The Buddha explains the importance of accomplishment in radical attention in the development and cultivation of the noble eightfold path.

PTS 5.31

SN 45.55 Yonisomanasikārasampadā sutta - Accomplishment in Radical Attention

“Sūriyassa, bhikkhave, udayato etaṁ pubbaṅgamaṁ etaṁ pubbanimittaṁ, yadidaṁ—aruṇuggaṁ; evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa uppādāya etaṁ pubbaṅgamaṁ etaṁ pubbanimittaṁ, yadidaṁ—yonisomanasikārasampadā. Yonisomanasikārasampannassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvessati, ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkarissati.

“Just as dawn precedes and predicts the rising of the sun, so too does accomplishment in radical attention precede and predict the arising of the noble eightfold path for a bhikkhu. For a bhikkhu accomplished in radical attention, it is to be expected that he will cultivate and frequently practice the noble eightfold path.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yonisomanasikārasampanno ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāveti, ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaroti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ; sammāsaṅkappaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ …pe… sammāvācaṁ bhāveti …pe… sammākammantaṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāājīvaṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāvāyāmaṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāsatiṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yonisomanasikārasampanno ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāveti, ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkarotī”ti.

And how does a bhikkhu accomplished in radical attention cultivate and frequently practice the noble eightfold path? Here, a bhikkhu develops right view dependent on seclusion, supported by dispassion, supported by cessation, culminating in complete relinquishment; similarly he develops right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right collectedness, dependent on seclusion, supported by dispassion, supported by cessation, culminating in complete relinquishment. It is in this way that a bhikkhu accomplished in radical attention cultivates and frequently practices the noble eightfold path.”

Qualities:

Radical attention

Radical attention

The active, deliberate steering of the mind away from habitual, automated reaction patterns. It is the wise steering of attention based on a theme of the Dhamma.

Also known as: wise steering of attention, root-level attention, attention to the structural source, contextual reflection
Pāli: yonisomanasikāra
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Last updated on October 4, 2026

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