On one occasion the Blessed One was living at Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's Park. There the Venerable Sariputta addressed the bhikkhus thus: "Friends, bhikkhus. One of right view, one of right view', it is said. In what way is a noble disciple one of right view, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma, and has arrived at this true Dhamma? Monks: "Indeed friend, we would come from far away to learn from the venerable Sariputta the meaning of this statement. It would be good if the venerable Sariputta would explain the meaning of this statement. Having heard it from him, the bhikkhus will remember it." Venerable Sariputta: "Then friends, listen attentively to what I shall say."
THE WHOLESOME AND THE UNWHOLESOME
Venerable Sariputta: "When friends, a noble disciple understands the unwholesome and the root of the unwholesome, the wholesome and the root of the wholesome,in that way he is one of right view, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma and has arrived at this true Dhamma. What is the unwholesome, what is the root of the unwholesome, what is the wholesome, what is the root of the wholesome? What is Unwholesome: Killing living, taking what is not given, sexual misconduct, false speech, malicious speech, harsh speech, gossip , covetousness, ill will and wrong view is unwholesome. What is the root of the unwholesome? Greed, hatred and delusion are roots of the unwholesome. What is the wholesome: Abstention from killing living beings, abstention from taking what is not given, abstention from sexual misconduct, abstention from false speech, abstention from malicious speech, abstention from harsh speech, abstention from gossip, uncovetousness, non-ill will, right view is wholesome. What is the root of the wholesome? Non-greed, non-hatred and non-delusion are roots of the wholesome.
"When a noble disciple has thus understood the unwholesome and the root of the unwholesome, the wholesome and the root of the wholesome, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to lust, to aversion, to the view and conceit 'I am,' and by abandoning ignorance and arousing true knowledge he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma, and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
NUTRIMENT
The bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "Is there another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" Venerable Sariputta: "There might be, friends. When, friends, a noble disciple understand nutriment, the origin of nutriment, the cessation of nutriment, and the way leading to the cessation of nutriment, in that way he is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
What is nutriment, what is the origin of nutriment, what is the cessation of nutriment, what is the way leading to the cessation of nutriment? There are four kinds of nutriment for the maintenance of beings that already have come to be and for the support of those seeking a new existence. What four? They are: physical food as nutriment, contact as the second; mental volition as the third and consciousness as the fourth. With the arising of craving there is the arising of nutriment. With the cessation of craving there is the cessation of nutriment. The way leading to the cessation of nutriment is just this Noble Eightfold Path which consists of right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.
"When a noble disciple has thus understood nutriment, the origin of nutriment, the cessation of nutriment and the way leading to the cessation of nutriment, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to greed, he abolishes the underlying tendency to aversion, he extirpates the underlying tendency to the view and conceit "I am" and by abandoning ignorance and arousing true knowledge he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma, and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
The bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "Is there another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" Venerable Sariputta: "There might be, friends. When a noble disciple understands suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the way leading to the cessation of suffering, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma. (4 Noble truths ) .
"And what is suffering, what is the origin of suffering, what is the cessation of suffering, what is the way leading to the cessation of suffering? Suffering: Birth is suffering; ageing is suffering; sickness is suffering; death is suffering; sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are suffering; not to obtain what one wants is suffering; in short, the five aggregates affected by clinging are suffering. This is called suffering. Origin of suffering: It is craving, which brings renewal of being, is accompanied by delight and lust, and delights in this and that; that is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving for being, and craving for non-being. This is called the origin of suffering. Cessation of suffering: It is the fading away and ceasing, the giving up, relinquishing, letting go and rejecting of that same craving. This is called the cessation of suffering. 1 Way leading to the cessation of suffering: It is just this Noble Eightfold Path
"When a noble disciple has thus understood suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the way leading to the cessation of suffering.. .he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
AGEING AND DEATH
The bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "Is there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" Venerable Sariputta: "There might be, friends. A noble disciple understands ageing and death, the origin of ageing and death, the cessation of ageing and death and the way leading to the cessation of ageing and death, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma. What is ageing and death, what is the origin of ageing and death, what is the cessation of ageing and death, what is the way leading to the cessation of ageing and death? Ageing: Beings in the various orders of beings will grow old, have broken teeth, greyness of hair, wrinkling of skin, decline of life, weakness of faculties - this is called ageing. Death: The passing of beings out of the various orders of beings, their passing away, dissolution, disappearance, dying, completion of time, dissolution of the aggregates, laying down of the body - this is called death. So this ageing and this death are what is called ageing and death.
