1. And what is right view?
Right view, I tell you, is of two sorts: There is right view with effluents, siding with merit, resulting in acquisitions [of becoming]; there is right view that is noble, without effluents, transcendent, a factor of the path.
1.1 And what is the right view with effluents, siding with merit, resulting in acquisitions?
There is what is given, what is offered, what is sacrificed. There are fruits & results of good & bad actions. There is this world & the next world. There is mother & father. There are spontaneously reborn beings; there are contemplatives & brahmans who, faring rightly & practicing rightly, proclaim this world & the next after having directly known & realized it for themselves.’ This is the right view with effluents, siding with merit, resulting in acquisitions.
1.2 And what is the right view that is noble, without effluents, transcendent, a factor of the path?
The discernment, the faculty of discernment, the strength of discernment, analysis of qualities as a factor for awakening, the path factor of right view[1] in one developing the noble path whose mind is noble, whose mind is without effluents, who is fully possessed of the noble path. This is the right view that is noble, without effluents, transcendent, a factor of the path.
2. Of those, right view is the forerunner. And how is right view the forerunner? One discerns wrong resolve as wrong resolve, and right resolve as right resolve. This is one’s right view.
3. Of those, right view is the forerunner. And how is right view the forerunner? One discerns wrong speech as wrong speech, and right speech as right speech. This is one’s right view.
4. Of those, right view is the forerunner. And how is right view the forerunner? One discerns wrong action as wrong action, and right action as right action. This is one’s right view.
5. Of those, right view is the forerunner. And how is right view the forerunner? One discerns wrong livelihood as wrong livelihood, and right livelihood as right livelihood. This is one’s right view.
6. Of those, right view is the forerunner. And how is right view the forerunner? In one of right view, right resolve comes into being. In one of right resolve, right speech comes into being. In one of right speech, right action… In one of right action, right livelihood… In one of right livelihood, right effort… In one of right effort, right mindfulness… In one of right mindfulness, right concentration… In one of right concentration, right knowledge… In one of right knowledge, right release comes into being. Thus the learner is endowed with eight factors, and the arahant with ten. (MN 117)
7. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns what is unskillful, discerns the root of what is unskillful, discerns what is skillful, and discerns the root of what is skillful, it is to that extent that he is a person of right view.
7.1 Now what is unskillful?
Taking life is unskillful, taking what is not given… sexual misconduct… lying… abusive speech… divisive tale-bearing… idle chatter is unskillful. Covetousness… ill will… wrong views are unskillful. These things are termed unskillful.
7.2 And what are the roots of what is unskillful?
Greed is a root of what is unskillful, aversion is a root of what is unskillful, delusion is a root of what is unskillful. These are termed the roots of what is unskillful.
7.3 And what is skillful?
Abstaining from taking life is skillful, abstaining from taking what is not given… from sexual misconduct… from lying… from abusive speech… from divisive tale-bearing… abstaining from idle chatter is skillful. Lack of covetousness… lack of ill will… right views are skillful. These things are termed skillful.
7.4 And what are the roots of what is skillful?
Lack of greed is a root of what is skillful, lack of aversion is a root of what is skillful, lack of delusion is a root of what is skillful. These are termed the roots of what is skillful.
8. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns nutriment, the origination of nutriment, the cessation of nutriment, and the way of practice leading to the cessation of nutriment, then he is a person of right view.
8.1 And what is nutriment?
There are these four nutriments for the maintenance of beings who have come into being or for the support of those in search of a place to be born. Which four? Physical food, gross or refined; contact as the second, intellectual intention the third, and consciousness the fourth.
8.2 What is the origination of nutriment?
From the origination of craving comes the origination of nutriment.
8.3 What is the cessation of nutriment?
From the cessation of craving comes the cessation of nutriment.
8.4 What is the way of practice leading to the cessation of nutriment?
And the way of practice leading to the cessation of nutriment is just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
9. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns stress, the origination of stress, the cessation of stress, and the way of practice leading to the cessation of stress, then he is a person of right view.
9.1 And what is stress?
Birth is stressful, aging is stressful, death is stressful; sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair are stressful; not getting what one wants is stressful. In short, the five clinging-aggregates are stressful. This is called stress.
9.2 What is the origination of stress?
The craving that makes for further becoming — accompanied by passion & delight, relishing now here & now there — i.e., craving for sensuality, craving for becoming, craving for non-becoming. This is called the origination of stress.
9.3 And what is the cessation of stress?
The remainderless fading & cessation, renunciation, relinquishment, release, & letting go of that very craving. This is called the cessation of stress.
9.4 And what is the way of practice leading to the cessation of stress?
Just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This is called the way of practice leading to the cessation of stress.
10. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns aging & death, the origination of aging & death, the cessation of aging & death, and the way of practice leading to the cessation of aging & death, then he is a person of right view.
