4.
The Discourse on What Purpose
317.
"For what purpose, friend Sāriputta, is the holy life lived under the ascetic Gotama?"
"For the full understanding of suffering, friend, the holy life is lived under the Blessed One."
"But is there, friend, a path, is there a practice for the full understanding of this suffering?"
"There is indeed, friend, a path, there is a practice for the full understanding of this suffering."
"But what, friend, is the path, what is the practice for the full understanding of this suffering?"
"Just this noble eightfold path, friend, is for the full understanding of this suffering, as follows - right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This, friend, is the path, this is the practice for the full understanding of this suffering." "Excellent, friend, is the path, excellent is the practice for the full understanding of this suffering. And it is enough, friend Sāriputta, for diligence." The fourth.