Reading guide
The same question SN 45.6 already asked
“What is the spiritual path? And what is the culmination of the spiritual path?” is confirmed by direct comparison to be nearly identical wording to the unnamed mendicant's own question at SN 45.6, though here voiced by a named figure (Bhadda) in dialogue with Ānanda rather than the Buddha himself.
A disciple answering exactly as the Buddha would
Ānanda's own answer — the eightfold path, then the ending of greed, hate, and delusion as its culmination — matches the Buddha's own answer at SN 45.6 precisely, confirming this saṃyutta's own recurring pattern (already seen with Sāriputta at SN 45.3) of senior disciples independently teaching the identical doctrine without correction.
Key terms
The text
§1At Pāṭaliputta. “Reverend, they speak of this thing called the ‘spiritual path’. What is the spiritual path? And what is the culmination of the spiritual path?” “Good, good, Reverend Bhadda! Your approach and eloquence are excellent, and it’s a good question. For you asked: ‘They speak of this thing called “the spiritual path”. What is the spiritual path? And what is the culmination of the spiritual path?’” “Yes, reverend.” “The spiritual path is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. The ending of greed, hate, and delusion: this is the culmination of the spiritual path.”
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