Becoming
Bhava Sutta (SN 38:13)
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: “‘Becoming, becoming,’ it is said, my friend Sāriputta. Which becoming (are they referring to)?”
“There are these three becomings: sensuality becoming, form becoming, formless becoming. These are the three becomings.”
“But is there a path, is there a practice for the full comprehension of these becomings?”
“Yes, there is a path, there is a practice for the full comprehension of these becomings.”
“Then what is the path, what is the practice for the full comprehension of these becomings?”
“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 full comprehension of these becomings.”
“It’s an auspicious path, my friend, an auspicious practice for the full comprehension of these becomings—enough for the sake of heedfulness.”
