11. Analysis of the Path Constituents

1. Analysis According to the Discourses

The Noble Eight Constituent Path. That is: right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

Therein what is right view? Knowledge of suffering, knowledge of the cause of suffering, knowledge of the cessation of suffering, knowledge of the way leading to the cessation of suffering. This is called right view. (1)

Therein what is right thought? Thought (associated with) renunciation, thought (associated with) absence of illwill, thought (associated with) absence of cruelty. This is called right thought. (2)

Therein what is right speech? Abstaining from false speech; abstaining from slanderous speech; abstaining from harsh speech; abstaining from frivolous speech. This is called right speech. (3)

Therein what is right action? Abstaining from killing beings; abstaining from taking that which is not given; abstaining from sexual misconduct. This is called right action. (4)

Therein what is right livelihood? Herein a noble disciple having abandoned wrong livelihood makes a living by means of right livelihood. This is called right livelihood. (5)

Therein what is right effort? Herein a bhikkhu engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the non-arising of evil bad states that have not arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the abandoning of evil bad states that have arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the arising of good states that have not arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the stabilizing, for the collocation, for the increase, for the maturity, | for the development, for the completion of good states that have arisen. This is called right effort. (6)

Therein what is right mindfulness? Herein a bhikkhu dwells contemplating body in the body, ardent, aware, mindful, removing covetousness and mental pain in the world; dwells contemplating feeling in feelings, ardent, aware, mindful, removing covetousness and mental pain in the world; dwells contemplating consciousness in consciousness, ardent, aware, mindful, removing covetousness and mental pain in the world; dwells contemplating ideational object in ideational objects, ardent, aware, mindful, removing covetousness and mental pain in the world. This is called right mindfulness. (7)

Therein what is right concentration? Herein a bhikkhu aloof from sense pleasures, aloof from bad states, attains and dwells in the first jhāna accompanied by initial application, accompanied by sustained application, with zest and pleasure born of detachment; inhibiting initial application and sustained application he attains and dwells in the second jhāna with internal refinement, exalted development of mind, without initial application, without sustained application, with zest and pleasure born of concentration; he, desirous of zest, dwells equable, mindful, aware, and he experiences pleasure by way of mental states; this the Noble Ones declare, “The equable, mindful dweller in pleasure”; he attains and dwells in the third jhāna; by the abandoning of pleasure and by the abandoning of pain, then first terminating mental pleasure and mental pain he attains and dwells in the fourth jhāna (which is) neither pain nor pleasure (but is) purity of mindfulness caused by equanimity. This is called right concentration. (8)

The Noble Eight Constituent Path. That is: right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

Therein what is right view? Herein a bhikkhu develops right view dependent on detachment, dependent on absence of lust, dependent on cessation, culminating in abandonment. Develops right thought. Develops right speech. Develops right action. Develops right livelihood. Develops right effort. Develops right mindfulness. Develops right concentration | dependent on detachment, dependent on absence of lust, dependent on cessation, culminating in abandonment.

* Complete as final example.

(Here Ends) Analysis According to the Discourses

2. Analysis According to Abhidhamma

The Eight Constituent Path is: Right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

Therein what is the Eight Constituent Path? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures, attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; at that time there is the Eight Constituent Path (viz.,) right view,² right concentration.

* See paragraph 205.
*² Intermediate path constituents.

Therein what is right view? That which is wisdom, understanding,* absence of dullness, truth investigation, right view, truth investigation-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right view. (1)

* See paragraph 525.

Therein what is right thought? That which is mentation, thinking, thought, fixation, focussing, application of the mind, right thought, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right thought. (2)

Therein what is right speech? That which is avoiding, desisting from, refraining from, abstaining from, not committing, not doing, being guiltless of, not over-stepping the limit of, destroying the causeway to the four verbal wrong actions: right speech, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right speech. (3)

Therein what is right action? That which is avoiding, desisting | from, refraining from, abstaining from, not committing, not doing, being guiltless of, not over-stepping the limit of, destroying the causeway to the three wrong bodily actions: right action, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right action. (4)

Therein what is right livelihood? That which is avoiding, desisting from, refraining from, abstaining from, not committing, not doing, being guiltless of, not over-stepping the limit of, destroying the causeway to wrong livelihood: right livelihood, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right livelihood. (5)

Therein what is right effort? That which is the arousing of mental energy,* right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right effort. (6)

* See paragraph 220.

Therein what is right mindfulness? That which is mindfulness, constant mindfulness,* right mindfulness, mindfulness-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right mindfulness. (7)

* See paragraph 220.

Therein what is right concentration? That which is stability of consciousness,* right concentration, concentration-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right concentration. This is called the Eight Constituent Path. (As also are) The remaining states associated with the Eight Constituent Path. (8)

* See paragraph 220.

