Reading guide
A matrix, only partially written out
Parts 1 through 4 restate the three searches with each of the four closing formulas already met throughout Book V (base; removal of greed, hate, delusion; freedom from death; self-referential extinguishment) — all paired with the verb “directly know.” Parts 5, 6, and 7 then introduce three further verbs (“completely understand,” “finish,” “give up”), each given only its own opening line before an explicit source instruction to “tell in full” with that verb substituted — implying, by the same logic as Parts 1-4, that each of these three verbs could also combine with all four closing formulas, a full matrix of sixteen combinations that the source itself never writes out in its entirety.
Described, not invented
This reading guide quotes every genuinely written segment (Parts 1-4 in full, and the opening lines plus elaboration instructions of Parts 5-7) without inventing the twelve further combinations the source itself leaves to the reader's own inference.
Key terms
The text
Part 1 — directly know, the base formulaAt Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, there are these three searches. What three? The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path. These are the three searches. The noble eightfold path should be developed to directly know these three searches. What is the noble eightfold path? It’s when a mendicant develops right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. This is the noble eightfold path that should be developed to directly know these three searches.”
Part 2 — directly know, removal of greed, hate, delusion“Mendicants, there are these three searches. What three? The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path. These are the three searches. The noble eightfold path should be developed to directly know these three searches. What is the noble eightfold path? It’s when a mendicant develops right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion, which culminate in the removal of greed, hate, and delusion. This is the noble eightfold path that should be developed to directly know these three searches.”
Part 3 — directly know, freedom from death“Mendicants, there are these three searches. What three? The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path. These are the three searches. The noble eightfold path should be developed to directly know these three searches. What is the noble eightfold path? It’s when a mendicant develops right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion, whose objective, destination, and culmination is freedom from death. This is the noble eightfold path that should be developed to directly know these three searches.”
Part 4 — directly know, self-referential extinguishment“Mendicants, there are these three searches. What three? The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path. These are the three searches. The noble eightfold path should be developed to directly know these three searches. What is the noble eightfold path? It’s when a mendicant develops right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion, which slants, slopes, and inclines to extinguishment. This is the noble eightfold path that should be developed to directly know these three searches.”
Part 5 — completely understand (opening line and elaboration instruction)“Mendicants, there are these three searches. What three? The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path. These are the three searches. The noble eightfold path should be developed to completely understand …” (Tell in full with “completely understand” instead of “directly know”.)
Part 6 — finish (opening line and elaboration instruction)“Mendicants, there are these three searches. What three? The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path. These are the three searches. The noble eightfold path should be developed to finish …” (Tell in full with “finish” instead of “directly know”.)
Part 7 — give up (opening line and elaboration instruction)“Mendicants, there are these three searches. What three? The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path. These are the three searches. The noble eightfold path should be developed to give up …” (Tell in full with “give up” instead of “directly know”.)
Self-check quiz
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