SN 45.15PTS SN 5.141 min read

Arising (2nd)

Dutiyauppādasutta

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

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 45.15Linked Discourses 45.15
0.22. Vihāravagga2. Meditation

0.3DutiyauppādasuttaArising (2nd)

1.1PTS 5.15Sāvatthinidānaṁ.At Sāvatthī.

1.2“Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā anuppannā uppajjanti, nāññatra sugatavinayā.“Mendicants, these eight things don’t arise to be developed and cultivated apart from the Holy One’s training.¹1.3Katame aṭṭha?What eight?1.4Seyyathidaṁ—sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.They are: right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.1.5Ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā anuppannā uppajjanti, nāññatra sugatavinayā”ti.These are the eight things that don’t arise to be developed and cultivated apart from the Holy One’s training.”

1.6Pañcamaṁ.

Translator’s notes

This is also claimed elsewhere by the Buddha (DN 16:5.27.1). The path factors must come as a whole in order to be “right”, i.e. to lead to awakening. The Buddha is obviously not claiming that every aspect of the path is only found in Buddhism, but that the full range of qualities, and the exclusion of the wrong factors, is unique. For example, other religions may also teach moral behavior, but assert the existence of God or the efficacy of rituals.
↩ sn45.15:1.2