SN45:91 Slanting to the East (1) [n.34] In Ee this vagga does not have a separate number. Be numbers it “1,” as if starting again from scratch, but then assigns each of the four “versions” within this repetition series a separate number. Se keeps the numbering of the vagga continuous, beginning here with “9.” I here follow Se, which seems more logical; I use upper case roman numbers for the sequential vaggas, and lower case roman numbers for the versions corresponding to the vaggas. The four versions are distinguished only by the phrases used to describe the path factors. In Pāli these are: (i) vivekanissitaṃ virāganissitaṃ nirodhanissitaṃ vossaggapariṇāmiṃ; (ii) rāgavinayapariyosānaṃ dosavinayapariyosānaṃ mohavinayapariyosānaṃ; (iii) amatogadhaṃ amataparāyanaṃ amatapariyosānaṃ ; and (iv) nibbānaninnaṃ nibbānapoṇaṃ nibbānapabbhāraṃ. Spk explains that the different versions of the same sutta were spoken by the Buddha in response to the individual inclinations of the persons to be enlightened.
- fdg sc © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1At Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, just as the river Ganges slants, slopes, and inclines towards the east, so too a bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna. |
"And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release … . He develops right concentration, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna." |