The three trainings that lead beyond the taints
Pāli: sīla, samādhi, paññā · Sanskrit: śīla, samādhi, prajñā · Vietnamese: Giới, định, tuệ
Ethical conduct, concentration, and wisdom are three pillars of practice, commonly called the three trainings that lead beyond the taints. Ethical conduct is a moral way of living that helps body and speech cause less harm. Concentration is the stability, collectedness, and clarity of the mind. Wisdom is insight that correctly sees suffering, impermanence, not-self, dependent origination, and the path of transformation. These three should not be separated. With ethical conduct but without concentration, the mind is easily distracted; with concentration but without ethical conduct, focus can serve greed and anger; with understanding but without practice, wisdom can become dry knowledge. In lay life, these three trainings can begin with a clear boundary in speech, a few minutes of daily mindfulness, and an honest question about the cause of suffering.
A guide by Inti Foundation · updated
Ethical conduct reduces remorse; concentration steadies the mind enough to see clearly; wisdom prevents ethical conduct and concentration from becoming mere formality or arrogance. The three therefore form a system of practice.
A day of ethical conduct, concentration, and wisdom need not be complicated: speak a little more truthfully, pause for three breaths before reacting, and look at the true cause of an unease rather than blaming.
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Not entirely. They continually support one another, although beginners often start with ethical conduct and basic mindfulness.
Focus is possible, but Buddhism emphasizes that right concentration needs ethical conduct and right view to avoid going astray.
Keep a specific precept, train the mind regularly at a manageable level, and use the teachings to examine the causes of suffering in daily life.
The Three Trainings comprise ethical conduct, concentration, and wisdom: living with less harm, cultivating a steady and clear mind, and seeing clearly to reduce clinging.
Both refer to ethical conduct, concentration, and wisdom; the latter name emphasizes the direction of liberation and diminishing the currents of mental defilement.
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Sources for deeper reading
The source discourse in the Inti library presents the Noble Eightfold Path, commonly grouped into ethical conduct, concentration, and wisdom.
