A Question About Extinguishment

At one time Venerable Sāriputta was staying in the land of the Magadhans near the little village of Nālaka. ^[1]

Then the wanderer Jambukhādaka went up to Venerable Sāriputta and exchanged greetings with him. ^[2]

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to Sāriputta:

“Reverend Sāriputta, they speak of this thing called ‘extinguishment’. ^[3]

What is extinguishment?”

“Reverend, the ending of greed, hate, and delusion

is called extinguishment.”

“But, reverend, is there a path and a practice for realizing this extinguishment?”

“There is, reverend.”

“Well, what is it?”

“It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:

right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.

This is the path, the practice, for realizing this extinguishment.”

“Reverend, this is a fine path, a fine practice, for realizing this extinguishment.

Just this much is enough for diligence.”