The Discourse on Right View  

The Sammaditthi sutta, the Discourse on Right View, is one of the most important suttas in the Pali Canon. The subject of the sutta, as its title indicates, is right view or right understanding-an accurate and penetrating comprehension of the true nature of existence, as disclosed by the Buddha's teaching. The Buddha constantly stressed that the entire practice of the Dhamma depends on acquiring a correct understanding of existence, and he reinforced this point by placing right view at the forefront of the Noble Eightfold Path. In this sutta, translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Nanamoli, the Venerable Sariputta Thera, the Buddha's chief disciple, succinctly explains all the essential principles that must be comprehended to arrive at the liberating insight into truth. The inclusion here of the classical commentary to the discourse allows for an in-depth study of the sutta.