View source for Threefold Training

{{Short description|Buddhist practices for higher virtue, mind, and wisdom}}
{{Buddhist term
| fontsize=100%
| title=triśikṣā
| sa=त्रिशिक्षा (triśikṣā)
| pi=tisikkhā
| en=threefold training, three trainings, three disciplines
| bo= ལྷག་པའི་བསླབ་པ་གསུམ།
| bo-Latn=[[Wylie transliteration|Wylie]]: lhag-pa’i bslab-pa gsum
| ja=三學
| ja-Latn=sangaku
| km = ត្រ័យសិក្ខា
| km-Latn = traisĕkkha
| ko = 삼학
| ko-Latn = samhak
| th= ไตรสิกขา
| th-Latn= traisikkha
| tl=trisikga
| zh=三学
| zh-Latn=sān xué
| vi=tam học
}}
{{Buddhism}}
[[The Buddha]] identified the '''threefold training''' ({{langx|sa|triśikṣā}}; {{langx|pi|tisikkhā}}; or simply ''śikṣā'' or ''sikkhā'')<ref>See the [[Anguttara Nikaya]] Book of Threes' (''Tikanipata'') Monks chapter (''Samanavagga'').  This chapter's [[Sūtra|sutta]]s are alternately identified as AN 3:82 to 3:92.  Of these suttas, the two most widely translated into English are AN 3:88 and 3:89, respectively referred to as "Sikkha (1)" and "Sikkha (2)" by [[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):
{| style="margin-left:20pt"
|-
| "'''Sīla{{IAST|ṃ}} samādhi paññā''' ca,<br />
vimutti ca anuttarā;<br />
Anubuddhā ime dhammā,<br />
gotamena yasassinā.

Iti buddho abhiññāya,<br />
dhammamakkhāsi bhikkhuna{{IAST|ṃ}};<br />
Dukkhassantakaro satthā,<br />
cakkhumā parinibbuto"ti.
|}

Translated by [http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.16.1-6.vaji.html#chap4 Vajira & Story (1998)] (boldface added for emphasis) as:
{| style="margin-left:20pt"
|-
| "'''Virtue, concentration, wisdom''', and emancipation unsurpassed —<br />
These are the principles realized by Gotama the renowned;<br />
And, knowing them, he, the Buddha, to his monks has taught the Dhamma.<br />
He, the destroyer of suffering, the Master, the Seer, is at peace."
|}
</ref> as training in:
* higher [[Śīla|virtue]] (Pali ''adhisīla-sikkhā'', Skt. ''adhiśīlaśikṣa'')
* higher [[Samadhi (Buddhism)|mind]] (Pali ''adhicitta-sikkhā'', Skt. ''samādhiśikṣa'')
* higher [[Wisdom in Buddhism|wisdom]] (Pali ''adhipaññā-sikkhā'', Skt. ''prajñāśikṣa'')

== In the Pali Canon ==

According to [[Theravada]] [[Pali Canon|canonical texts]], pursuing this training leads to the abandonment of [[kilesa|lust, hatred, and delusion]].<ref>See [http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.088.than.html AN 3:88] (Thanissaro, 1998a).</ref>  One who is fully accomplished in this training attains [[nirvana]].<ref>See [http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.089.than.html AN 3.89] (Thanissaro, 1998b).</ref>

In the [[Anguttara Nikaya]], training in "higher virtue" includes following the [[Patimokkha]], training in "higher mind" (sometimes simply referred to as "concentration") includes entering and dwelling in the four [[Dhyāna in Buddhism|jhanas]], and training in "higher wisdom" includes directly perceiving the [[Four Noble Truths]] or knowledge of destruction of the taints. <ref>AN 3.85, [https://suttacentral.net/en/an3.89 AN 3.89], [https://suttacentral.net/en/an3.90 AN 3.90]</ref>

In several [[Pali Canon|canonical]] discourses, a more "gradual" instruction (''[[anupubbikatha|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 [[Noble Eightfold Path]] articulated by [[Bhikkhuni]] Dhammadinna in Culavedalla Sutta ("The Shorter Set of Questions-And-Answers Discourse," [[Majjhima Nikaya|MN]] 44): virtue (''sīlakkhandha''), concentration (''samādhikkhandha''), wisdom (''paññākkhandha '').<ref>Thanissaro (1998c).</ref>  These three-part schemes simplify and organize the Eightfold Path as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Threefold&nbsp;Partition
! Eightfold Path
! Method of Practice
|-
| style="background:#f0f0f0" rowspan="3" | '''VIRTUE'''
| Right&nbsp;Speech
| rowspan=3 | [[Five Precepts]]
|-
| Right&nbsp;Action
|-
| Right&nbsp;Livelihood
|-
| style="background:#f0f0f0" rowspan="3" | '''MIND'''
| Right&nbsp;Effort
| rowspan=3 | Dwelling in the four jhanas (meditation)
|-
| Right&nbsp;Mindfulness
|-
| Right&nbsp;Concentration
|-
| style="background:#f0f0f0" rowspan="2" | '''WISDOM'''
| Right&nbsp;View
| rowspan=2 | Knowing Four Noble Truths
|-
| Right&nbsp;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)"<ref>Nagarjuna's Letter to a Friend, Padmakara Translation Group, 2005, p. 47</ref>

==Notes==

<references/>

==Sources==

* [[Nyanaponika Thera]] and [[Bhikkhu Bodhi]] (trans. and ed.) (1999). ''Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: An Anthology of Suttas from the Anguttara Nikaya''.  Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira Press. {{ISBN|0-7425-0405-0}}.
* [[Thanissaro Bhikkhu]] (trans.) (1998a). ''AN 3.88: Sikkha Sutta - Trainings (1).'' Available on-line at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.088.than.html. 
* Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1998b). ''AN 3.89: Sikkha Sutta - Trainings (2).'' Available on-line at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.089.than.html. 
* Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1998c). ''MN 44: Culavedalla Sutta: The Shorter Set of Questions-and-Answers.'' Available on-line at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.044.than.html.

==External links==
* [http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/4Anguttara-Nikaya/Anguttara1/3-tikanipata/009-samanavaggo-e.html English translation] and [http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/4Anguttara-Nikaya/Anguttara1/3-tikanipata/009-samanavaggo-p.html romanized Pali transliteration] of the [[Anguttara Nikaya]]'s Book of Threes' Monk (''[[Shramana|samana]]'') chapter, including [[Anguttara Nikaya|AN]] 3:82 to 3:92 (metta.lk)
* [http://www.yellowrobe.com/practice/the-threefold-training/221-what-is-threefold-training.html "Threefold Training"], talk by [[Mahasi Sayadaw]].

{{Buddhism topics}}

[[Category:Buddhist philosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Buddhist meditation]]
[[Category:Buddhist ethics]]