Right Views of Various Kinds

(According to Venerable Sāriputta)

(The Wholesome and The Unwholesome)

When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands the unwholesome and the root of the unwholesome, the wholesome and the root of the wholesome, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what, friends, is the unwholesome, what is the root of the unwholesome, what is the wholesome, what is the root of the wholesome?

Killing living beings is unwholesome; taking what is not given is unwholesome; misconduct in sensual pleasures is unwholesome; false speech is unwholesome; malicious speech is unwholesome; harsh speech is unwholesome; gossip is unwholesome; craving is unwholesome; ill will is unwholesome; wrong view (ignorance) is unwholesome. This is called the unwholesome.

And what is the root of the unwholesome?

Craving is a root of the unwholesome; anger is a root of the unwholesome; ignorance (unknowing of true reality) is a root of the unwholesome. This is called the root of the unwholesome.

And what is the wholesome?

Abstention from killing living beings is wholesome; abstention from taking what is not given is wholesome; abstention from misconduct in sensual pleasures is wholesome; abstention from false speech is wholesome; abstention from malicious speech is wholesome; abstention from harsh speech is wholesome; abstention from gossip is wholesome; non-craving (generosity) is wholesome; non-ill will (loving-kindness) is wholesome; Right View (wisdom) is wholesome. This is called the wholesome.

And what is the root of the wholesome?

Non-craving (generosity) is a root of the wholesome; non-anger (loving-kindness) is a root of the wholesome; non-ignorance (wisdom) is a root of the wholesome. This is called the root of the wholesome.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood the unwholesome and the root  of the unwholesome, the wholesome and the root of the wholesome, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency of craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to the view and conceit ‘I am,’ and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

(Nutriment)

“But, friend, might there be another way in which a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings?”

There might be, friends. When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands nutriment, the cause of nutriment, the elimination of nutriment, and the way leading to the elimination of nutriment, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what is nutriment, what is the cause of nutriment, what is the elimination of nutriment, what is the way leading to the elimination of nutriment?

There are four kinds of nutriment for the maintenance of beings that already have come to be and for the support of those seeking a new existence.

What four?

They are: physical food as nutriment, gross or subtle; contact as the second; mental volition as the third; and consciousness as the fourth.

With the arising of craving there is the arising of nutriment.

With the elimination of craving there is the elimination of nutriment.

The way leading to the elimination of nutriment is just this Noble Eight Fold Path; that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood nutriment, the cause of nutriment, the elimination of nutriment, and the way leading to the elimination of nutriment, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency of craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to the view and conceit ‘I am’, and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

(The Four Noble Truths)

“But, friend, might there be another way in which a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings?”

There might be, friends. When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands discontentedness, the cause of discontentedness, the elimination of discontentedness, and the way leading to the elimination of discontentedness, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what is discontentedness?

Birth is discontentedness; aging is discontentedness; sickness is discontentedness; death is discontentedness; sorrow, grief, pain, displeasure, and despair are discontentedness; not to obtain what one wants is discontentedness; in short, The Five Aggregates affected by clinging are discontentedness. This is called discontentedness.

And what is the cause of discontentedness?

It is craving, which brings renewal of existence, is accompanied by excitement and desire, and excitement in this and that; that is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving for existence, and craving for extermination. This is called the cause of discontentedness.

And what is the elimination of discontentedness?

It is the remainderless fading away and ceasing, the giving up, relinquishing, letting go, and rejecting of that same craving. This is called the elimination of discontentedness.

And what is the way leading to the elimination of discontentedness?

It is just this Noble Eight Fold Path; that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

This is called the way leading to the elimination of discontentedness.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood discontentedness, the cause of discontentedness, the elimination of discontentedness, and the way leading to the elimination of discontentedness, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to the view and conceit ‘I am’, and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom, he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

(Aging-and-Death)

“But, friend, might there be another way in which a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings?”

