Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

According to the Mahācattārīsakasutta all the respective parts of the path¹ are developed and should get accomplished in twofold manner of puññabhāgiyā upadhivepakkā and ariyā anāsavā lokuttarā maggaṅgā.

A Bhikkhu and likewise any follower of the teaching are striving hard to walk the path correctly by seriously avoiding any sort of micchāvācā and thus upholding sammāvācā enduringly. Along with reinforced and proper efforts one should safeguard full awareness and thus get enabled to realize any intention or volition to refrain from articulating either musāvādā, pisuṇā, pharusā or samphappalāpā vācā.  By being thus aware at the root one avoids and withholds unwholesome articulation. This is the cultivation of the quality of ‘influenced by dormant impurities and partaking of merit with attachment ripening (sāsavā puññabhāgiyā upadhivepakkā).

Keeping, developing and perfecting these qualities one should achieve a stage where even the slightest intention to express any kind of micchāvācā whatsoever gets completely extinguished. Here all the constituents of ignoble speech are fully eradicated the stage of final refinement will be reached: ‘noble, free from impurities, supramundane and a factor of the path’ (ariyā anāsavā lokuttarā maggaṅgā).²

In this way by arousing all energy to avoiding wrong speech, upholding full awareness along with the effort to completely abandon it with full comprehension of this process - this makes these three states follow and circle around right speech: seyyathidaṃ – sammādiṭṭhi, sammāvāyāmo, sammāsati.

Once at Jetavana³ after mealtime the Bhikkhus got involved in dispute and arguments and the Buddha instructed them to perfect ten important qualities⁴ that would lead to peace and harmony in concord. The exposition of these important qualities also highlights the above triad of, sammāvāyāmo, sammāsati and sammādiṭṭhi:

• How should a Bhikkhu dwell arousing unremitting effort?

Puna caparaṃ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ pahānāya kusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ upasampadāya, thāmavā⁵ daḷhaparakkamo⁶ anikkhittadhuro⁷ kusalesu dhammesu. Yampi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ pahānāya kusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu, ayampi dhammo sāraṇīyo piyakaraṇo garukaraṇo saṅgahāya⁸ avivādāya sāmaggiyā ekībhāvāya saṃvattati.

Here again, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu dwells zealously arousing energy and renouncing all unwholesome states and acquiring wholesome ones, persevering, persisting in his efforts and making it his obligation to cultivate wholesomeness. If, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu dwells zealously arousing energy and renouncing all unwholesome states and acquiring wholesome ones, persevering, persisting in his efforts and making it his obligation to cultivate wholesomeness then this is conducive to conciliation, affection, esteem, to harmony, agreement, concord and unity.⁹

• How should a Bhikkhu maintain persisting awareness?

Puna caparaṃ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satimā hoti, paramena satinepakkena¹⁰ samannāgato, cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā. Yampi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satimā hoti, paramena satinepakkena samannāgato, cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā,¹¹ ayampi dhammo sāraṇīyo piyakaraṇo garukaraṇo saṅgahāya avivādāya sāmaggiyā ekībhāvāya saṃvattati.

Here again, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu maintains persisting awareness, upholds supreme awareness of what has been done or said long ago he remembers and recollects. If Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu maintains persisting awareness, upholds supreme awareness, remembers and recalls what has been done or said long ago then this is conducive to conciliation, affection, esteem, to harmony, agreement, concord and unity.

• How should a Bhikkhu dwell submerged in wisdom?

Puna caparaṃ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paññavā hoti, udayatthagāminiyā¹² paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā. Yampi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paññavā hoti, udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā, ayampi dhammo sāraṇīyo piyakaraṇo garukaraṇo saṅgahāya avivādāya sāmaggiyā ekībhāvāya saṃvattati.

 Here again, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu is submerged in wisdom that understands the process of arising and passing, which is noble, penetrating and leading to the destruction of suffering. If, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu is submerged in wisdom that understands the process of arising and passing, which is noble, penetrating and leading to the destruction of suffering then this is conducive to conciliation, affection, esteem, to harmony, agreement, concord and unity.