The Buddha teaches on hard-heartedness, presenting a tenfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 10.14 Hard-heartedness -

“Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā pañca cetokhilā appahīnā pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu no vuddhi.

Katamassa pañca cetokhilā appahīnā honti?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetokhilo appahīno hoti.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhamme kaṅkhati …pe… saṅghe kaṅkhatisikkhāya kaṅkhatisabrahmacārīsu kupito hoti anattamano āhatacitto khilajāto. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabrahmacārīsu kupito hoti anattamano āhatacitto khilajāto, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetokhilo appahīno hoti. Imassa pañca cetokhilā appahīnā honti.

Katamassa pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā honti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāmesu avītarāgo hoti avigatacchando avigatapemo avigatapipāso avigatapariḷāho avigatataṇho. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāmesu avītarāgo hoti avigatacchando avigatapemo avigatapipāso avigatapariḷāho avigatataṇho, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetasovinibandho asamucchinno hoti.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye avītarāgo hoti …pe… rūpe avītarāgo hoti …pe… yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyutto viharatiaññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya brahmacariyaṁ carati: ‘imināhaṁ sīlena vatena tapena brahmacariyena devo bhavissāmi devaññataro vā’ti. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya brahmacariyaṁ carati: ‘imināhaṁ sīlena vatena tapena brahmacariyena devo bhavissāmi devaññataro vā’ti, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetasovinibandho asamucchinno hoti. Imassa pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā honti.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā ime pañca cetokhilā appahīnā ime pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu no vuddhi.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kāḷapakkhe candassa ratti divaso āgacchati, hāyateva vaṇṇena hāyati maṇḍalena hāyati ābhāya hāyati ārohapariṇāhena; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā ime pañca cetokhilā appahīnā ime pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu no vuddhi.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā pañca cetokhilā pahīnā pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu no parihāni.

Katamassa pañca cetokhilā pahīnā honti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari na kaṅkhati na vicikicchati, adhimuccati sampasīdati. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari na kaṅkhati na vicikicchati adhimuccati sampasīdati, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetokhilo pahīno hoti.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhamme na kaṅkhati …pe… saṅghe na kaṅkhatisikkhāya na kaṅkhatisabrahmacārīsu na kupito hoti attamano na āhatacitto na khilajāto. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabrahmacārīsu na kupito hoti attamano na āhatacitto na khilajāto, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetokhilo pahīno hoti. Imassa pañca cetokhilā pahīnā honti.

Katamassa pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā honti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāmesu vītarāgo hoti vigatacchando vigatapemo vigatapipāso vigatapariḷāho vigatataṇho. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāmesu vītarāgo hoti vigatacchando vigatapemo vigatapipāso vigatapariḷāho vigatataṇho, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetasovinibandho susamucchinno hoti.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye vītarāgo hoti …pe… rūpe vītarāgo hoti …pe… na yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyutto viharati, na aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya brahmacariyaṁ carati: ‘imināhaṁ sīlena vatena tapena brahmacariyena devo bhavissāmi devaññataro vā’ti. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya …pe… devaññataro vāti, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetasovinibandho susamucchinno hoti. Imassa pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā honti.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā ime pañca cetokhilā pahīnā ime pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu no parihāni.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, juṇhapakkhe candassa ratti divaso āgacchati, vaḍḍhateva vaṇṇena vaḍḍhati maṇḍalena vaḍḍhati ābhāya vaḍḍhati ārohapariṇāhena; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā ime pañca cetokhilā pahīnā ime pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu no parihānī”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā pañca cetokhilā appahīnā pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu no vuddhi.

“Mendicants, a monk or nun who has not given up five kinds of hard-heartedness and has not severed five shackles of the heart can expect decline, not growth, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.

Katamassa pañca cetokhilā appahīnā honti?

What are the five kinds of hard-heartedness they haven’t given up?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati.

Firstly, a mendicant has doubts about the Teacher. They’re uncertain, undecided, and lacking confidence.

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

This being so, their mind doesn’t incline toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetokhilo appahīno hoti.

This is the first kind of hard-heartedness they haven’t given up.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhamme kaṅkhati …pe…

Furthermore, a mendicant has doubts about the teaching …

saṅghe kaṅkhati

the Saṅgha …

sikkhāya kaṅkhati

the training …

sabrahmacārīsu kupito hoti anattamano āhatacitto khilajāto.

A mendicant is angry and upset with their spiritual companions, resentful and closed off.

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabrahmacārīsu kupito hoti anattamano āhatacitto khilajāto, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

This being so, their mind doesn’t incline toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetokhilo appahīno hoti.

This is the fifth kind of hard-heartedness they haven’t given up.

Imassa pañca cetokhilā appahīnā honti.

These are the five kinds of hard-heartedness they haven’t given up.

Katamassa pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā honti?

What are the five shackles of the heart they haven’t severed?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāmesu avītarāgo hoti avigatacchando avigatapemo avigatapipāso avigatapariḷāho avigatataṇho.

Firstly, a mendicant isn’t free of greed, desire, fondness, thirst, passion, and craving for sensual pleasures.

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāmesu avītarāgo hoti avigatacchando avigatapemo avigatapipāso avigatapariḷāho avigatataṇho, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

This being so, their mind doesn’t incline toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetasovinibandho asamucchinno hoti.

This is the first shackle of the heart they haven’t severed.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye avītarāgo hoti …pe…

Furthermore, a mendicant isn’t free of greed for the body …

rūpe avītarāgo hoti …pe…

They’re not free of greed for form …

yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyutto viharati

They eat as much as they like until their belly is full, then indulge in the pleasures of sleeping, lying down, and drowsing …

aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya brahmacariyaṁ carati: ‘imināhaṁ sīlena vatena tapena brahmacariyena devo bhavissāmi devaññataro vā’ti.