There might be, friends. When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands aging-and-death, the cause of aging-and-death, the elimination of aging-and-death, and the way leading to the elimination of aging-and-death, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what is aging-and-death, what is the cause of aging-and-death, what is the elimination of aging-and-death, what is the way leading to the elimination of aging-and-death?

The aging of the various beings in the various orders of beings, their growing old, brokenness of teeth, greyness of hair, wrinkling of skin, decline of vitality, degeneration of the sense bases: this is called aging. The passing away of the various beings from the various orders of beings, their perishing, breakup, disappearance, mortality, death, completion of time, the breakup of the aggregates, the laying down of the carcass: this is called death. Thus this aging and this death are together called aging-and-death.

With the arising of birth there is the arising of aging-and-death; with the elimination of birth there is the elimination of aging-and-death. Just this Noble Eight Fold Path is the way leading to the elimination of aging-and-death: that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood aging-and-death, the cause of aging-and-death, the elimination of aging-and-death, and the way leading to the elimination of aging-and-death, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to view and conceit ‘I am’, and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom, he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

(Birth)

“But, friend, might there be another way in which a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings?”

There might be, friends. When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands birth, the cause of birth, the elimination of birth, and the way leading to the elimination of birth, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what is birth, what is the cause of birth, what is the elimination of birth, what is the way leading to the elimination of birth?

The birth of the various beings into the various realms of beings, their being born, descent [into the womb], production, the coming together of the aggregates, the obtaining of the sense bases. This is called birth.

With the arising of existence there is the arising of birth. With the elimination of existence there is the elimination of birth. Just this Noble Eight Fold Path is the way leading to the elimination of birth; that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood birth, the cause of birth, the elimination of birth, and the way leading to the elimination of birth, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to the view and conceit ‘I am’, and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom, he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

(Existence)

“But, friend, might there be another way in which a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings?”

There might be, friends. When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands existence, the cause of existence, the elimination of existence, and the way leading to the elimination of existence, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what is existence, what is the cause of existence, what is the elimination of existence, what is the way leading to the elimination of existence?

There are these three kinds of existence: sense sphere existence, form sphere existence, formless sphere existence. This is called existence.

With the arising of clinging there is the arising of existence. With the elimination of clinging there is the elimination of existence. Just this Noble Eight Fold Path is the way leading to the elimination of existence; that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood existence, the cause of existence, the elimination of existence, and the way leading to the elimination of existence, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to the view and conceit ‘I am', and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom, he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

(Clinging)

“But, friend, might there be another way in which a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings?”

There might be, friends. When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands clinging, the cause of clinging, the elimination of clinging, and the way leading to the elimination of clinging, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what is clinging, what is the cause of clinging, what is the elimination of clinging, what is the way leading to the elimination of clinging?

There are these four kinds of clinging: clinging to sensual pleasures, clinging to views, clinging to rules and vows, clinging to a doctrine of self. This is called clinging.

With the arising of craving there is the arising of clinging. With the elimination of craving there is the elimination of clinging. Just this Noble Eight Fold Path is the way leading to the elimination of clinging; that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood clinging, the cause of clinging, the elimination of clinging, and the way leading to the elimination of clinging, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to the view and conceit 'I am', and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom, he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

(Craving)

“But, friend, might there be another way in which a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings?”

There might be, friends. When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands craving, the cause of craving, the elimination of craving, and the way leading to the elimination of craving, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what is craving, what is the cause of craving, what is the elimination of craving, what is the way leading to the elimination of craving?

There are these six classes of craving: craving for forms, craving for sounds, craving for odors, craving for flavors, craving for physical objects, craving for mental objects. This is called craving.

With the arising of feeling there is the arising of craving. With the elimination of feeling there is the elimination of craving. Just this Noble Eight Fold Path is the way leading to the elimination of craving; that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood craving, the cause of craving, the elimination of craving, and the way leading to the elimination of craving, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to the view and conceit ‘I am’, and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom, he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

(Feeling)

“But, friend, might there be another way in which a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings?”

