SN 12.3

Paṭipadāsutta

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati …pe… “micchāpaṭipadañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi sammāpaṭipadañca. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

Practice

At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, I will teach you the wrong practice and the right practice. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Katamā ca, bhikkhave, micchāpaṭipadā? Avijjāpaccayā, bhikkhave, saṅkhārā; saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, micchāpaṭipadā.

“And what’s the wrong practice? Ignorance is a requirement for choices. Choices are a requirement for consciousness. … That is how this entire mass of suffering originates. This is called the wrong practice.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sammāpaṭipadā? Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā saṅkhāranirodho; saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sammāpaṭipadā”ti.

And what’s the right practice? When ignorance fades away and ceases with no residue left behind, choices cease. When choices cease, consciousness ceases. … That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases. This is called the right practice.”