With the arising of birth there is the arising of ageing and death. With the cessation of birth there is the cessation of ageing and death. The way leading to the cessation of ageing and death is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view.. .right concentration. (Dependent origination)
"When a noble disciple has thus understood ageing and death, the origin of ageing and death, the cessation of ageing and death, and the way leading to the cessation of ageing and death.. .he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
BIRTH
The bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "Is there another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" Venerable Sariputta: "There might be, friends. When a noble disciple understands birth, the origin of birth, the cessation of birth, and the way leading to the cessation of birth, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma. What is birth, What is the origin of birth, what is the cessation of birth, what is the way leading to the cessation of birth? Birth: The birth of beings in the various orders of beings, their coming to birth, precipitation in a womb, generation, manifestation of the aggregates, obtaining the bases for contact- this is called birth. With the arising of being there is the arising of birth. With the cessation of being there is the cessation of birth. The way leading to the cessation of birth is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view.. .right concentration. "When a noble disciple has thus understood birth, the origin of birth, the cessation of birth, and the way leading to the cessation of birth.. .he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
BEING
The bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "Is there another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" Venerable Sariputta: "There might be, friends. When, friends, a noble disciple understands being, the origin of being, the cessation of being, and the way leading to the cessation of being, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma. What is being, what is the origin of being, what is the cessation of being, what is the way leading to the cessation of being? Beings: There are these three kinds of being: sense-sphere being, fine-material being, and immaterial being. With the arising of clinging there is the arising of being. With the cessation of clinging there is the cessation of being. The way leading to the cessation of being is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view.. .right concentration. "When a noble disciple has thus understood being, the origin of being, the cessation of being, and the way leading to the cessation of being.. .he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
CLINGING
The bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "But, friend, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" Venerable Sariputta: "There might be, friends. When, friends, a noble disciple understands clinging, the origin of clinging, the cessation of clinging, and the way leading to the cessation of clinging, in that way he is one of right view... and has arrived at this true Dhamma. What is clinging, what is the origin of clinging, what is the cessation of clinging, what is the way leading to the cessation of clinging? Clinging: There are these four kinds of clinging: clinging to sensual pleasures, clinging to views, clinging to rules and observances, and clinging to a doctrine of self. With the arising of craving there is the arising of clinging. With the cessation of craving there is the cessation of clinging. The way leading to the cessation of clinging is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view.. .right concentration. "When a noble disciple has thus understood clinging, the origin of clinging, the cessation of clinging, and the way leading to the cessation of clinging...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view... and has arrived at this true Dhamma." CRAVING
The bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "Is there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" Venerable Sariputta: "When, friends, a noble disciple understands craving, the origin of craving, the cessation of craving, and the way leading to the cessation of craving, in that way he is one of right view... and has arrived at this true Dhamma. What is craving, what is the origin of craving, what is the cessation of craving, what is the way leading to the cessation of craving? Cravings: There are these six classes of craving: craving for forms, craving for sounds, craving for odors, craving for flavors, craving for tangibles, craving for mind-objects. With the arising of feeling there is the arising of craving. With the cessation of feeling there is the cessation of craving. The way leading to the cessation of craving is just this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view.. .right concentration. "When a noble disciple has thus understood craving, the origin of craving, the cessation of craving, and the way leading to the cessation of craving...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view... and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
FEELING
The bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "Is there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" Venerable Sariputta: "When, friends, a noble disciple understands feeling, the origin of feeling, the cessation of feeling, and the way leading to the cessation of feeling, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma. What is feeling, what is the origin of feeling, what is the cessation of feeling, what is the way leading to the cessation of feeling? Feeling: There are these six classes of feeling: feeling born of eye-contact, feeling born of ear-contact, feeling born of nose-contact, feeling born of tongue-contact, feeling born of body-contact, feeling born of mind-contact. With the arising of contact there is the arising of feeling. With the cessation of contact there is the cessation of feeling. The way leading to the cessation of feeling is just this Noble Eightfold Path. "When a noble disciple has thus understood feeling, the origin of feeling, the cessation of feeling, and the way leading to the cessation of feeling...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
CONTACT
The bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "Is there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" Venerable Sariputta: "When, friends, a noble disciple understands contact, the origin of contact, the cessation of contact, and the way leading to the cessation of contact, in that way he is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma. What is contact, what is the origin of contact, what is the cessation of contact, what is the way leading to the cessation of contact? Contact: There are these six classes of contact: eye-contact, ear-contact, nose-contact, tongue-contact, body-contact, mind-contact. With the arising of the sixfold base there is the arising of contact. With the cessation of the sixfold base there is the cessation of contact. The way leading to the cessation of contact is just this Noble Eightfold Path. "When a noble disciple has thus understood contact, the origin of contact, the cessation of contact, and the way leading to the cessation of contact...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
THE SIXFOLD BASE
The bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "Is there another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" Venerable Sariputta: "When, friends, a noble disciple understands the sixfold base, the origin of the sixfold base, the cessation of the sixfold base, and the way leading to the cessation of the sixfold base, in that way he is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma. What is the sixfold base, what is the origin of the sixfold base, what is the .cessation of the sixfold base, what is the way leading to the cessation of the sixfold base? Sixfold bases: the eye-base, the ear-base, the nose-base, the tongue-base, the body-base, the mind-base. With the arising of mind-body there is the arising of the sixfold base. With the cessation of mind-body there is the cessation of the sixfold base. The way leading to the cessation of the sixfold base is just this Noble Eightfold Path. "When a noble disciple has thus understood the sixfold base, the origin of the sixfold base, the cessation of the sixfold base, and the way leading to the cessation of the sixfold base...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
