AN 10.1 - Kimatthiya Sutta - What's the Purpose

• Reference
  • What’s the Purpose?

Introduction

The Kimatthiya Sutta (AN 10.1) is a discourse that explores the fundamental purpose of living a virtuous life according to Buddhist teachings. The Buddha clarifies why certain practices and virtues are encouraged and what they ultimately lead to, offering a clear, structured path towards spiritual awakening.

Step-by-Step Progression

The Buddha articulates a series of ten spiritual qualities or stages, each serving a specific purpose that naturally leads to the cultivation of the next quality. This step-by-step progression illustrates the purposeful and interconnected nature of Buddhist practice, from moral conduct to the highest spiritual attainments.

1. Restraint of the Sense Faculties (Indriya-saṁvara)
   • Purpose: Leads to the absence of remorse (avippaṭisāra).
2. Absence of Remorse
   • Purpose: Fosters joy (pāmojja).
3. Joy
   • Purpose: Gives rise to rapture (pīti).
4. Rapture
   • Purpose: Culminates in tranquility (passaddhi).
5. Tranquility
   • Purpose: Results in happiness (sukha).
6. Happiness
   • Purpose: Leads to concentration (samādhi).
7. Concentration
   • Purpose: Produces the knowledge and vision of things as they really are (yathābhūta-ñāṇadassana).
8. Knowledge and Vision of Things as They Really Are
   • Purpose: Brings about disenchantment (nibbidā).
9. Disenchantment
   • Purpose: Fosters dispassion (virāga).
10. Dispassion
    • Purpose: Leads to knowledge and vision of release (vimutti-ñāṇadassana), the final liberation.

Key Teachings and Implications

• Causal and Sequential Development: Each stage in the path is causally linked to the next, emphasizing the logical and progressive nature of Buddhist practice.
• Moral Foundations: The sutta starts with ethical behavior, highlighting its essential role in setting the foundation for higher spiritual achievements.
• Importance of Meditation: Advanced stages involve deep meditation, leading to profound insights and eventual liberation.
• Enlightenment as the Ultimate Goal: The culmination of the path in the knowledge and vision of release underscores that the ultimate purpose of Buddhist practice is Nibbāna.

Practical Application

• Daily Reflection: Practitioners can reflect on this teaching daily to understand the importance of each stage and motivate themselves to cultivate each quality diligently.
• Meditative Practice: Emphasizing the stages of concentration and knowledge suggests a strong focus on meditative practice as essential for deep spiritual realization.
• Ethical Living: By understanding the foundational role of ethical conduct, practitioners are encouraged to maintain high moral standards in all aspects of life.