There might be, friends. When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands feeling, the cause of feeling, the elimination of feeling, and the way leading to the elimination of feeling, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what is feeling, what is the cause of feeling, what is the elimination of feeling, what is the way leading to the elimination of feeling?

There are these six classes of feeling: feeling born of eye-contact, feeling born of ear-contact, feeling born of nose-contact, feeling born of tongue-contact, feeling born of body-contact, feeling born of mind-contact. This is called feeling.

With the arising of contact there is the arising of feeling. With the elimination of contact there is the elimination of feeling. Just this Noble Eight Fold Path is the way leading to the elimination of feeling; that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood feeling, the cause of feeling, the elimination of feeling, and the way leading to the elimination of feeling, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to the view and conceit ‘I am’, and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom, he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

(Contact)

“But, friend, might there be another way in which a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings?”

There might be, friends. When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands contact, the cause of contact, the elimination of contact, and the way leading to the elimination of contact, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what is contact, what is the cause of contact, what is the elimination of contact, what is the way leading to the elimination of contact?

There are these six classes of contact: eye-contact, ear-contact, nose-contact, tongue-contact, body-contact, mind-contact. This is called contact.

With the arising of the six sense bases there is the arising of contact. With the elimination of the six sense bases there is the elimination of contact. Just this Noble Eight Fold Path is the way leading to the elimination of contact; that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood contact, the cause of contact, the elimination of contact, and the way leading to the elimination of contact, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to the view and conceit ‘I am’, and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom, he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

(The Six Sense Bases)

“But, friend, might there be another way in which a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings?”

There might be, friends. When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands the six sense bases, the cause of the six sense bases, the elimination of the six sense bases, and the way leading to the elimination of the six sense bases, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what are the six sense bases, what is the cause of the six sense bases, what is the elimination of the six sense bases, what is the way leading to the elimination of the six sense bases?

The eye base, the ear base, the nose base, the tongue base, the body base, the mind base. These are called the six sense bases.

With the arising of name-and-form there is the arising of the six sense bases. With the elimination of name-and-form there is the elimination of the six sense bases. Just this Noble Eight Fold Path is the way leading to the elimination of the six sense bases; that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood the six sense bases, the cause of the six sense bases, the elimination of the six sense bases, and the way leading to the elimination of the six sense bases, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to the view and conceit ‘I am’, and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom, he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

(Name-and-Form)

“But, friend, might there be another way in which a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings?”

There might be, friends. When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands name-and-form, the cause of name-and-form, the elimination of name-and-form, and the way leading to the elimination of mentality materiality, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what is name-and-form, what is the cause of name-and-form, what is the elimination of name-and-form, what is the way leading to the elimination of name-and-form?

Feeling, perception, volitional formation, contact, consciousness: this is called name. The four great elements and the form derived from the four great elements: this is called form. Thus this name and this form are together called name-and-form.

With the arising of consciousness there is the arising of name-and-form. With the elimination of consciousness there is the elimination of name-and form. Just this Noble Eight Fold Path is the way leading to the elimination of name-and-form; that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood name-and-form, the cause of name-and-form, the elimination of name-and-form, and the way leading to the elimination of name-and-form, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to the view and conceit ‘I am’, and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom, he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

(Consciousness)

“But, friend, might there be another way in which a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings”

There might be, friends. When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands consciousness, the cause of consciousness, the elimination of consciousness, and the way leading to the elimination of consciousness, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what is consciousness, what is the cause of consciousness, what is the elimination of consciousness, what is the way leading to the elimination of consciousness?

There are these six classes of consciousness: eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness, body-consciousness, mind-consciousness. This is called consciousness.

