Reading guide
The same narrative shape as SN 47.46, a different starting point
Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse follows the IDENTICAL sequence as SN 47.46 — a mendicant's own request, the Buddha naming an ethical foundation, mindfulness meditation grounded on it, and the mendicant's own attainment — but this discourse names giving up bad conduct and developing good conduct of body, speech, and mind, rather than SN 47.46's own specific naming of restraint in the monastic code.
Body, speech, and mind -- three channels, not one rule set
The discourse's own threefold division — “kāyaduccaritaṁ... vacīduccaritaṁ... manoduccaritaṁ” (bad conduct of body, speech, and mind) — is confirmed by direct reading to describe ethical conduct across all three channels of action, a broader ethical framing than a single set of monastic rules.
The same closing formula, elided in the source itself
Confirmed by direct reading, the Pāli root itself marks its own final section with “…pe…” (an elision indicator), confirming the source text treats the remainder as identical to SN 47.46's own closing — growth in skillful qualities, and the mendicant's own attainment of arahantship.
Key terms
The text
§1 — the request and the ethical starting pointThen a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and said: “Sir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.” “Well then, mendicant, you should purify the starting point of skillful qualities. What is the beginning of skillful qualities? Give up bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind and develop good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. When you’ve done this, you should develop the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, depending on and grounded on ethics.
§2 — mindfulness meditation and the outcomeWhat four? Meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. Meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. When you develop the four kinds of mindfulness meditation in this way, depending on and grounded on ethics, you can expect growth, not decline, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.” … And that mendicant became one of the perfected.
Self-check quiz
3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.