Jun 1, 2020

"I Came Upon an Ancient Path"



"Just as if, brethren, a man travelling in a forest, along a mountain height, should come upon an ancient road, an ancient path, traversed by men of former days and should proceed along it; and as he went should come upon an old-time city, a royal city of olden days, dwelt in by men of bygone ages, laid out with parks and groves and water tanks and stoutly walled about—a delightful spot.

Then suppose, brethren, that this man should tell of his discovery to the king or royal minister, thus: “Pardon me, sire, but I would have you know that while travelling in a forest, along a mountain height, I came upon an ancient path that led to a royal city of olden days—a delightful spot. Sire, restore that city.”

Then suppose, brethren, that king or minister were to restore that city, so that thereafter it became prosperous, fortunate and populous, crowded with inhabitants, and were to grow and increase.

Even so, brethren, have I seen an ancient Path, an ancient way traversed by the Fully Enlightened Ones of former times. And what is that Path? It is this Noble Eightfold Path."

—Sammāsambuddha Gotama
Nagara Sutta, Samyutta Nikāya, 12.65

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The Noble Eightfold Path is divided into three divisions.

The first, sīla - morality, summed up as:

Sabba papassa akaraṇaṃ
Abstain from all sinful actions - that is, all unwholesome actions, physical or vocal, which hurt other beings and disturb their peace and harmony.

The second part of the Path, samadhi - one-pointed concentration of wholesome mind, summed up as:

Kusalassa upasampada
Perform wholesome actions with a concentrated, wholesome mind.

The third part, pañña-wisdom or insight, summed up as:

Sacitta pariyodapanaṃ
Purify the totality of mind by developing insight (Vipassana).

These three trainings are the teaching of all the Buddhas of the past and will be the teaching of all the Buddhas of the future. That is why it is said,

Etaṃ Buddhana sasanaṃ.

This is the teaching of all the Buddhas.

(from Sayagyi U Goenka's Vipassana talk delivered at the United Nations on the occasion of Vesakha, the full moon day of May, marking the birth, the Full Enlightenment and the final passing away of Gotama the Buddha. In 2002, Goenkaji was touring North America during the month of Vesakha, teaching Vipassana and giving public addresses in 35 cities over a period of nearly four months.)

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