10.1 And what is aging & death?
Whatever aging, decrepitude, brokenness, graying, wrinkling, decline of life-force, weakening of the faculties of the various beings in this or that group of beings, that is called aging. Whatever deceasing, passing away, breaking up, disappearance, dying, death, completion of time, break up of the aggregates, casting off of the body, interruption in the life faculty of the various beings in this or that group of beings, that is called death. This aging & this death are called aging & death.
10.2 What is the origination of aging & death?
From the origination of birth comes the origination of aging & death.
10.3 What is the cessation of aging & death?
From the cessation of birth comes the cessation of aging & death.
10.4 What is the way of practice leading to the cessation of aging & death?
And the way of practice leading to the cessation of aging & death is just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
11. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns birth, the origination of birth, the cessation of birth, and the way of practice leading to the cessation of birth, then he is a person of right view.
11.1 And what is birth?
Whatever birth, taking birth, descent, coming-to-be, coming-forth, appearance of aggregates, & acquisition of [sense] spheres of the various beings in this or that group of beings, that is called birth.
11.2 What is the origination of birth?
From the origination of becoming comes the origination of birth.
11.3 What is the cessation of birth?
From the cessation of becoming comes the cessation of birth.
11.4 What is the way of practice leading to the cessation of birth?
And the way of practice leading to the cessation of birth is just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
12. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns becoming, the origination of becoming, the cessation of becoming, and the way of practice leading to the cessation of becoming, then he is a person of right view.
12.1 And what is becoming?
There are these three becomings: sensual becoming, form becoming, & formless becoming. This is called becoming.
12.2 What is the origination of becoming?
From the origination of clinging comes the origination of becoming.
12.3 What is the cessation of becoming?
From the cessation of clinging comes the cessation of becoming.
12.4 What is the way of practice leading to the cessation of becoming?
And the way of practice leading to the cessation of becoming is just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
13. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns clinging, the origination of clinging, the cessation of clinging, and the way of practice leading to the cessation of clinging, then he is a person of right view.
13.1 And what is clinging?
There are these four clingings: sensuality clinging, view clinging, precept & practice clinging, and doctrine of self clinging. This is called clinging.
13.2 What is the origination of clinging?
From the origination of craving comes the origination of clinging.
13.3 What is the cessation of clinging?
From the cessation of craving comes the cessation of clinging.
13.4 What is the way of practice leading to the cessation of clinging?
And the way of practice leading to the cessation of clinging is just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
14. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns craving, the origination of craving, the cessation of craving, and the way of practice leading to the cessation of craving, then he is a person of right view.
14.1 And what is craving?
There are these six cravings: craving for forms, craving for sounds, craving for smells, craving for tastes, craving for tactile sensations, craving for ideas. This is called craving.
14.2 What is the origination of craving?
From the origination of feeling comes the origination of craving.
14.3 What is the cessation of craving?
From the cessation of feeling comes the cessation of craving.
14.4 What is the way of practice leading to the cessation of craving?
And the way of practice leading to the cessation of craving is just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
15. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns feeling, the origination of feeling, the cessation of feeling, and the way of practice leading to the cessation of feeling, then he is a person of right view.
15.1 And what is feeling?
There are these six feelings: feeling born from eye-contact, feeling born from ear-contact, feeling born from nose-contact, feeling born from tongue-contact, feeling born from body-contact, feeling born from intellect-contact. This is called feeling.
15.2 What is the origination of feeling?
From the origination of contact comes the origination of feeling.
15.3 What is the cessation of feeling?
From the cessation of contact comes the cessation of feeling.
15.4 What is the way of practice leading to the cessation of feeling?
And the way of practice leading to the cessation of feeling is just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
16. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns contact, the origination of contact, the cessation of contact, and the way of practice leading to the cessation of contact, then he is a person of right view.
16.1 And what is contact?
There are these six classes of contact: eye-contact, ear-contact, nose-contact, tongue-contact, body-contact, intellect-contact: This is called contact.
16.2 What is the origination of contact?
From the origination of the six sense media comes the origination of contact. From the cessation of the six sense media comes the cessation of contact.
16.3 What is the cessation of contact?
From the cessation of the six sense media comes the cessation of contact.
16.4 What is the way of practice leading to the cessation of contact?
And the way of practice leading to the cessation of contact is just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
17. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns the six sense media, the origination of the six sense media, the cessation of the six sense media, and the way of practice leading to the cessation of the six sense media, then he is a person of right view.
17.1 And what are the six sense media?
There are these six sense media: the eye-medium, the ear-medium, the nose-medium, the tongue-medium, the body-medium, the intellect-medium: These are called the six sense media.
17.2 What is the origination of the six sense media?
From the origination of name-&-form comes the origination of the six sense media.
17.3 What is the cessation of the six sense media?
From the cessation of name-&-form comes the cessation of the six sense media.
