The Buddha teaches on doctors, presenting a tenfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 10.108 Doctors

“Tikicchakā, bhikkhave, virecanaṁ denti pittasamuṭṭhānānampi ābādhānaṁ paṭighātāya, semhasamuṭṭhānānampi ābādhānaṁ paṭighātāya, vātasamuṭṭhānānampi ābādhānaṁ paṭighātāya. Atthetaṁ, bhikkhave, virecanaṁ; ‘netaṁ natthī’ti vadāmi. Tañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, virecanaṁ sampajjatipi vipajjatipi.

Ahañca kho, bhikkhave, ariyaṁ virecanaṁ desessāmi, yaṁ virecanaṁ sampajjatiyeva no vipajjati, yaṁ virecanaṁ āgamma jātidhammā sattā jātiyā parimuccanti, jarādhammā sattā jarāya parimuccanti, maraṇadhammā sattā maraṇena parimuccanti, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsadhammā sattā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsehi parimuccanti. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Katamañca taṁ, bhikkhave, ariyaṁ virecanaṁ, yaṁ virecanaṁ sampajjatiyeva no vipajjati, yaṁ virecanaṁ āgamma jātidhammā sattā jātiyā parimuccanti, jarādhammā sattā jarāya parimuccanti, maraṇadhammā sattā maraṇena parimuccanti, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsadhammā sattā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsehi parimuccanti?

Sammādiṭṭhikassa, bhikkhave, micchādiṭṭhi virittā hoti; ye ca micchādiṭṭhipaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti te cassa virittā honti; sammādiṭṭhipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti.

Sammāsaṅkappassa, bhikkhave, micchāsaṅkappo viritto hoti …pe… sammāvācassa, bhikkhave, micchāvācā virittā hotisammākammantassa, bhikkhave, micchākammanto viritto hotisammāājīvassa, bhikkhave, micchāājīvo viritto hotisammāvāyāmassa, bhikkhave, micchāvāyāmo viritto hotisammāsatissa, bhikkhave, micchāsati virittā hotisammāsamādhissa, bhikkhave, micchāsamādhi viritto hotisammāñāṇissa, bhikkhave, micchāñāṇaṁ virittaṁ hoti …pe….

Sammāvimuttissa, bhikkhave, micchāvimutti virittā hoti; ye ca micchāvimuttipaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti te cassa virittā honti; sammāvimuttipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti. Idaṁ kho taṁ, bhikkhave, ariyaṁ virecanaṁ yaṁ virecanaṁ sampajjatiyeva no vipajjati, yaṁ virecanaṁ āgamma jātidhammā sattā jātiyā parimuccanti …pe… sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsehi parimuccantī”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tikicchakā, bhikkhave, virecanaṁ denti pittasamuṭṭhānānampi ābādhānaṁ paṭighātāya, semhasamuṭṭhānānampi ābādhānaṁ paṭighātāya, vātasamuṭṭhānānampi ābādhānaṁ paṭighātāya.

“Mendicants, doctors prescribe a purgative for eliminating illnesses stemming from disorders of bile, phlegm, and wind.

Atthetaṁ, bhikkhave, virecanaṁ; ‘netaṁ natthī’ti vadāmi.

There is such a purgative, I don’t deny it.

Tañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, virecanaṁ sampajjatipi vipajjatipi.

But this kind of purgative sometimes works and sometimes fails.

Ahañca kho, bhikkhave, ariyaṁ virecanaṁ desessāmi, yaṁ virecanaṁ sampajjatiyeva no vipajjati, yaṁ virecanaṁ āgamma jātidhammā sattā jātiyā parimuccanti, jarādhammā sattā jarāya parimuccanti, maraṇadhammā sattā maraṇena parimuccanti, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsadhammā sattā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsehi parimuccanti.

I will teach a noble purgative that works without fail. Relying on that purgative, sentient beings who are liable to rebirth, old age, and death, to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress are freed from all these things.

Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

“Katamañca taṁ, bhikkhave, ariyaṁ virecanaṁ, yaṁ virecanaṁ sampajjatiyeva no vipajjati, yaṁ virecanaṁ āgamma jātidhammā sattā jātiyā parimuccanti, jarādhammā sattā jarāya parimuccanti, maraṇadhammā sattā maraṇena parimuccanti, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsadhammā sattā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsehi parimuccanti?

“And what is the noble purgative that works without fail?

Sammādiṭṭhikassa, bhikkhave, micchādiṭṭhi virittā hoti;

For one of right view, wrong view is purged.

ye ca micchādiṭṭhipaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti te cassa virittā honti;

And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by wrong view are purged.

sammādiṭṭhipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti.

And because of right view, many skillful qualities are fully developed.

Sammāsaṅkappassa, bhikkhave, micchāsaṅkappo viritto hoti …pe…

For one of right purpose, wrong purpose is purged. …

sammāvācassa, bhikkhave, micchāvācā virittā hoti

For one of right speech, wrong speech is purged. …

sammākammantassa, bhikkhave, micchākammanto viritto hoti

For one of right action, wrong action is purged. …

sammāājīvassa, bhikkhave, micchāājīvo viritto hoti

For one of right livelihood, wrong livelihood is purged. …

sammāvāyāmassa, bhikkhave, micchāvāyāmo viritto hoti

For one of right effort, wrong effort is purged.

sammāsatissa, bhikkhave, micchāsati virittā hoti

For one of right mindfulness, wrong mindfulness is purged. …

sammāsamādhissa, bhikkhave, micchāsamādhi viritto hoti

For one of right immersion, wrong immersion is purged. …

sammāñāṇissa, bhikkhave, micchāñāṇaṁ virittaṁ hoti …pe….

For one of right knowledge, wrong knowledge is purged. …

Sammāvimuttissa, bhikkhave, micchāvimutti virittā hoti;

For one of right freedom, wrong freedom is purged.

ye ca micchāvimuttipaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti te cassa virittā honti;

And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by wrong freedom are purged.

sammāvimuttipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti.

And because of right freedom, many skillful qualities are fully developed.

Idaṁ kho taṁ, bhikkhave, ariyaṁ virecanaṁ yaṁ virecanaṁ sampajjatiyeva no vipajjati, yaṁ virecanaṁ āgamma jātidhammā sattā jātiyā parimuccanti …pe… sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsehi parimuccantī”ti.

This is the noble purgative that works without fail. Relying on this purgative, sentient beings who are liable to rebirth, old age, and death, to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress are freed from all these things.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Lamentation

Lamentation

The verbal and bodily expression of grief—crying, wailing, and mourning—that arises from loss or separation from what is held dear. It gives voice to sorrow and can deepen the mind's entanglement with pain.

Also known as: crying, wailing, mourning
Pāli: parideva
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Liberation

Liberation

Liberation can imply a temporary release of the mind, i.e. liberated from certain unwholesome mental qualities or complete liberation from all unwholesome qualities of the mind, i.e. Nibbāna.

Also known as: freedom, release, emancipation, deliverance
Pāli: vimutti, vimokkha, cetovimutti, paññāvimutti, akuppā cetovimutti
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Right view

Right view

View that is in line with the Dhamma — teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth.

Also known as: right understanding, right belief, view that is inline with the Dhamma
Pāli: sammādiṭṭhi
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Sorrow

Sorrow

Grief or sadness that follows loss or disappointment, dimming the mind’s natural brightness. It clouds clear perception.

Also known as: grief, sadness
Pāli: soka, socati
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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026