Flood
Ogha Sutta (SN 38:11)
On one occasion Ven. Sāriputta was staying in Magadha near Nāla Village. Then Jambukhādaka the wanderer went to Ven. Sāriputta and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to Ven. Sāriputta: “‘Flood, flood,’ it is said, my friend Sāriputta. Which flood (are they referring to)?”
“There are these four floods, my friend: the flood of sensuality, the flood of becoming, the flood of views, & the flood of ignorance. These are the four floods.”
“But is there a path, is there a practice for the abandoning of these floods?”
“Yes, there is a path, there is a practice for the abandoning of these floods.”
“Then what is the path, what is the practice for the abandoning of these floods?”
“Precisely this noble eightfold path, my friend: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This is the path, this is the practice for the abandoning of these floods.”
“It’s an auspicious path, my friend, an auspicious practice for the abandoning of these floods—enough for the sake of heedfulness.”
