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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 quality that, when undeveloped and not frequently cultivated, leads to as much suffering as the mind. An undeveloped and infrequently cultivated mind 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 quality 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 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 January 12, 2026