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Kimattha Sutta
What is the Purpose?
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu For free distribution only

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One as stayin! near Savatthi in "eta#s $rove% &nathapindika#s monastery' Then (en' )nanda ent to the Blessed One and on arrival% havin! bo ed do n to him% sat to one side' &s he as sittin! there he said to the Blessed One* +What is the purpose of skillful virtues? What is their re ard?+ +Skillful virtues have freedom from remorse as their purpose% )nanda% and freedom from remorse as their re ard'+ +&nd hat is the purpose of freedom from remorse? What is its re ard?+ +Freedom from remorse has ,oy as its purpose% ,oy as its re ard'+ +&nd hat is the purpose of ,oy? What is its re ard?+ +"oy has rapture as its purpose% rapture as its re ard'+ +&nd hat is the purpose of rapture? What is its re ard?+ +-apture has serenity as its purpose% serenity as its re ard'+ +&nd hat is the purpose of serenity? What is its re ard?+ +Serenity has pleasure as its purpose% pleasure as its re ard'+ +&nd hat is the purpose of pleasure? What is its re ard?+ +Pleasure has concentration as its purpose% concentration as its re ard'+ +&nd hat is the purpose of concentration? What is its re ard?+ +.oncentration has kno led!e and vision of thin!s as they actually are as its purpose% kno led!e and vision of thin!s as they actually are as its re ard'+ +&nd hat is the purpose of kno led!e and vision of thin!s as they actually are? What is its re ard?+ +Kno led!e and vision of thin!s as they actually are has disenchantment as its purpose% disenchantment as its re ard'+

2 +&nd hat is the purpose of disenchantment? What is its re ard?+ +0isenchantment has dispassion as its purpose% dispassion as its re ard'+ +&nd hat is the purpose of dispassion? What is its re ard?+ +0ispassion has kno led!e and vision of release as its purpose% kno led!e and vision of release as its re ard' +Thus in this ay% )nanda% skillful virtues have freedom from remorse as their purpose% freedom from remorse as their re ard' Freedom from remorse has ,oy as its purpose% ,oy as its re ard' "oy has rapture as its purpose% rapture as its re ard' -apture has serenity as its purpose% serenity as its re ard' Serenity has pleasure as its purpose% pleasure as its re ard' Pleasure has concentration as its purpose% concentration as its re ard' .oncentration has kno led!e and vision of thin!s as they actually are as its purpose% kno led!e and vision of thin!s as they actually are as its re ard' Kno led!e and vision of thin!s as they actually are has disenchantment as its purpose% disenchantment as its re ard' 0isenchantment has dispassion as its purpose% dispassion as its re ard' 0ispassion has kno led!e and vision of release as its purpose% kno led!e and vision of release as its re ard' +In this ay% )nanda% skillful virtues lead step1by1step to the consummation of &rahantship'+