The Buddha describes the three kinds of purity - by body, speech and mind.

ITI 66  Soceyya sutta - Purity

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, soceyyāni. Katamāni tīṇi? Kāyasoceyyaṁ, vacīsoceyyaṁ, manosoceyyaṁimāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi soceyyānī”ti.

“There are three kinds of purity, bhikkhus. What three? |Bodily purity::purity of bodily conduct [kāyasoceyya]|, |verbal purity::purity of verbal conduct [vacīsoceyya]|, and |mental purity::purity of mental conduct [manosoceyya]|—these, bhikkhus, are the three kinds of purity.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:

“Kāyasuciṁ vacīsuciṁ,
cetosucimanāsavaṁ;
Suciṁ soceyyasampannaṁ,
āhu sabbappahāyinan”ti.

“Bodily purity, verbal purity,
and the taint-less purity of mind;
A moral person |accomplished in::fulfilled regarding, consummate in, endowed with [sampanna]| purity,
is said to have abandoned all [evil].”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.

Qualities:

Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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Non-harm

Non-harm

The intention of harmlessness, rooted in the understanding that all beings tremble at violence and fear death.

Also known as: non-violence, non-injury, harmlessness, non-killing, non-hurting
Pāli: avihiṃsā, ahiṁsa
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Last updated on December 13, 2025