AN 3.120 — Purity (1st)

English translation by Bhikkhu Candana.

Translation

Text

119. Paṭhama Soceyya Sutta (On Purity – Part 1) Bhikkhus, there are these three purities. What three?

Bodily purity; purity through speech; and purity of thought.

And what, Bhikkhus, is bodily purity?

Here, Bhikkhus, a certain person abstains from destroying and harming living beings, abstains from taking what is not freely given, and abstains from engaging in sexual misconduct.

This is bodily purity.

And what, Bhikkhus, is verbal purity or purity through speech?

Here, Bhikkhus, the person abstains from telling lies, from slandering, from using harsh or mean words, and from talking frivolously or using idle chatter.

Bhikkhus, this is purity through speech.

And what, Bhikkhus is mental purity or purity through thought?

Here, Bhikkhus, a person does not possess covetousness or hatred in his heart, and lives with the Right View.

Bhikkhus, this is mental purity or purity through thought.

These, Bhikkhus, are the three purities.