17.4 What is the way of practice leading to the cessation of the six sense media?
And the way of practice leading to the cessation of the six sense media is just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
18. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns name-&-form, the origination of name-&-form, the cessation of name-&-form, and the way of practice leading to the cessation of name-&-form, then he is a person of right view.
18.1 And what is name-&-form?
Feeling, perception, intention, contact, & attention: This is called name. The four great elements, and the form dependent on the four great elements: This is called form. This name & this form are called name-&-form.
18.2 What is the origination of name-&-form?
From the origination of consciousness comes the origination of name-&-form.
18.3 What is the cessation of name-&-form?
From the cessation of consciousness comes the cessation of name-&-form.
18.4 What is the way of practice leading to the cessation of name-&-form?
And the way of practice leading to the cessation of name-&-form is just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
19. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns consciousness, the origination of consciousness, the cessation of consciousness, and the way of practice leading to the cessation of consciousness, then he is a person of right view.
19.1 And what is consciousness?
There are these six classes of consciousness: eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness, body-consciousness, intellect-consciousness. This is called consciousness.
19.2 What is the origination of consciousness?
From the origination of fabrication comes the origination of consciousness.
19.3 What is the cessation of consciousness?
From the cessation of fabrication comes the cessation of consciousness.
19.4 What is the way of practice leading to the cessation of consciousness?
And the way of practice leading to the cessation of consciousness is just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
20. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns fabrication, the origination of fabrication, the cessation of fabrication, and the way of practice leading to the cessation of fabrication, then he is a person of right view.
20.1 And what is fabrication?
There are these three fabrications: bodily fabrication, verbal fabrication, mental fabrication. These are called fabrication.
20.2 What is the origination of fabrication?
From the origination of ignorance comes the origination of fabrication.
20.3 What is the cessation of fabrication?
From the cessation of ignorance comes the cessation of fabrication.
20.4 What is the way of practice leading to the cessation of fabrication?
And the way of practice leading to the cessation of fabrication is just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
21. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns ignorance, the origination of ignorance, the cessation of ignorance, and the way of practice leading to the cessation of ignorance, then he is a person of right view.
21.1 And what is ignorance?
Any lack of knowledge with reference to stress, any lack of knowledge with reference to the origination of stress, any lack of knowledge with reference to the cessation of stress, any lack of knowledge with reference to the way of practice leading to the cessation of stress. This is called ignorance.
21.2 What is the origination of ignorance?
From the origination of fermentation comes the origination of ignorance.
21.3 What is the cessation of ignorance?
From the cessation of fermentation comes the cessation of ignorance.
21.4 What is the way of practice leading to the cessation of ignorance?
And the way of practice leading to the cessation of ignorance is just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
22. When a disciple of the noble ones discerns (mental) fermentation, the origination of fermentation, the cessation of fermentation, and the way of practice leading to the cessation of fermentation, then he is a person of right view.
22.1 And what is fermentation?
There are these three fermentations: the fermentation of sensuality, the fermentation of becoming, the fermentation of ignorance. This is called fermentation.
22.2 What is the origination of fermentation?
From the origination of ignorance comes the origination of fermentation.
22.3 What is the cessation of fermentation?
From the cessation of ignorance comes the cessation of fermentation.
22.4 What is the way of practice leading to the cessation of fermentation?
And the way of practice leading to the cessation of fermentation is just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. (MN 9)
23. By & large, Kaccayana, this world is supported by (takes as its object) a polarity, that of existence & non-existence. But when one sees the origination of the world as it actually is with right discernment, ‘non-existence’ with reference to the world does not occur to one. When one sees the cessation of the world as it actually is with right discernment, ‘existence’ with reference to the world does not occur to one.
“By & large, Kaccayana, this world is in bondage to attachments, clingings (sustenances), & biases. But one such as this does not get involved with or cling to these attachments, clingings, fixations of awareness, biases, or obsessions; nor is he resolved on ‘my self.’ He has no uncertainty or doubt that just stress, when arising, is arising; stress, when passing away, is passing away. In this, his knowledge is independent of others. It’s to this extent, Kaccayana, that there is right view. (SN 12.15)
24. Friend, how many conditions are there for the arising of right view?”
Friend, there are two conditions for the arising of right view: the voice of another and appropriate attention. These are the two conditions for the arising of right view.
25. And assisted by how many factors does right view have awareness-release as its fruit & reward, and discernment-release as its fruit & reward?
Assisted by five factors, right view has awareness-release as its fruit & reward, and discernment-release as its fruit & reward. There is the case where right view is assisted by virtue, assisted by learning, assisted by discussion, assisted by tranquility, assisted by insight. Assisted by these five factors, right view has awareness-release as its fruit & reward, and discernment-release as its fruit & reward. (MN 43)