Linked Discourses on the Eightfold Path

Following ignorance comes the wrong eightfold path. But the right eightfold path follows true knowledge.

When Ānanda says that good friendship is half the spiritual path, the Buddha rebukes him, saying that it is in fact the whole of the spiritual path. Based on good friendship, the eightfold path is fulfilled.

When Sāriputta says that good friendship is the whole of the spiritual path, the Buddha praises him. Based on good friendship, the eightfold path is fulfilled.

Ānanda sees the brahmin Jāṇussoṇi resplendent on his all-white chariot. He asks the Buddha whether there is a similarly divine vehicle in Buddhism. The Buddha responds by drawing a detailed set of analogies between the eightfold path and a chariot.

When asked what is the purpose of the spiritual path, you should answer that it is the ending of suffering.

A mendicant asks what is the purpose of the spiritual path, and the Buddha answers that it is the ending of suffering.

A mendicant asks about Nibbāna and the deathless.

The Buddha presents the eightfold path together with a detailed analysis of each factor. It should be assumed that these explanations apply wherever the eightfold path is taught.

A mendicant with wrong view will develop the path in the wrong way, harming themselves as if grabbing a sharp spike the wrong way.

The wanderer Nandiya asks how many things lead to extinguishment.

The Buddha goes on retreat for a fortnight. When he emerges, he describes his meditation on the conditionality of the eightfold path, which was similar to a practice he did shortly after awakening.

The Buddha goes on retreat for three months. When he emerges, he describes his meditation on the conditionality of the eightfold path, which was similar to a practice he did shortly after awakening.

A mendicant asks how a person is a “trainee”.

The eightfold path does not arise apart from a Realized One.

The eightfold path does not arise apart from a Holy One’s training.

The eight pure factors of the path do not arise apart from a Realized One.

The eight pure factors of the path do not arise apart from a Holy One’s training.

In a short discourse evidently set shortly after the Buddha’s passing, Venerable Bhadda asks Ānanda about the unholy life, or the unspiritual path. It is the wrong eightfold path.

In a short discourse evidently set shortly after the Buddha’s passing, Venerable Bhadda asks Ānanda about the holy life, or the spiritual path. It is the right eightfold path.

In a short discourse evidently set shortly after the Buddha’s passing, Venerable Bhadda asks Ānanda about the spiritual path, one who follows the spiritual path, and the goal of the spiritual path.

The wrong eightfold path is a wrong state; the right eightfold path is a right state.

The factors of the wrong eightfold path are unskillful qualities; those of the right eightfold path are skillful qualities.

The wrong eightfold path is the wrong way; the right eightfold path is the right way.

Regardless of whether one is a lay person or a renunciate, the Buddha praises the right way, not the wrong way. The wrong eightfold path is the wrong way; the right eightfold path is the right way.

A bad person practices wrong eightfold path; a good person practices the right eightfold path.

A bad person practices wrong eightfold path, and a worse person has wrong knowledge and wrong liberation, too; a good person is the opposite.

Someone without the eightfold path is easily knocked over, like a pot without a stand.

The eightfold path is the necessary prerequisite for right immersion (samādhi).

The eightfold path is developed to understand the three feelings.

The Buddha taught the eightfold path in order to give up the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

The wrong eightfold path is wrong practice; the right eightfold path is right practice.

Practicing the wrong eightfold path is wrong; practicing the right awakening path is right.

Neglecting the eightfold path you neglect the path to the end of suffering.

The eightfold path leads from the near to the far shore. With a long set of verses.

The eightfold path is the ascetic life. Its fruits are stream-entry, once-return, non-return, and perfection.

The eightfold path is the ascetic life. Its fruits are the end of greed, hate, and delusion.

The eightfold path is brahminhood. Its fruits are stream-entry, once-return, non-return, and perfection.

The eightfold path is brahminhood. Its fruits are the end of greed, hate, and delusion.

The eightfold path is the spiritual path. Its fruits are stream-entry, once-return, non-return, and perfection.

The eightfold path is the spiritual path. Its fruits are the end of greed, hate, and delusion.

If others ask why you follow the spiritual path, say it’s for the fading away of lust.

If others ask why you follow the spiritual path, say it’s for giving up fetters, etc.

If others ask why you follow the spiritual path, say it’s for final extinguishment without anything left over.

As the dawn precedes the sun, good friendship precedes the eightfold path.

As the dawn precedes the sun, ethics, enthusiasm, confidence, right view, and diligence precede the eightfold path.

As the dawn precedes the sun, proper attention precedes the eightfold path.

Develop the eightfold path to abandon the three cravings. This sutta is doubled by replacing taṇhā with another form of the same word, tasina. This variation is found in Burmese but not Sinhalese manuscripts.