[588] Detachment (virāga) is the path; deliverance (vimutti) is the fruit. How is detachment the path?
At the moment of the path of stream-entry (sotāpattimagga), right view, in the sense of seeing, becomes detached from wrong view; it becomes detached from the defilements (kilesa) that follow along with it and from the aggregates (khandha); and it becomes detached from all external signs (nimitta). Detachment has detachment as its object, has detachment as its domain, has come together in detachment, stands in detachment, is established in detachment. "Detachment": there are two detachments — Nibbāna is detachment, and all dhammas arisen with Nibbāna as their object are detachments; thus there is detachment. The seven co-arisen factors go to detachment; thus detachment is the path. By this path the Buddhas and their disciples go to Nibbāna, the direction not gone before; thus it is the eightfold path. Of however many paths there are of the many ascetics and brahmins who hold other doctrines, this Noble Eightfold Path alone is the highest, the best, the liberation (vimokkha), the supreme, and the most excellent; thus of paths the eightfold is the best.
Right thought, in the sense of directing [the mind] upon its object, becomes detached from wrong thought; right speech, in the sense of embracing, becomes detached from wrong speech; right action, in the sense of originating, becomes detached from wrong action; right livelihood, in the sense of cleansing, becomes detached from wrong livelihood; right effort, in the sense of exertion, becomes detached from wrong effort; right mindfulness, in the sense of establishing, becomes detached from wrong mindfulness; right concentration, in the sense of non-distraction, becomes detached from wrong concentration; it becomes detached from the defilements that follow along with it and from the aggregates; and it becomes detached from all external signs. Detachment has detachment as its object, has detachment as its domain, has come together in detachment, stands in detachment, is established in detachment. "Detachment": there are two detachments — Nibbāna is detachment, and all dhammas arisen with Nibbāna as their object are detachments; thus there is detachment. The seven co-arisen factors go to detachment; thus detachment is the path. By this path the Buddhas and their disciples go to Nibbāna, the direction not gone before; thus it is the eightfold path. Of however many paths there are of the many ascetics and brahmins who hold other doctrines, this Noble Eightfold Path alone is the highest, the best, the liberation, the supreme, and the most excellent; thus of paths the eightfold is the best.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.