Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

Santaṃ tassa manaṃ hoti, santā vācā ca kamma ca;

Sammadaññā vimuttassa, upasantassa¹ tādino.²

With peaceful mind, one’s speech and actions are peaceful,

When liberated through true knowledge, one is truly at peace.

The Mahācattārīsakasuttaṃ describes in detail the links of the Noble Eightfold Path, starting with sammādiṭṭhi, specifiying how sammādiṭṭhi is a forerunner supporting the other respective links.³ It is emphasised that all constituents need to be properly understood and realized in their sammā qualities by discerning and leaving completely behind the wrong (micchā) attributes.⁴

As sammādiṭṭhi is twofold, sammāsaṅkappo is also twofold.

Its first mundane quality necessitates sincere and enduring efforts to rectify thoughts deriving from wrong intention by purging out confusion. Maintaining these efforts requires unerring awareness and mindfulness. That is why the Buddha says:

Itiyime tayo dhammā sammāsaṅkappaṃ anuparidhāvanti anuparivattanti, seyyathidaṃ – sammādiṭṭhi, sammāvāyāmo, sammāsati.

These three states follow and circle around right thought, these are: right view, right effort and right awareness!

The supramundane quality gets developed once one is deeply established on the Path by having abolished certain impurities.

ariyacittassa anāsavacittassa ariyamaggasamaṅgino ariyamaggaṃ bhāvayato

of noble mind without any dormant mental impurities

Thus, anyone who has understood and abandoned those conditions that consolidate thoughts and intentions in their micchā characteristics⁵ becomes enabled to develop and cultivate their respective opposites.

Leaving behind kāmadhātu obliges one to foster the element of renunciation:

Tattha katamā nekkhammadhātu?

Nekkhammapaṭisaṃyutto takko vitakko saṅkappo appanā byappanā cetaso abhiniropanā⁶ sammāsaṅkappo – ayaṃ vuccati ‘nekkhammadhātu’. Sabbepi kusalā dhammā ‘nekkhammadhātu’.⁷

‘Thus what is the element of renunciation?

It is thinking, investigating, directing of thought, considering it, mental fixation on one’s thoughts, mental focused application of one’s mind, right thought, all mingled with renunciation – this is what is called the element of renunciation. Further, all wholesome states are elements of renunciation.’

Leaving behind byāpādadhātu obliges one to foster the element of loving kindness:

Tattha katamā abyāpādadhātu? 

Abyāpādapaṭisaṃyutto takko vitakko saṅkappo appanā byappanā cetaso abhiniropanā sammāsaṅkappo – ayaṃ vuccati ‘abyāpādadhātu’. Yā sattesu metti mettāyanā mettāyitattaṃ mettācetovimutti⁸ – ayaṃ vuccati ‘abyāpādadhātu’.

Thus what is the element of non-ill will?

It is thinking, investigating, directing of thought, considering it, mental fixation on one’s thoughts, mental focused application of one’s mind, right thought, all are mingled with the absence of ill will – this is what is called the element of non-ill will. Whatever in beings is good will, act of loving kindness, state of loving kindness, loving kindness of a liberated mind — this is the element of non-ill will.

Leaving behind vihiṃsādhātu obliges one to foster the element of compassionate love:

Tattha katamā avihiṃsādhātu?

Avihiṃsāpaṭisaṃyutto takko vitakko saṅkappo appanā byappanā⁹ cetaso abhiniropanā sammāsaṅkappo – ayaṃ vuccati ‘avihiṃsādhātu’. Yā sattesu karuṇā karuṇāyanā karuṇāyitattaṃ karuṇācetovimutti – ayaṃ vuccati ‘avihiṃsādhātu’.

Thus what is the element of non-violence?

It is thinking, investigating, directing of thought, considering it, mental fixation on one’s thoughts, mental focused application of one’s mind, right thought, all mingled with the absence of cruelty – this is what is called is the element of non-violence. Whatever in beings is compassionate love, acts of compassionate love, states of compassionate love, minds of compassionate love, of a liberated mind - is the element of non-violence.