Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

3.2.5 Who is One holding Right View?¹

This has been heard by me. At one time the Bhagavā was dwelling in Savatthi in the Jetavana pleasure park of Anathāpindika. Then the Venerable Sāriputta addressed the Bhikkhus thus: “Friends, Bhikkhus!” “Yes, friend!” those Bhikkhus replied to the Venerable Sāriputta. Then the Venerable Sāriputta spoke in this way to the Bhikkhus:

“Friends”, he said “One with right view is called: one with right view”. But in what sense friends is one with right view, one whose view is straight, who is of perfect faith in Dhamma and who has obtained true Dhamma, a Noble Disciple?”

“From far away indeed friend we come in the presence of the Venerable Sāriputta to learn the meaning of this statement. It would be good if the Venerable Sāriputta would elucidate the meaning of this statement. Having heard this from the Venerable Sāriputta the Bhikkhus will keep it in mind.”

“Then friends listen closely and attentively to what I will say.” “Thus it shall be friend”, replied the Bhikkhus to the Venerable Sāriputta and the Venerable Sāriputta spoke thus:

“When friends the Noble Disciple understands perfectly what is unwholesome and understands perfectly what is the root of what is unwholesome, understands perfectly what is wholesome and the root of what is wholesome, in that very way indeed friends the Noble Disciple is one with right view. His view is straight, he is of perfect faith in Dhamma and has obtained true Dhamma.

But what friend is unwholesome, what is the root of the unwholesome? What is wholesome and what is the root of the wholesome?

Killing living beings friends is unwholesome, taking what is not given is unwholesome, sexual misconduct is unwholesome, wrong speech is unwholesome, malicious speech is unwholesome, harsh speech is unwholesome, useless speech is unwholesome, covetousness is unwholesome, aversion is unwholesome and wrong view is unwholesome. This is called unwholesome.

And what is the root of the unwholesome?

Greed is the root of the unwholesome, ill will is the root of the unwholesome and delusion is the root of the unwholesome. This is called the root of the unwholesome, friends.

And what friends is the wholesome?

Abstaining from killing living beings is wholesome, abstaining from taking what is not given is wholesome, abstaining from sexual misconduct is wholesome, abstaining from wrong speech is wholesome, abstaining from malicious speech is wholesome, abstaining from harsh speech is wholesome, abstaining from useless speech is wholesome, being free from covetousness is wholesome, non-aversion is wholesome and right view is wholesome.

This, O’ friends is called wholesome.

And what friends is the root of the wholesome?

Non-greed is the root of wholesome, non-ill will is the root of wholesome and non-delusion is the root of the wholesome.

This, O’ friends, is called the root of the wholesome.

When friends the Noble Disciple has understood these he understands what is unwholesome, what is the root of what is unwholesome, what is wholesome and what is the root of what is wholesome, he dispels all the underlying tendencies of greed, he dispels the underlying tendency of ill will and he removes the underlying tendency to the conceited view of “I am”. Thus abandoning ignorance he establishes knowledge even in this present life and makes an end to suffering. In this way indeed friends a Noble Disciple is with right view, of straight view and is established in perfect faith and has obtained true Dhamma”.

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