The Five Constituent Path is: Right view, right thought, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

Therein what is the Five Constituent Path? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures,* attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; at that time there is the Five Constituent Path (viz.,) right view, right thought, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

* See paragraph 205.

Therein what is right view? That which is wisdom, understanding,* absence of dullness, truth investigation, right view, truth investigation-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right view.

* See paragraph 525.

Therein what is right thought? That which is mentation, thinking,* right thought, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right thought.

* See paragraph 182.

Therein what is right effort? That which is the arousing of mental energy,* right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right effort.

* See paragraph 220.

Therein what is right mindfulness? That which is mindfulness, constant mindfulness,* right mindfulness, mindfulness-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right mindfulness.

* See paragraph 220.

Therein what is right concentration? That which is stability of consciousness,* right concentration, concentration-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right concentration. This is called the Five Constituent Path. (As also are) The remaining states associated with the Five Constituent Path.

* See paragraph 220.

The Five Constituent Path is: Right view, right thought, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

Therein what is right view? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures, attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; that which at that time is wisdom, understanding,² absence of dullness, truth investigation, right view, truth investigation-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, | included in the path. This is called right view. (As also are) The remaining states associated with right view.³ (As also are) The remaining states associated with right thought.³ (As also are) The remaining states associated with right effort.*³ (As also are) The remaining states associated with right mindfulness.

* See paragraph 205.
*² See paragraph 525.
*³ Complete each as first example but with appropriate modifications as paragraph 495.

Therein what is right concentration? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures, attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; that which at that time is stability of consciousness,² right concentration, concentration-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right concentration. (As also are) The remaining states associated with right concentration.

* See paragraph 205.
*² See paragraph 220.

The Eight Constituent Path is: Right view,* right concentration.

* Intermediate path constituents.

Therein what is the Eight Constituent Path? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures, attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; at that time there is contact,² there is non-wavering. These states are good. Having done, having developed that same good supramundane jhāna, he, aloof from sense pleasures, attains and dwells in resultant first jhāna that is hard practice, knowledge slowly acquired and is empty; at that time there is the Eight Constituent Path (viz.,) right view,³ right concentration. This is called the Eight Constituent Path. (As also are) The remaining states associated with the Eight Constituent Path.

* See paragraph 205.
*² See Dhammasaṅgaṇī paragraph 277.

*³ Intermediate path constituents.

The Five Constituent Path is: Right view, right thought, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

Therein what is the Five Constituent Path? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures, attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; at that time there is contact,² there is non-wavering. These states are good. Having done, having developed that same good supramundane jhāna, he, aloof from sense pleasures,* attains and dwells in resultant first jhāna that is hard practice, knowledge slowly acquired and is empty; at that time there is the Five Constituent Path (viz.,) right view, right thought, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This is called the Five Constituent Path. (As also are) The remaining states associated with the Five Constituent Path.

* See paragraph 205.
*² See Dhammasaṅgaṇī paragraph 277.

The Five Constituent Path is: Right view, right thought, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

Therein what is right view? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures, attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; at that time there is contact,² there is non-wavering. These states are good. Having done, having developed that same good supramundane jhāna, he, aloof from sense pleasures, attains and dwells in resultant first jhāna that is hard practice, knowledge slowly acquired and is empty; that which at that time is wisdom, understanding,³ absence of dullness, truth investigation, right view, truth investigation-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right view. (As also are) The remaining states associated with right view.⁴ (As also are) The remaining states associated with right thought.⁴ (As also are) The remaining | states associated with right effort.*⁴ (As also are) The remaining states associated with right mindfulness.

* See paragraph 205.
*² See Dhammasaṅgaṇī paragraph 277.
*³ See paragraph 525.
*⁴ Complete each as first example but with appropriate modifications as paragraph 495.

Therein what is right concentration? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures, attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; at that time there is contact,² there is non-wavering. These states are good. Having done, having developed that same good supramundane jhāna, he, aloof from sense pleasures,* attains and dwells in resultant first jhāna that is hard practice, knowledge slowly acquired and is empty; that which at that time is stability, steadfastness, firmness of consciousness; non-distraction, non-wavering, mental imperturbability, calmness, controlling faculty of concentration, power of concentration, right concentration, concentration-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called right concentration. (As also are) The remaining states associated with right concentration.

* See paragraph 205.
*² See Dhammasaṅgaṇī paragraph 277.

(Here Ends) Analysis According to Abhidhamma

3. Interrogation

The Noble Eight Constituent Path. That is: right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

Of the eight path constituents how many are good; how many bad; how many neither-good-nor-bad.* How many with cause of bewailing; how many without cause of bewailing?

