So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, what is the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics?” “kimatthiyāni, bhante, kusalāni sīlāni kimānisaṁsānī”ti?

“Ānanda, having no regrets is the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics.” “Avippaṭisāratthāni kho, ānanda, kusalāni sīlāni avippaṭisārānisaṁsānī”ti.

“But what is the purpose and benefit of having no regrets?” “Avippaṭisāro pana, bhante, kimatthiyo kimānisaṁso”?

“Joy is the purpose and benefit of having no regrets.” “Avippaṭisāro kho, ānanda, pāmojjattho pāmojjānisaṁso”.

“But what is the purpose and benefit of joy?” “Pāmojjaṁ pana, bhante, kimatthiyaṁ kimānisaṁsaṁ”?

“Rapture …” “Pāmojjaṁ kho, ānanda, pītatthaṁ pītānisaṁsaṁ”.

“But what is the purpose and benefit of rapture?” “Pīti pana, bhante, kimatthiyā kimānisaṁsā”?

“Tranquility …” “Pīti kho, ānanda, passaddhatthā passaddhānisaṁsā”.

“But what is the purpose and benefit of tranquility?” “Passaddhi pana, bhante, kimatthiyā kimānisaṁsā”?

“Bliss …” “Passaddhi kho, ānanda, sukhatthā sukhānisaṁsā”.

“But what is the purpose and benefit of bliss?” “Sukhaṁ pana, bhante, kimatthiyaṁ kimānisaṁsaṁ”?

“Immersion …” “Sukhaṁ kho, ānanda, samādhatthaṁ samādhānisaṁsaṁ”.

“But what is the purpose and benefit of immersion?” “Samādhi pana, bhante, kimatthiyo kimānisaṁso”?

“Truly knowing and seeing …” “Samādhi kho, ānanda, yathābhūtañāṇadassanattho yathābhūtañāṇadassanānisaṁso”.

“But what is the purpose and benefit of truly knowing and seeing?” “Yathābhūtañāṇadassanaṁ pana, bhante, kimatthiyaṁ kimānisaṁsaṁ”?

“Disillusionment …” “Yathābhūtañāṇadassanaṁ kho, ānanda, nibbidatthaṁ nibbidānisaṁsaṁ”.

“But what is the purpose and benefit of disillusionment?” “Nibbidā pana, bhante, kimatthiyā kimānisaṁsā”?

“Dispassion …” “Nibbidā kho, ānanda, virāgatthā virāgānisaṁsā”.

“But what is the purpose and benefit of dispassion?” “Virāgo pana, bhante, kimatthiyo kimānisaṁso”?

“Knowledge and vision of freedom is the purpose and benefit of dispassion. “Virāgo kho, ānanda, vimuttiñāṇadassanattho vimuttiñāṇadassanānisaṁso.

So, Ānanda, the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics is not having regrets. Iti kho, ānanda, kusalāni sīlāni avippaṭisāratthāni avippaṭisārānisaṁsāni, Joy is the purpose and benefit of not having regrets. avippaṭisāro pāmojjattho pāmojjānisaṁso, Rapture is the purpose and benefit of joy. pāmojjaṁ pītatthaṁ pītānisaṁsaṁ, Tranquility is the purpose and benefit of rapture. pīti passaddhatthā passaddhānisaṁsā, Bliss is the purpose and benefit of tranquility. passaddhi sukhatthā sukhānisaṁsā, Immersion is the purpose and benefit of bliss. sukhaṁ samādhatthaṁ samādhānisaṁsaṁ, Truly knowing and seeing is the purpose and benefit of immersion. samādhi yathābhūtañāṇadassanattho yathābhūtañāṇadassanānisaṁso, Disillusionment is the purpose and benefit of truly knowing and seeing. yathābhūtañāṇadassanaṁ nibbidatthaṁ nibbidānisaṁsaṁ, Dispassion is the purpose and benefit of disillusionment. nibbidā virāgatthā virāgānisaṁsā, And knowledge and vision of freedom is the purpose and benefit of dispassion. virāgo vimuttiñāṇadassanattho vimuttiñāṇadassanānisaṁso. So, Ānanda, skillful ethics progressively lead up to the highest.” Iti kho, ānanda, kusalāni sīlāni anupubbena aggāya parentī”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.