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← Saṃyutta Nikāya

A Question About Perfection

SN 38.2 · Arahattapañhāsutta

Morning reflections on a pond bordered by reeds.

“Reverend Sāriputta, they speak of this thing called ‘perfection’. What is perfection?”

“Reverend, the ending of greed, hate, and delusion is called perfection.”

“But, reverend, is there a path and a practice for realizing this perfection?”

“There is, reverend.”

“Well, what is it?”

“It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. This is the path, the practice, for realizing this perfection.”

“Reverend, this is a fine path, a fine practice, for realizing this perfection. Just this much is enough for diligence.”

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Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.