The Noble Eightfold Path for monks and for lay disciples?
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**Namo Buddhaya**
Being well aware of the different posts about this topics, I wished to know how it came to be that the Noble eightfold path presented by Bhikkhu Bodhi would specify that Right action is to refrain only from sexual misconduct :
> (3) Abstaining from sexual misconduct (kamesu miccha-cara veramani)
>
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/waytoend.html
While in the Magga-vibhanga Sutta it is refraining from unchastity, as stated here :
> "And what, monks, is right action? Abstaining from taking life,
> abstaining from stealing, **abstaining from unchastity**: This, monks, is
> called right action.
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn45/sn45.008.than.html
I have also stumbled upon this sutta where the translations between Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi and Venerable Ajahn Sujato differ from "refraining from sexual misconduct" to "refraining from sexual activity", while the pali version does state "abrahmacarya" which does suggest chastity as right action within the noble eightfold path, which seems like an undeniably substantial difference.
https://suttacentral.net/sn45.8
Does it imply that lay followers still engaging in the sexual act while monks giving it up are both following the Noble eightfold path ? Or would there be yet a reason for such a distinction in translation?
May you all be well.
Asked by Aliocha Karamazov
(421 rep)
Sep 4, 2020, 02:31 PM
Last activity: Sep 5, 2020, 09:32 AM
Last activity: Sep 5, 2020, 09:32 AM