Mind-Body
The bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "Is there another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" Venerable Sariputta: "When, friends, a noble disciple understands mind-body, the origin of mind-body, the cessation of mind-body, and the way leading to the cessation of mind-body, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
What is mind-body, what is the origin of mind-body, what is the cessation of mind-body, what is the way leading to the cessation of mind-body? Mind-body: Feeling, perception, volition, contact, and attention. The four great elements, and the form dependent on the four great elements: This is called form. This name & this form are called name-&-form. With the arising of consciousness there is the arising of mind-body. With the cessation of consciousness there is the cessation of mind-body. The way leading to the cessation of mind-body is just this Noble Eightfold Path. "When a noble disciple has thus understood mind-body, the origin of mind-body, the cessation of mind-body, and the way leading to the cessation of mind-body. .he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
CONSCIOUSNESS
The bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "Is there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" Venerable Sariputta: "When, friends, a noble disciple understands consciousness, the origin of consciousness, the cessation of consciousness and the way leading to the cessation of consciousness, in that way he is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma. What is consciousness, what is the origin of consciousness, what is the cessation of consciousness, what is the way leading to the cessation of consciousness? Six classes of consciousness: eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness, body-consciousness, mind-consciousness. With the arising of formations there is the arising of consciousness. With the cessation of formations there is the cessation of consciousness. The way leading to the cessation of consciousness is just this Noble Eightfold Path. "When a noble disciple has thus understood consciousness, the origin of consciousness, the cessation of consciousness, and the way leading to the cessation of consciousness....he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
VOLITIONAL FORMATIONS
The bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "is there another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" Venerable Sariputta: "When, friends, a noble disciple understands formations, the origin of formations, the cessation of formations, and the way leading to the cessation of formations, in that way he is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma. What are volitional formations, what is the origin of formations, what is the cessation of formations, what is the way leading to the cessation of formations? Three kinds of volitional formations: the bodily formation, the verbal formation, the mental formation. With the arising of ignorance there is the arising of formations. With the cessation of ignorance there is the cessation of formations. The way leading to the cessation of formations is just this Noble Eightfold Path. "When a noble disciple has thus understood formations, the origin of formations, the cessation of formations, and the way leading to the cessation of formations...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view.. .and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
IGNORANCE
The bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "Is there another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view. ..and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" Venerable Sariputta : "When, friends, a noble disciple understands ignorance, the origin of ignorance, the cessation of ignorance, and the way leading to the cessation of ignorance, in that way he is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma. What is ignorance, what is the origin of ignorance, what is the cessation of ignorance, what is the way leading to the cessation of ignorance? Ignorance: Not knowing about suffering, not knowing about the origin of suffering, not knowing about the cessation of suffering, not knowing about the way leading to the cessation of suffering - this is called ignorance. With the arising of the taints there is the arising of ignorance. With the cessation of the taints there is the cessation of ignorance. The way leading to the cessation of ignorance is just this Noble Eightfold Path. "When a noble disciple has thus understood ignorance, the origin of ignorance, the cessation of ignorance, and the way leading to the cessation of ignorance...he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view...and has arrived at this true Dhamma." (Understanding the twelve links of dependent origination above; its origin, cessation and the way leading to its cessation, the noble disciple abandons greed, aversion, conceit and ignorance, gains insight wisdom, ends suffering and is one of right view.)
TAINTS
The bhikkhus delighted and rejoiced in the venerable Sariputta's words. Then they asked him a further question: "Is there another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma, and has arrived at this true Dhamma?" Venerable Sariputta: "When, friends, a noble disciple understands the taints, the origin of the taints, the cessation of the taints, and the way leading to the cessation of the taints, in that way he is one of right view, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma, and has arrived at this true Dhamma. What are the taints, what is the origin of the taints, what is the cessation of the taints, what is the way leading to the cessation of the taints? Three taints: the taint of sensual desire, the taint of being, and the taint of ignorance. With the arising of ignorance there is the arising of the taints. With the cessation of ignorance there is the cessation of the taints. The way leading to the cessation of the taints is just this Noble Eightfold Path. "When a noble disciple has thus understood the taints, the origin of the taints, the cessation of the taints, and the way leading to the cessation of the taints, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to lust, he abolishes the underlying tendency to aversion, he extirpates the underlying tendency to the view and conceit 'I am' and by abandoning ignorance and arousing true knowledge he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma, and has arrived at this true Dhamma."
That is what the venerable Sariputta said. The bhikkhus were satisfied and delighted in the venerable Sariputta's words.
In summary, in this sutta Venerable Sariputta addressed an assembly of monks to talk about "Right view" which is the forerunner of the noble eightfold path. Noble eightfold path is the path taught by the Buddha that will lead to cessation of suffering. Venerable Sariputta talked about the following 16 cases through which a noble disciple could achieve right view:
the Unwholesome and the Wholesome
Nutriments
the Four Noble Truths
the twelve links of Dependent Origination in reverse order
the Taints
Right view is achieved for these cases by understanding the four phases of each case:
the constituents of the case
its origin
its cessation
the way leading to its cessation
References: 1. www.accesstoinsight.org 2. https://suttacentral.net/ 3. The long discourses of the Buddha (Bhikkhu Bodhi)