Threefold Training

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Translations of
triśikṣā
Englishthreefold training, three trainings, three disciplines
Tibetan
ལྷག་པའི་བསླབ་པ་གསུམ།
(Wylie: lhag-pa’i bslab-pa gsum)
Tagalogtrisikga
Thaiไตรสิกขา
(RTGS: traisikkha)
Vietnamesetam học
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Pali: tisikkhā; or simply śikṣā or sikkhā)[1]
as training in:

  • higher
    virtue
    (Pali adhisīla-sikkhā, Skt. adhiśīlaśikṣa)
  • higher
    mind
    (Pali adhicitta-sikkhā, Skt. samādhiśikṣa)
  • higher
    wisdom
    (Pali adhipaññā-sikkhā, Skt. prajñāśikṣa)

In the Pali Canon

According to

lust, hatred, and delusion.[2] One who is fully accomplished in this training attains Nirvana.[3]

In the

jhanas, and training in "higher wisdom" includes directly perceiving the Four Noble Truths or knowledge of destruction of the taints. [4]

In several

anupubbikathā) is provided to receptive lay people (see also, gradual training). This latter instruction culminates in the teaching of the Four Noble Truths which in itself concludes with the Noble Eightfold Path
, the constituents of which can be mapped to this threefold training (see below).

Similarity to threefold partition of the Noble Eightfold Path

The Buddha's threefold training is similar to the threefold grouping of the

MN 44): virtue (sīlakkhandha), concentration (samādhikkhandha), wisdom (paññākkhandha ).[5]
These three-part schemes simplify and organize the Eightfold Path as follows:

Threefold Partition Eightfold Path Method of Practice
VIRTUE Right Speech
Five Precepts
Right Action
Right Livelihood
MIND Right Effort Dwelling in the four jhanas (meditation)
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration
WISDOM Right View Knowing Four Noble Truths
Right Intention

Mahayana

The threefold training is also part of the bodhisattva path of the Mahayana. Nagarjuna refers to it in his Letter to a Friend (Suhrllekha), verse 53:

"One should always train (shiksha) in superior discipline (adhishila), superior wisdom (adhiprajna) and superior mind (adhicitta)"[6]

Notes

  1. Thanissaro Bhikkhu
    , and as "Dutiyasikkhasuttam" and "Tatiyasikkhasuttam" in the Sinhalese canon. English translations of these latter two suttas can be found in: Nyanaponika & Bodhi (1999), pp. 69-71; Thanissaro (1998a); and, Thanissaro (1998b). Also see, e.g., DN 16.4.3 (PTS D ii.123) (boldface added for emphasis):
    "Sīlaṃ samādhi paññā ca,

    vimutti ca anuttarā;
    Anubuddhā ime dhammā,
    gotamena yasassinā.

    Iti buddho abhiññāya,
    dhammamakkhāsi bhikkhunaṃ;
    Dukkhassantakaro satthā,
    cakkhumā parinibbuto"ti.

    Translated by Vajira & Story (1998) (boldface added for emphasis) as:

    "Virtue, concentration, wisdom, and emancipation unsurpassed —

    These are the principles realized by Gotama the renowned;
    And, knowing them, he, the Buddha, to his monks has taught the Dhamma.
    He, the destroyer of suffering, the Master, the Seer, is at peace."

  2. ^ See AN 3:88 (Thanissaro, 1998a).
  3. ^ See AN 3.89 (Thanissaro, 1998b).
  4. ^ AN 3.85, AN 3.89, AN 3.90
  5. ^ Thanissaro (1998c).
  6. ^ Nagarjuna's Letter to a Friend, Padmakara Translation Group, 2005, p. 47

Sources

External links

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