extraction.dhammapada.eightfold_way_self_effort
---
record_id: extraction.dhammapada.eightfold_way_self_effort
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/dhammapada-max-muller.md
passage_locator:
label: Chapter XX. The Way, verses 273-276
start: 273
end: 276
translation: F. Max Muller, Project Gutenberg eBook
canonical_text:
quote: 'The best of ways is the eightfold; the best of truths the four words; the
best of virtues passionlessness; the best of men he who has eyes to see. This
is the way, there is no other that leads to the purifying of intelligence. Go
on this way! Everything else is the deceit of Mara (the tempter). If you go on
this way, you will make an end of pain! The way was preached by me, when I had
understood the removal of the thorns (in the flesh). You yourself must make an
effort. The Tathagatas (Buddhas) are only preachers. The thoughtful who enter
the way are freed from the bondage of Mara.
'
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The passage calls the eightfold the best of ways.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The passage says this way leads to the purifying of intelligence.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The passage instructs the hearer to go on this way and says other options
are the deceit of Mara.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The passage says going on this way will make an end of pain.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The passage says each person must make an effort, while the Tathagatas are
only preachers.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The passage says the thoughtful who enter the way are freed from the bondage
of Mara.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: he who has eyes to see
description: The person described as the best of men.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: first-person preacher
description: The speaker who says the way was preached after understanding the removal
of the thorns.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Tathagatas (Buddhas)
description: Figures described as only preachers.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: the thoughtful
description: Those who enter the way and are freed from Mara's bondage.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Mara (the tempter)
description: Figure associated with deceit and bondage.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
roles:
- id: role:1
label: preacher of the way
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: The passage says the way was preached and that the Tathagatas are only preachers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: practitioner entering the way
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The thoughtful are described as entering the way and being freed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: tempter
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Mara is glossed as the tempter and linked with deceit and bondage.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: eightfold way
literal_form: the eightfold; this way
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: four words
literal_form: the best of truths the four words
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: eyes to see
literal_form: he who has eyes to see
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: thorns
literal_form: the thorns (in the flesh)
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: bondage of Mara
literal_form: the bondage of Mara
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Instruction on the way
summary: The passage identifies the eightfold way, says it purifies intelligence
and ends pain, and says thoughtful practitioners must make their own effort.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: path to awakening and release
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
- initiation
basis: The passage describes a named way that purifies intelligence, ends pain,
and frees those who enter it from Mara's bondage.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The record treats "awakening" as a broad catalog label; the passage itself
uses the way, purification, pain's end, and freedom from Mara.
- id: motif:2
label: self-effort under sacred instruction
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The passage distinguishes personal effort from the role of Buddhas as preachers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a provisional functional label, not a claim about all Buddhist
practice.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: This passage can be compared within the atlas to path-and-liberation motifs
where a taught way requires personal effort and releases practitioners from bondage.
claim_level: same_function
target: 'pattern atlas: path to awakening and self-mastery'
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: low
limitations: Corpus-internal candidate only; no historical, linguistic, or cross-tradition
transmission claim is made.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: Chapter XX. The Way, verse 273
quote_or_summary: 'The best of ways is the eightfold; the best of truths the four
words; the best of virtues passionlessness; the best of men he who has eyes to
see.
'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/dhammapada-max-muller.md
rights_note: Public-domain source text.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: Chapter XX. The Way, verse 274
quote_or_summary: 'This is the way, there is no other that leads to the purifying
of intelligence. Go on this way! Everything else is the deceit of Mara (the tempter).
'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/dhammapada-max-muller.md
rights_note: Public-domain source text.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: Chapter XX. The Way, verse 275
quote_or_summary: 'If you go on this way, you will make an end of pain! The way
was preached by me, when I had understood the removal of the thorns (in the flesh).
'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/dhammapada-max-muller.md
rights_note: Public-domain source text.
- id: ev:4
type: quote
locator: Chapter XX. The Way, verse 276
quote_or_summary: 'You yourself must make an effort. The Tathagatas (Buddhas) are
only preachers. The thoughtful who enter the way are freed from the bondage of
Mara.
'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/buddhist/project-gutenberg/dhammapada-max-muller.md
rights_note: Public-domain source text.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: low
notes: Literal observations are direct, while motif and comparison language remains
provisional.
reviewer_status:
status: draft
notes: Draft extraction for later human review.
extracted_by: Codex
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: Wave 2 extraction record for Dhammapada path, awakening, and self-effort passage.