Reading guide
The seven courses, now complete
This project's own final accounting: with talking nonsense addressed, SN 56.71-77 has restated all three bodily and all four verbal courses of unwholesome action, the classical seven that this saṃyutta's own wider tradition treats as directly observable in conduct — the remaining three (covetousness, ill will, wrong view) belong to the mind rather than outward behavior, and this project notes their absence is consistent rather than an oversight.
Key terms
appakā te sattā ye samphappalāpā paṭiviratā — “the sentient beings who refrain from talking nonsense are few” — the rare category, matching the tiny pinch of dirt
samphappalāpa — “talking nonsense, idle chatter” — the seventh of the ten courses of unwholesome action, and the fourth verbal one
appaṭiviratā — “those who don't refrain” — the vast majority category, matching the whole earth
… — the elision marking, standing in for the fingernail demonstration already given in full at SN 56.61-62
sattamaṁ — “the seventh” — this discourse's own root text confirming its own position directly, read rather than assumed
The text
Every genuinely translated fragment given in the consulted English source, which itself preserves the elision back to SN 56.61's own full statement. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1“… the sentient beings who refrain from talking nonsense are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …”
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Self-check quiz
3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 3
What does this discourse claim about those who refrain from talking nonsense?
Correct: A. Confirmed by direct reading — matching this vagga's own recurring formula.
Question 2 of 3
What does this project's own final accounting confirm about SN 56.71-77?
Correct: A. This project's own count confirming a complete, consistent seven-part sequence.
Question 3 of 3
What position does this discourse occupy in this vagga's own ten-discourse sequence?
Correct: A. Confirmed by direct reading of the root text's own closing marker "Sattamaṁ" ("seventh").