[299] "And what, bhikkhus, is the noble truth (ariyasacca) of the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering (dukkha)? It is just this Noble Eightfold Path (magga), namely: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
"And what, bhikkhus, is right view? Bhikkhus, the knowledge (ñāṇa) of suffering, the knowledge of the origin of suffering, the knowledge of the cessation of suffering, the knowledge of the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering — this, bhikkhus, is called right view.
"And what, bhikkhus, is right intention? The intention of renunciation (nekkhamma), the intention of non-ill will, the intention of non-harming — this, bhikkhus, is called right intention.
"And what, bhikkhus, is right speech? Abstaining from false speech, abstaining from divisive speech, abstaining from harsh speech, abstaining from idle chatter — this, bhikkhus, is called right speech.
"And what, bhikkhus, is right action? Abstaining from the destruction of life, abstaining from taking what is not given, abstaining from misconduct in sensual pleasures — this, bhikkhus, is called right action.
"And what, bhikkhus, is right livelihood? Here, bhikkhus, a noble disciple, having abandoned wrong livelihood, makes his living by right livelihood — this, bhikkhus, is called right livelihood.
"And what, bhikkhus, is right effort? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu generates desire, endeavors, arouses energy (vīriya), exerts the mind (citta), and strives for the non-arising of evil, unwholesome states that have not yet arisen. He generates desire, endeavors, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and strives for the abandoning of evil, unwholesome states that have arisen. He generates desire, endeavors, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and strives for the arising of wholesome states that have not yet arisen. He generates desire, endeavors, arouses energy, exerts the mind, and strives for the persistence of wholesome states that have arisen, for their non-decline, increase, abundance, development, and fulfillment. This, bhikkhus, is called right effort.
"And what, bhikkhus, is right mindfulness? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body in the body (kāyānupassanā), ardent (ātāpī), clearly comprehending (sampajāno), mindful, having removed covetousness and grief regarding the world; he dwells contemplating feelings (vedanā) in feelings …; in the mind (citta) …; he dwells contemplating dhammas in dhammas, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and grief regarding the world. This, bhikkhus, is called right mindfulness.
"And what, bhikkhus, is right concentration (samādhi)? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, secluded indeed from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, enters and dwells in the first meditative absorption (jhāna), which is accompanied by thought and examination, with rapture (pīti) and happiness born of seclusion. With the stilling of thought and examination, the second jhāna, with internal confidence and unification of mind, without thought, without examination, with rapture and happiness born of concentration … he enters and dwells in the third jhāna. With the abandoning of pleasure and the abandoning of pain, and with the previous passing away of joy and grief, he enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna, which is neither-painful-nor-pleasant, with purity of mindfulness due to equanimity (upekkhā). This, bhikkhus, is called right concentration.
"This, bhikkhus, is called the noble truth of the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.
"Thus he dwells contemplating dhammas in dhammas internally, or he dwells contemplating dhammas in dhammas externally, or he dwells contemplating dhammas in dhammas both internally and externally. Or he dwells contemplating in dhammas the nature of origination, or he dwells contemplating in dhammas the nature of vanishing, or he dwells contemplating in dhammas the nature of both origination and vanishing. Or else his mindfulness that 'there are dhammas' is established, just to the extent necessary for knowledge and for continued mindfulness. And he dwells independent, and does not cling to anything in the world. Thus too, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating dhammas in dhammas with respect to the four noble truths.
The Section on the Truths is concluded.
The Contemplation of Dhammas is concluded.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.