The Fading Away of Greed (SN45.41)

Linked Discourses 45.41

5. Abbreviated Texts on Followers of Other Religions

The Fading Away of Greed

At Sāvatthī.

“Mendicants, if wanderers who follow another religion were to ask you:

‘Reverends, what’s the goal of leading the spiritual life under the ascetic Gotama?’ You should answer them like this:

‘The goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is the fading away of greed.’

If wanderers of other religions were to ask you:

‘Is there a path and a practice for the fading away of greed?’ You should answer them like this:

‘There is a path and a practice for the fading away of greed.’

And what is that path, what is that practice for the fading away of greed?

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, this is the practice for the fading away of greed.

When questioned by wanderers of other religions, that’s how you should answer them.”