The Buddha contrasts the undeveloped and developed mind.

AN 1.21-30 Akammaniya vagga - The Chapter on the Ineffective

1.21

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yaṁ evaṁ abhāvitaṁ akammaniyaṁ hoti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ. Cittaṁ, bhikkhave, abhāvitaṁ akammaniyaṁ hotī”ti.

“|Bhikkhus,::::| I do not see any other single thing that, when undeveloped, is as |ineffective::not ready or fit for any act or use [akammaniya]| as the mind. An undeveloped mind|, bhikkhus,::::| is ineffective.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

First.

1.22

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yaṁ evaṁ bhāvitaṁ kammaniyaṁ hoti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ. Cittaṁ, bhikkhave, bhāvitaṁ kammaniyaṁ hotī”ti.

“|Bhikkhus,::::| I do not see any other single thing that, when developed, is as |effective::ready, workable, suitable for use [kammaniya]| as the mind. A developed mind|, bhikkhus,::::| is effective.”

Dutiyaṁ.

Second.

1.23

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yaṁ evaṁ abhāvitaṁ mahato anatthāya saṁvattati yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ. Cittaṁ, bhikkhave, abhāvitaṁ mahato anatthāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“|Bhikkhus,::::| I do not see any other single thing that, when undeveloped, leads to as much |harm::misfortune, damage, injury, hurt, detriment [anattha]| as the mind. An undeveloped mind|, bhikkhus,::::| leads to great harm.”

Tatiyaṁ.

Third.

1.24

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yaṁ evaṁ bhāvitaṁ mahato atthāya saṁvattati yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ. Cittaṁ, bhikkhave, bhāvitaṁ mahato atthāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“|Bhikkhus,::::| I do not see any other single thing that, when developed, leads to as much |benefit::good, welfare, profit [attha]| as the mind. A developed mind|, bhikkhus,::::| leads to great benefit.”

Catutthaṁ.

Fourth.

1.25

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yaṁ evaṁ abhāvitaṁ apātubhūtaṁ mahato anatthāya saṁvattati yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ. Cittaṁ, bhikkhave, abhāvitaṁ apātubhūtaṁ mahato anatthāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“|Bhikkhus,::::| I do not see any other single thing that, when undeveloped and |uncleared::not evident [apātubhūta]|, leads to as much harm as the mind. An undeveloped and uncleared mind|, bhikkhus,::::| leads to great harm.”

Pañcamaṁ.

Fifth.

1.26

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yaṁ evaṁ bhāvitaṁ pātubhūtaṁ mahato atthāya saṁvattati yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ. Cittaṁ, bhikkhave, bhāvitaṁ pātubhūtaṁ mahato atthāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“|Bhikkhus,::::| I do not see any other single thing that, when developed and |cleared::becomes evident [pātubhūta]|, leads to as much benefit as the mind. A developed and cleared mind|, bhikkhus,::::| leads to great benefit.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Sixth.

1.27

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yaṁ evaṁ abhāvitaṁ abahulīkataṁ mahato anatthāya saṁvattati yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ. Cittaṁ, bhikkhave, abhāvitaṁ abahulīkataṁ mahato anatthāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“|Bhikkhus,::::| I do not see any other single thing that, when undeveloped and not frequently cultivated, leads to as much harm as the mind. An undeveloped and infrequently cultivated mind|, bhikkhus,::::| leads to great harm.”

Sattamaṁ.

Seventh.

1.28

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yaṁ evaṁ bhāvitaṁ bahulīkataṁ mahato atthāya saṁvattati yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ. Cittaṁ, bhikkhave, bhāvitaṁ bahulīkataṁ mahato atthāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“|Bhikkhus,::::| I do not see any other single thing that, when developed and frequently cultivated, leads to as much benefit as the mind. A developed and frequently cultivated mind|, bhikkhus,::::| leads to great benefit.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Eighth.

1.29

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yaṁ evaṁ abhāvitaṁ abahulīkataṁ dukkhādhivahaṁ hoti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ. Cittaṁ, bhikkhave, abhāvitaṁ abahulīkataṁ dukkhādhivahaṁ hotī”ti.

“|Bhikkhus,::::| I do not see any other single thing that, when undeveloped and not frequently cultivated, leads to as much suffering as the mind. An undeveloped and infrequently cultivated mind|, bhikkhus,::::| leads to great suffering.”

Navamaṁ.

Ninth.

1.30

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yaṁ evaṁ bhāvitaṁ bahulīkataṁ sukhādhivahaṁ hoti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, cittaṁ. Cittaṁ, bhikkhave, bhāvitaṁ bahulīkataṁ sukhādhivahaṁ hotī”ti.

“|Bhikkhus,::::| I do not see any other single thing that, when developed and frequently cultivated, leads to as much |contentment::ease, happiness, pleasant abiding [sukha]| as the mind. A developed and frequently cultivated mind|, bhikkhus,::::| leads to great ease.”

Dasamaṁ.

Tenth.

Qualities:

Contentment

Contentment

The quality of being satisfied with the requisites one has and with the present conditions, resulting in having few desires and being free from agitation.

Also known as: fewness of wishes, having few desires, satisfaction, sense of ease
Pāli: santutthi, appicchatā, tuṭṭha, tosana
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Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Undeveloped

Undeveloped

The untrained condition of mind before cultivation, dull and unsteady. Without development, discernment and stability remain immature.

Also known as: not cultivated
Pāli: abhāvita
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Last updated on July 11, 2026