Page 58 - Because I know, I can let go

We can sum up the eightfold path as just three kinds of correctness, namely: sīla, samādhi,
and paññā.

If we say that the ‘tri-sikha,’ the three trainings, of sīla, samādhi, and paññā, when perfected,
are what make the eightfold path full and correct, then, of the three, paññā, wisdom, right
understanding, must come first, the Buddha said as much:

• Right understanding, and right aspiration, or intention, these, the first two clauses,
represent paññā.
• Right speech, right action, and right livelihood; these three represent sīla, proper

physical behavior.
• Right effort, right mindfulness, right samādhi; these represent samādhi, or, the mind
made ready to do its proper job.

These eight clauses add up to sīla, samādhi, and paññā, however, it’s important that paññā

precedes the other two. So, here, it’s paññā, then sīla, then samādhi, there’s a change
in the order. In Thailand there’s a general wrong understanding and the order is sīla,
samādhi, then paññā, so that paññā doesn’t come first - but it’s really paññā, then sīla,

then samādhi, as the Buddha laid down. If it’s only a matter of study, just an intellectual
exercise, then we can say sīla, samādhi, pannā, but if it’s practice we’re concerned with
then it’s paññā first, followed by sīla, then samādhi.

Paññā comes first, If not then sīla will be blind, and we won’t know which direction to take,

won’t know how to practice, won’t know anything about it, both sīla and samādhi will be
‘sleepy,’ ill-directed because blindly developed. If paññā is first – paññā, the knower, the
finder of the way - then we can travel onwards with confidence.

Therefore, both sīla and samādhi will be proper and correct if they follow paññā, because
paññā must lead the way.

58 Because I Know...