* Remaining appropriate triplets and couplets.

1. The Triplets

(The eight path constituents) Sometimes are good; sometimes are neither-good-nor-bad. Right thought is associated with pleasant feeling. Seven path constituents sometimes are associated with pleasant feeling; sometimes are associated with neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling. (The eight path constituents) Sometimes are resultants; sometimes are productive of resultants. Are not grasped (by craving and false view), are not objects of the attachments. Are not corrupt, are not objects of the corruptions. Right thought is without initial application, sustained application only. Seven path constituents sometimes are accompanied by initial application, accompanied by sustained application; sometimes are without initial application, sustained application only; sometimes are without initial application, without sustained application. Right thought is accompanied by zest; is accompanied by pleasure; is not accompanied by indifference. Seven path constituents sometimes are accompanied by zest; sometimes are accompanied by pleasure; sometimes are accompanied by indifference. (The eight path constituents) Are not to be abandoned either by the first path or by the subsequent paths. Have no roots to be abandoned either by the first path or by the subsequent paths. Sometimes are dispersive (of continuing rebirth and death); sometimes are neither cumulative nor dispersive. Sometimes are of the seven supramundane stages; sometimes are of the final supramundane stage. Are immeasurable. Have immeasurable object. Are superior. Sometimes are right (states with) fixed (resultant time); sometimes are of no fixed (resultant time). Do not have path as their object; sometimes have path as their cause; sometimes have path as their dominating factor; sometimes should not be said to have, path as their cause or path as their dominating factor. Sometimes are risen; sometimes are not risen; sometimes are bound to arise. Sometimes are past; sometimes are future; sometimes are present. Should not be said to have either, past objects; future objects or present objects. Sometimes are internal; sometimes are external; sometimes are both internal and external. Have external object. Are not visible, are not impingent.

2. The Couplets

Right view is root. Seven path constituents are not roots. (The eight path constituents) Are accompanied by roots. Are associated with roots. Right view is root also accompanied by root. Seven path constituents should not be said to be, roots also accompanied by roots; (they) are accompanied by roots but are not roots. Right view is root also associated with root. Seven path constituents should not be said to be, roots also associated with roots; (they) are associated with roots but are not roots. Seven path constituents are not roots, are accompanied by roots. Right view should not be said to be, not root, is accompanied by root or not root, is not accompanied by root.

(The eight path constituents) Are with cause. Are conditioned. Are not visible. Are not impingent. Are not material. Are supramundane. Are cognizable by one way; are not cognizable by another way.

(The eight path constituents) Are not defilements. Are not objects of the defilements. Are not associated with the defilements. Should not be said to be, defilements also objects of the defilements or objects of the defilements but are not defilements. Should not be said to be, defilements also associated with the defilements or associated with the defilements but are not defilements. Are not associated with the defilements, are not objects of the defilements.

(The eight path constituents) Are not fetters. Are not ties. Are not floods. Are not bonds. Are not hindrances. Are not perversions. Have objects. Are not consciousness. Are mental concomitants. Are associated with consciousness. Are conjoined with consciousness. Are generated by consciousness. Are co-existent with consciousness. Accompany consciousness. Are conjoined with, generated by consciousness. Are conjoined with, generated by, co-existent with consciousness. Are conjoined with, generated by, accompany consciousness. Are external. Are not derived. Are not grasped.

* Complete as for defilements in previous paragraph

(The eight path constituents) Are not attachments. Are not corruptions. Are not to be abandoned by the first path. Are not to be abandoned by the subsequent paths. Have no roots to be abandoned by the first path. Have no roots to be abandoned by the | subsequent paths. Right thought is without initial application. Seven path constituents sometimes are accompanied by initial application; sometimes are without initial application. Right thought is accompanied by sustained application. Seven path constituents sometimes are accompanied by sustained application; sometimes are without sustained application. Right thought is with zest. Seven path constituents sometimes are with zest; sometimes are without zest. Right thought is accompanied by zest. Seven path constituents sometimes are accompanied by zest; sometimes are not accompanied by zest. Right thought is accompanied by pleasure. Seven path constituents sometimes are accompanied by pleasure; sometimes are not accompanied by pleasure. Right thought is not accompanied by indifference. Seven path constituents sometimes are accompanied by indifference; sometimes are not accompanied by indifference. (The eight path constituents) Are not characteristic of the plane of desire. Are not characteristic of the plane of form. Are not characteristic of the formless plane. Are not included (i.e. are supramundane). Sometimes tend to release; sometimes do not tend to release. Sometimes are of fixed (resultant time); sometimes are of no fixed (resultant time). Are not surpassable. Are without cause of bewailing.

* Complete as for defilements in earlier paragraph

(Here Ends) Interrogation