English Translation 3.4.8
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3.4.8 Discerning Wrong Speech and Developing Right Speech*
“Therefore right view is a forerunner. And how is, O'Bhikkhus, right view a forerunner? He perceives properly wrong speech as wrong speech and right speech as right speech, in this way he is one with right view.
And what, Bhikkhus, is wrong speech? False speech, backbiting and slander, offending and harsh words and useless chatter, this O'Bhikkhus is wrong speech!’
And what, Bhikkhus, is right speech? Right speech, Bhikkhus, I say is twofold: there is, O'Bhikkhus, the right speech that is influenced by dormant impurities and partaking of merit with attachment ripening and there is right speech that is noble, free from impurities, supramundane and a factor of the path.
What, Bhikkhus, is the right speech that is influenced by dormant impurities and partaking of merit with attachment ripening? Abstaining from lying, abstaining from slander and backbiting, abstaining from offending and harsh words and abstaining from frivolous talk this, Bhikkhus, is called right speech. This, Bhikkhus, is called right speech that is influenced by dormant impurities and partaking of merit with attachment ripening.
And what, Bhikkhus, is right speech that is noble, free from impurities, supramundane and a factor of the path. There is someone, O'Bhikkhus, of noble mind without any dormant mental impurities, endowed in the Noble Path and developing it, abstaining from, refraining, leaving completely behind and remaining aloof of the four kinds of unwholesome speech. This is, Bhikkhus, right speech that is noble, free from impurities, supramundane and a factor of the path.
In this way he strives hard to avoid wrong speech, to get established in right speech, in this way he is one with right effort. Thus fully aware he abandons wrong speech and acquires right speech and dwells therein he is one with right awareness. These three states follow and circle around right speech, these are: right view, right effort and right awareness……”
And what, Bhikkhus, is wrong speech? False speech, backbiting and slander, offending and harsh words and useless chatter, this O'Bhikkhus is wrong speech!’
And what, Bhikkhus, is right speech? Right speech, Bhikkhus, I say is twofold: there is, O'Bhikkhus, the right speech that is influenced by dormant impurities and partaking of merit with attachment ripening and there is right speech that is noble, free from impurities, supramundane and a factor of the path.
What, Bhikkhus, is the right speech that is influenced by dormant impurities and partaking of merit with attachment ripening? Abstaining from lying, abstaining from slander and backbiting, abstaining from offending and harsh words and abstaining from frivolous talk this, Bhikkhus, is called right speech. This, Bhikkhus, is called right speech that is influenced by dormant impurities and partaking of merit with attachment ripening.
And what, Bhikkhus, is right speech that is noble, free from impurities, supramundane and a factor of the path. There is someone, O'Bhikkhus, of noble mind without any dormant mental impurities, endowed in the Noble Path and developing it, abstaining from, refraining, leaving completely behind and remaining aloof of the four kinds of unwholesome speech. This is, Bhikkhus, right speech that is noble, free from impurities, supramundane and a factor of the path.
In this way he strives hard to avoid wrong speech, to get established in right speech, in this way he is one with right effort. Thus fully aware he abandons wrong speech and acquires right speech and dwells therein he is one with right awareness. These three states follow and circle around right speech, these are: right view, right effort and right awareness……”
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* Mahācattārīsakasuttaṃ: Mahā + cattārīsa + ka + suttaṃ: great + fourty + sutta
* Mahācattārīsakasuttaṃ: Mahā + cattārīsa + ka + suttaṃ: great + fourty + sutta
Last modified: Monday, 14 December 2015, 8:31 AM