Ashtashata Sutra

A Guide to Goodness and Right Livelihood

The Ashtashata Sutra (SN 36.22) is a discourse from the Samyutta Nikaya, a collection found in the Sutta Pitaka, one of the principal sections of the Pali Canon. Like many other discourses in the Sutta Pitaka, this sutra provides practical guidance for lay followers, offering instructions on how to live a virtuous life grounded in generosity, morality, and right livelihood.

The Context of the Sutra

The name Ashtashata translates to “108,” which has led some scholars to debate its meaning. While it could imply a numerical significance, it’s often seen as a symbolic way of categorizing sutras or topics into manageable groupings. The discourse itself revolves around four key topics, which include ways of being beneficial to oneself and others and a set of eight commendable qualities.

Key Themes: Four Ways to Be Beneficial

The Ashtashata Sutra emphasizes four ways in which one can be beneficial both for oneself and others:

1. Faith (śraddhā): A strong confidence or trust in Siddharta’s teachings,…