“Reverend Sāriputta, what’s the purpose of leading the spiritual life under the ascetic Gotama?” “Kimatthiyaṁ, āvuso sāriputta, samaṇe gotame brahmacariyaṁ vussatī”ti?

“The purpose of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand suffering.” “Dukkhassa kho, āvuso, pariññatthaṁ bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī”ti.

“But, reverend, is there a path and a practice for completely understanding this suffering?” “Atthi panāvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā etassa dukkhassa pariññāyā”ti?

“There is.” … “Atthi kho, āvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā, etassa dukkhassa pariññāyā”ti?

“Katamo panāvuso, maggo katamā paṭipadā, etassa dukkhassa pariññāyā”ti?

“Ayameva kho, āvuso, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, etassa dukkhassa pariññāya, seyyathidaṁ—sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi. Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā etassa dukkhassa pariññāyā”ti. “Bhaddako, āvuso, maggo bhaddikā paṭipadā, etassa dukkhassa pariññāya. Alañca panāvuso sāriputta, appamādāyā”ti.

Catutthaṁ.