons the lay followers may enjoin an act of reconciliation on a mendicant, or relax said act.

Eight things a mendicant charged with aggravated misconduct must observe.