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Saṁyutta Nikāya — The Connected Discourses

SN45: Connected Discourses on the Path

SN45:163 Taints

1"Bhikkhus, there are these three taints. What three?
The taint of sensuality, the taint of existence, the taint of ignorance.
These are the three taints.


The Noble Eightfold Path is to be developed
- for direct knowledge of these three taints,
- for the full understanding of them,
- for their utter destruction,
- for their abandoning.

What Noble Eightfold Path?
Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration,
- which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release;
- which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion;
- which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal;
- which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.


This Noble Eightfold Path is to be developed
- for direct knowledge of these three taints,
- for the full understanding of them,
- for their utter destruction,
- for their abandoning."


This sutta may be fully expanded in accordance with the fourfold method employed in SN45.161.

1"Tayome, bhikkhave, āsavā. Katame tayo?
Kāmāsavo, bhavāsavo, avijjāsavo – ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo āsavā.


Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tiṇṇannaṁ āsavānaṁ abhiññāya pariññāya parikkhayāya pahānāya … pe …


ayaṁ ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvetabbo"ti.


Tatiyaṁ.