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Saṁyutta Nikāya — The Connected Discourses

SN56: Connected Discourses on the Truths

SN56:71-77 Five Precepts

1[note to this digital edition] For this digital edition, these suttas have been grouped by categories instead of 10-sutta chapters.
Note that the fourth precept on right speech is expanded into the four kinds of wrong speech, and that the fifth precept presented in SN56.64 is repeated here for completeness.
Then the Blessed One took up a little bit of soil in his fingernail and addressed the bhikkhus thus:

"What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the little bit of soil in my fingernail or the great earth?"

"Venerable sir, the great earth is more. The little bit of soil that the Blessed One has taken up in his fingernail is trifling. Compared to the great earth, that little bit of soil is not calculable, does not bear comparison, does not amount even to a fraction."


SN56:71"So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from the destruction of life. But those beings are more numerous who do not abstain from the destruction of life. sn.v.469

SN56:72"So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from taking what is not given. But those beings are more numerous who do not abstain from taking what is not given.

SN56:73"So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from sexual misconduct. But those beings are more numerous who do not abstain from sexual misconduct.

SN56:74"So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from false speech. But those beings are more numerous who do not abstain from false speech.

SN56:75"So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from divisive speech. But those beings are more numerous who do not abstain from divisive speech.

SN56:76"So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from harsh speech. But those beings are more numerous who do not abstain from harsh speech.

SN56:77"So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from idle chatter. But those beings are more numerous who do not abstain from idle chatter.

SN56:64"So too, bhikkhus, those beings are few who abstain from wine, liquors, and intoxicants that are a basis for negligence. But those beings are more numerous who do not abstain from wines, liquors, and intoxicants that are a basis for negligence.


For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, they have not seen the Four Noble Truths.

What four? The noble truth of suffering, the noble truth of the origin of suffering, the noble truth of the cessation of suffering, the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering.

"Therefore, bhikkhus, an exertion should be made to understand: ‘This is suffering.’[n.376] Tasmātiha bhikkhave idaṁ dukkhan ti yogo karaṇīyo. Spk: Since a concentrated bhikkhu understands the Four Noble Truths as they really are, therefore you should make an exertion to become concentrated in order to understand the four truths as they really are. And since the round of existence increases for those who do not penetrate them, but stops increasing from the time they are penetrated, therefore you should make an exertion to understand them, thinking, "Let the round not increase for us."
An exertion should be made to understand: ‘This is the origin of suffering.’
An exertion should be made to understand: ‘This is the cessation of suffering.’
An exertion should be made to understand: ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’"

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SN56:71"Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye pāṇātipātā appaṭiviratā. Taṁ kissa hetu?

SN56:72"Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye adinnādānā paṭiviratā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye adinnādānā appaṭiviratā.

SN56:73"Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye kāmesumicchācārā appaṭiviratā.

SN56:74"Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye musāvādā paṭiviratā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye musāvādā appaṭiviratā.

SN56:75"Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye pisuṇāya vācāya paṭiviratā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye pisuṇāya vācāya appaṭiviratā.

SN56:76"Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye pharusāya vācāya paṭiviratā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye pharusāya vācāya appaṭiviratā.

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SN56:77"Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye samphappalāpā paṭiviratā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye samphappalāpā appaṭiviratā.

SN56:64"Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye surāmerayamajjappamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye surāmerayamajjappamādaṭṭhānā apaṭiviratā


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