With the arising of volitional formations (choices/decisions) there is the arising of consciousness. With the elimination of volitional formations there is the elimination of consciousness. Just this Noble Eight Fold Path is the way leading to the elimination of consciousness; that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood consciousness, the cause of consciousness, the elimination of consciousness, and the way leading to the elimination of consciousness, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to the view and conceit ‘I am’, and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom, he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

(Volitional Formations)

“But, friend, might there be another way in which a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings?”

There might be, friends. When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands volitional formations (choices/decisions), the cause of volitional formations, the elimination of volitional formations, and the way leading to the elimination of volitional formations, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what are volitional formations, what is the cause of volitional formations, what is the elimination of volitional formations, what is the way leading to the elimination of volitional formations?

There are these three kinds of volitional formations: the bodily volitional formation, the verbal volitional formation, the mental volitional formation. These are called the volitional formations.

With the arising of ignorance (unknowing of true reality) there is the arising of volitional formations. With the elimination of ignorance there is the elimination of volitional formations. Just this Noble Eight Fold Path is the way leading to the elimination of volitional formations; that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood volitional formations, the cause of volitional formations, the elimination of volitional formations, and the way leading to the elimination of volitional formations, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to the view and conceit ‘I am’, and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom, he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

(Ignorance)

“But, friend, might there be another way in which a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings?”

There might be, friends. When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands ignorance (unknowing of true reality), the cause of ignorance, the elimination of ignorance, and the way leading to the elimination of ignorance, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what is ignorance (unknowing of true reality), what is the cause of ignorance, what is the elimination of ignorance, what is the way leading to the elimination of ignorance?

Not knowing about discontentedness, not knowing about the cause of discontentedness, not knowing about the elimination of discontentedness, not knowing about the way leading to the elimination of discontentedness — this is called ignorance.

With the arising of the taints there is the arising of ignorance (unknowing of true reality).

With the elimination of the taints there is the elimination of ignorance (unknowing of true reality).

The way leading to the elimination of ignorance is just this Noble Eight Fold Path; that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood ignorance, the cause of ignorance, the elimination of ignorance, and the way leading to the elimination of ignorance, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to the view and conceit ‘I am’, and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom, he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

(Taints)

“But, friend, might there be another way in which a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings?”

There might be, friends. When, friends, a Noble Disciple understands the taints, the cause of the taints, the elimination of the taints, and the way leading to the elimination of the taints, in that way he is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings.

And what are the taints, what is the cause of the taints, what is the elimination of the taints, what is the way leading to the elimination of the taints?

There are these three taints: sensual desire, the taint of existence (personal existence view), and the taint of ignorance.

With the arising of ignorance (unknowing of true reality) there is the arising of the taints.

With the elimination of ignorance (unknowing of true reality) there is the elimination of the taints.

The way leading to the elimination of the taints is just this Noble Eight Fold Path; that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

When a Noble Disciple has thus understood the taints, the cause of the taints, the elimination of the taints, and the way leading to the elimination of the taints, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to craving, he abolishes the underlying tendency to anger, he completely destroys the underlying tendency to the view and conceit ‘I am’, and by abandoning ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and arousing true wisdom he here and now makes an end of discontentedness.

In that way too a Noble Disciple is one of Right View, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in The Teachings, and has arrived at these true Teachings. 

(Reference: MN 9)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha that is shared by the Venerable Sāriputta, details are provided on many different aspects of these Teachings. The Venerable Sāriputta was one of The Buddha’s closest Students during his lifetime and The Buddha’s Teachings were recited word-for-word by his Students.

His Students, especially those who were Enlightened, would have deep and profound abilities to memorize and recall from their memory. As the unEnlightened mind is transformed to the Enlightened mind, it develops a high degree of focus, concentration, memory, and clarity of thought and mind. His Students were able to recite his Teachings during The Buddha’s lifetime and after his death, this ensured the continuation of the oral Teachings shared by The Buddha.

The description of these Teachings is so precise, there is no further explanation that will be shared here. Instead, readers are able to seek any clarification with the author of this book through any of the following.

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