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← Saṃyutta Nikāya

Knowledge

SN 56.18 · Vijjāsutta

A narrow trail opens into a spacious meadow under a silver sky.

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Sir, they speak of this thing called ‘knowledge’. What is knowledge? And how is a knowing one defined?”

“Knowing about suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering. This is called knowledge. And this is how a knowing one is defined.

That’s why you should practice meditation …”

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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.