“Mendicants, doctors prescribe a purgative for eliminating illnesses stemming from disorders of bile, phlegm, and wind. “Tikicchakā, bhikkhave, virecanaṁ denti pittasamuṭṭhānānampi ābādhānaṁ paṭighātāya, semhasamuṭṭhānānampi ābādhānaṁ paṭighātāya, vātasamuṭṭhānānampi ābādhānaṁ paṭighātāya. There is such a purgative, I don’t deny it. Atthetaṁ, bhikkhave, virecanaṁ; ‘netaṁ natthī’ti vadāmi. But this kind of purgative sometimes works and sometimes fails. Tañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, virecanaṁ sampajjatipi vipajjatipi.

I will teach a noble purgative that works without fail. Relying on that purgative, sentient beings who are liable to rebirth, old age, and death, to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress are freed from all these things. Ahañca kho, bhikkhave, ariyaṁ virecanaṁ desessāmi, yaṁ virecanaṁ sampajjatiyeva no vipajjati, yaṁ virecanaṁ āgamma jātidhammā sattā jātiyā parimuccanti, jarādhammā sattā jarāya parimuccanti, maraṇadhammā sattā maraṇena parimuccanti, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsadhammā sattā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsehi parimuccanti. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, sir,” they replied. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. The Buddha said this: Bhagavā etadavoca:

“And what is the noble purgative that works without fail? “Katamañca taṁ, bhikkhave, ariyaṁ virecanaṁ, yaṁ virecanaṁ sampajjatiyeva no vipajjati, yaṁ virecanaṁ āgamma jātidhammā sattā jātiyā parimuccanti, jarādhammā sattā jarāya parimuccanti, maraṇadhammā sattā maraṇena parimuccanti, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsadhammā sattā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsehi parimuccanti?

For one of right view, wrong view is purged. Sammādiṭṭhikassa, bhikkhave, micchādiṭṭhi virittā hoti; And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by wrong view are purged. ye ca micchādiṭṭhipaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti te cassa virittā honti; And because of right view, many skillful qualities are fully developed. sammādiṭṭhipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti.

For one of right thought, wrong thought is purged. … Sammāsaṅkappassa, bhikkhave, micchāsaṅkappo viritto hoti …pe… For one of right speech, wrong speech is purged. … sammāvācassa, bhikkhave, micchāvācā virittā hoti … For one of right action, wrong action is purged. … sammākammantassa, bhikkhave, micchākammanto viritto hoti … For one of right livelihood, wrong livelihood is purged. … sammāājīvassa, bhikkhave, micchāājīvo viritto hoti … For one of right effort, wrong effort is purged. sammāvāyāmassa, bhikkhave, micchāvāyāmo viritto hoti … For one of right mindfulness, wrong mindfulness is purged. … sammāsatissa, bhikkhave, micchāsati virittā hoti … For one of right immersion, wrong immersion is purged. … sammāsamādhissa, bhikkhave, micchāsamādhi viritto hoti … For one of right knowledge, wrong knowledge is purged. … sammāñāṇissa, bhikkhave, micchāñāṇaṁ virittaṁ hoti …pe….

For one of right freedom, wrong freedom is purged. Sammāvimuttissa, bhikkhave, micchāvimutti virittā hoti; And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by wrong freedom are purged. ye ca micchāvimuttipaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti te cassa virittā honti; And because of right freedom, many skillful qualities are fully developed. sammāvimuttipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti. This is the noble purgative that works without fail. Relying on this purgative, sentient beings who are liable to rebirth, old age, and death, to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress are freed from all these things.” Idaṁ kho taṁ, bhikkhave, ariyaṁ virecanaṁ yaṁ virecanaṁ sampajjatiyeva no vipajjati, yaṁ virecanaṁ āgamma jātidhammā sattā jātiyā parimuccanti …pe… sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsehi parimuccantī”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.