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

AN 10.109 Emetic

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

Ahañca kho, bhikkhave, ariyaṁ vamanaṁ desessāmi, yaṁ vamanaṁ sampajjatiyeva no vipajjati, yaṁ vamanaṁ āgamma jātidhammā sattā jātiyā parimuccanti, jarādhammā sattā jarāya parimuccanti, maraṇadhammā sattā maraṇena parimuccanti, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsadhammā sattā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsehi parimuccanti. Taṁ suṇātha …pe….

Katamañca taṁ, bhikkhave, ariyaṁ vamanaṁ, yaṁ vamanaṁ sampajjatiyeva no vipajjati, yaṁ vamanaṁ āgamma jātidhammā sattā jātiyā parimuccanti …pe… sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsadhammā sattā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsehi parimuccanti?

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

Sammāsaṅkappassa, bhikkhave, micchāsaṅkappo vanto hoti …pe… sammāvācassa, bhikkhave, micchāvācā vantā hotisammākammantassa, bhikkhave, micchākammanto vanto hotisammāājīvassa, bhikkhave, micchāājīvo vanto hotisammāvāyāmassa, bhikkhave, micchāvāyāmo vanto hotisammāsatissa, bhikkhave, micchāsati vantā hotisammāsamādhissa, bhikkhave, micchāsamādhi vanto hotisammāñāṇissa, bhikkhave, micchāñāṇaṁ vantaṁ hoti …pe….

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

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

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

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

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

There is such an emetic, I don’t deny it.

Tañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, vamanaṁ sampajjatipi vipajjatipi.

But this kind of emetic sometimes works and sometimes fails.

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

I will teach a noble emetic that works without fail. Relying on that emetic, 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 …pe….

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

Katamañca taṁ, bhikkhave, ariyaṁ vamanaṁ, yaṁ vamanaṁ sampajjatiyeva no vipajjati, yaṁ vamanaṁ āgamma jātidhammā sattā jātiyā parimuccanti …pe… sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsadhammā sattā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsehi parimuccanti?

And what is that noble emetic that works without fail?

Sammādiṭṭhikassa, bhikkhave, micchādiṭṭhi vantā hoti;

For one of right view, wrong view is vomited up.

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

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

sammādiṭṭhipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti.

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

Sammāsaṅkappassa, bhikkhave, micchāsaṅkappo vanto hoti …pe…

For one of right purpose, wrong purpose is vomited up. …

sammāvācassa, bhikkhave, micchāvācā vantā hoti

For one of right speech, wrong speech is vomited up. …

sammākammantassa, bhikkhave, micchākammanto vanto hoti

For one of right action, wrong action is vomited up. …

sammāājīvassa, bhikkhave, micchāājīvo vanto hoti

For one of right livelihood, wrong livelihood is vomited up. …

sammāvāyāmassa, bhikkhave, micchāvāyāmo vanto hoti

For one of right effort, wrong effort is vomited up. …

sammāsatissa, bhikkhave, micchāsati vantā hoti

For one of right mindfulness, wrong mindfulness is vomited up. …

sammāsamādhissa, bhikkhave, micchāsamādhi vanto hoti

For one of right immersion, wrong immersion is vomited up. …

sammāñāṇissa, bhikkhave, micchāñāṇaṁ vantaṁ hoti …pe….

For one of right knowledge, wrong knowledge is vomited up. …

Sammāvimuttissa, bhikkhave, micchāvimutti vantā hoti;

For one of right freedom, wrong freedom is vomited up.

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

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

sammāvimuttipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti.

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

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

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

Navamaṁ.

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