The Samaññaphala Sutta describes King Ajatasattu questioning six ascetic teachers about the benefits of the contemplative life. Only the Buddha satisfies the King with his answer. The Sutta illustrates the Buddhist view of karma and merit in contrast to other contemporaneous philosophies. It provides the Buddha's own description of the mental, psychic, and spiritual fruits of the Buddhist contemplative path, including tranquility, insight, supernatural abilities, and ultimately liberation from rebirth.

1. Samaññaphala
Sutta

2. • The Samaññaphala Sutta is the second discourse.
• The title means, "The Fruit of Contemplative Life
Discourse.“
• The Discourse is a story about how King
Ajatasattu, questions the benefit of living a
contemplative life.
• After consulting six ascetic teachers, the Buddha
is the only one who motivates the King with his
answer.
• The King hence, becomes the Buddha’s follower.

3. Philosophy Behind The Sutta
• the Buddha's own description of the lifestyle, mental,
psychic and spiritual benefits ("fruit") of the Buddhist
contemplative life
• the most detailed accounts in the Sutta Pitaka of the
Buddhist community's code of ethical behaviour
• the Buddhist standpoint the essence of the teachings
of several leading spiritual guides in the Buddha's time
• the narrative illustrates Buddhist notions of merit and
karma in juxtaposition to those associated with other
contemporaneous teachers

4. Views Of The Six Ascetic Teachers on
the Sutta
samaṇa View
Pūraṇa
Kassapa
Amoralism: denies any reward or
punishment for either good or bad deeds.
Makkhali
Gosāla
Fatalism: we are powerless;
suffering is pre-destined.
Ajita
Kesakambalī
Materialism:
with death, all is annihilated.
Pakudha
Kaccāyan
Eternalism: Matter, pleasure, pain and
the soul are eternal and do not interact.
Nigaṇṭha
Nātaputta
Restraint: be endowed with, cleansed by
and suffused with the avoidance of all evil.
Sañjaya
Belaṭṭhaputta
Agnosticism: "I don't think so. I don't think in
that way or otherwise. I don't think not or not not.

5. The Buddhist fruit of the
contemplative life
• Solitude's delight
• Virtue's pleasure
• Simplicity's contentment
• Mental calm
• Jhanic bliss
• Insight knowledge
• Supernatural powers
• Mind reading
• Three knowledges
• Release from sansara