They lead the spiritual life wishing to be reborn in one of the orders of gods: ‘By this precept or observance or fervent austerity or spiritual practice, may I become one of the gods!’

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya brahmacariyaṁ carati: ‘imināhaṁ sīlena vatena tapena brahmacariyena devo bhavissāmi devaññataro vā’ti, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

This being so, their mind doesn’t incline toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetasovinibandho asamucchinno hoti.

This is the fifth shackle of the heart they haven’t severed.

Imassa pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā honti.

These are the five shackles of the heart they haven’t severed.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā ime pañca cetokhilā appahīnā ime pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu no vuddhi.

A monk or nun who has not given up these five kinds of hard-heartedness and has not severed these five shackles of the heart can expect decline, not growth, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kāḷapakkhe candassa ratti divaso āgacchati, hāyateva vaṇṇena hāyati maṇḍalena hāyati ābhāya hāyati ārohapariṇāhena;

It’s like the moon in the waning fortnight. Whether by day or by night, its beauty, roundness, luminosity, and diameter and circumference only decline.

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā ime pañca cetokhilā appahīnā ime pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu no vuddhi.

In the same way, monk or nun who has not given up these five kinds of hard-heartedness and has not severed these five shackles of the heart can expect decline, not growth, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā pañca cetokhilā pahīnā pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu no parihāni.

A monk or nun who has given up five kinds of hard-heartedness and has severed five shackles of the heart can expect growth, not decline, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.

Katamassa pañca cetokhilā pahīnā honti?

What are the five kinds of hard-heartedness they’ve given up?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari na kaṅkhati na vicikicchati, adhimuccati sampasīdati.

Firstly, a mendicant has no doubts about the Teacher. They’re not uncertain, undecided, or lacking confidence.

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari na kaṅkhati na vicikicchati adhimuccati sampasīdati, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

This being so, their mind inclines toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetokhilo pahīno hoti.

This is the first kind of hard-heartedness they’ve given up.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhamme na kaṅkhati …pe…

Furthermore, a mendicant has no doubts about the teaching …

saṅghe na kaṅkhati

the Saṅgha …

sikkhāya na kaṅkhati

the training …

sabrahmacārīsu na kupito hoti attamano na āhatacitto na khilajāto.

A mendicant is not angry and upset with their spiritual companions, not resentful or closed off.

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabrahmacārīsu na kupito hoti attamano na āhatacitto na khilajāto, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

This being so, their mind inclines toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetokhilo pahīno hoti.

This is the fifth kind of hard-heartedness they’ve given up.

Imassa pañca cetokhilā pahīnā honti.

These are the five kinds of hard-heartedness they’ve given up.

Katamassa pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā honti?

What are the five shackles of the heart they’ve severed?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāmesu vītarāgo hoti vigatacchando vigatapemo vigatapipāso vigatapariḷāho vigatataṇho.

Firstly, a mendicant is rid of greed, desire, fondness, thirst, passion, and craving for sensual pleasures.

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāmesu vītarāgo hoti vigatacchando vigatapemo vigatapipāso vigatapariḷāho vigatataṇho, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

This being so, their mind inclines toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetasovinibandho susamucchinno hoti.

This is the first shackle of the heart they’ve severed.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye vītarāgo hoti …pe…

Furthermore, a mendicant is rid of greed for the body …

rūpe vītarāgo hoti …pe…

They’re rid of greed for form …

na yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyutto viharati,

They don’t eat as much as they like until their belly is full, then indulge in the pleasures of sleeping, lying down, and drowsing …

na aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya brahmacariyaṁ carati: ‘imināhaṁ sīlena vatena tapena brahmacariyena devo bhavissāmi devaññataro vā’ti.

They don’t lead the spiritual life wishing to be reborn in one of the orders of gods: ‘By this precept or observance or fervent austerity or spiritual practice, may I become one of the gods!’

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya …pe… devaññataro vāti, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

This being so, their mind inclines toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetasovinibandho susamucchinno hoti.

This is the fifth shackle of the heart they’ve severed.

Imassa pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā honti.

These are the five shackles of the heart they’ve severed.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā ime pañca cetokhilā pahīnā ime pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu no parihāni.

A monk or nun who has given up these five kinds of hard-heartedness and has severed these five shackles of the heart can expect growth, not decline, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, juṇhapakkhe candassa ratti divaso āgacchati, vaḍḍhateva vaṇṇena vaḍḍhati maṇḍalena vaḍḍhati ābhāya vaḍḍhati ārohapariṇāhena;

It’s like the moon in the waxing fortnight. Whether by day or by night, its beauty, roundness, luminosity, and diameter and circumference only grow.

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci bhikkhussa bhikkhuniyā ime pañca cetokhilā pahīnā ime pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā, tassa ratti divaso āgacchati vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu no parihānī”ti.

In the same way, a monk or nun who has given up these five kinds of hard-heartedness and has severed these five shackles of the heart can expect growth, not decline, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.”

Catutthaṁ.

Qualities:

Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →
Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
View all discourses →
Spiritual life

Spiritual life

A life of celibacy, contemplation, and ethical discipline lived for the sake of liberation; oriented toward inner development rather than sensual pleasures

Also known as: abstinence, celibacy, chastity, holy life, sexual restraint
Pāli: brahmacariya
View all discourses →
Vigour

Vigour

Energetic effort and resilience in practice. It is the refusal to shrink back, the 'uphill' force that initiates and sustains wholesome actions against the gravity of habit.

Also known as: energy, effort, enthusiasm, zeal, application of will, persistence
Pāli: vīriya
View all discourses →
Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026