DiscoverANAN 10AN 10.146

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

AN 10.146 The Dark Path

“Kaṇhamaggañca vo, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desessāmi sukkamaggañca. Taṁ suṇātha …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, kaṇhamaggo? Micchādiṭṭhi …pe… micchāvimutti— ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kaṇhamaggo. Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sukkamaggo? Sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāvimutti— ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sukkamaggo”ti.

Dutiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Kaṇhamaggañca vo, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desessāmi sukkamaggañca.

“I will teach you the dark path and the bright path. …

Taṁ suṇātha …pe…

katamo ca, bhikkhave, kaṇhamaggo?

And what is the dark path?

Micchādiṭṭhi …pe… micchāvimutti—

Wrong view, wrong purpose, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness, wrong immersion, wrong knowledge, and wrong freedom.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kaṇhamaggo.

This is called the dark path.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sukkamaggo?

And what is the bright path?

Sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāvimutti—

Right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right immersion, right knowledge, and right freedom.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sukkamaggo”ti.

This is called the bright path.”

Dutiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Liberation

Liberation

topic
☀️ bright quality

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
View all discourses →
Mindfulness

Mindfulness

☀️ bright quality

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
View all discourses →
Right effort

Right effort

☀️ bright quality

Energy and resolve directed toward preventing unwholesome states from arising, abandoning arisen unwholesome states, cultivating wholesome states, and maintaining arisen wholesome states; persistent application of the mind aligned with the path.

Also known as: right endeavor, right striving
Pāli: sammāvāyāma, padhāna
View all discourses →
Right livelihood

Right livelihood

☀️ bright quality

Means of living that does not cause harm to others or oneself; earning a living ethically without deceit, exploitation, or violence.

Also known as: correct livelihood, right mode of earning a living
Pāli: sammāājīva
View all discourses →
Right speech

Right speech

☀️ bright quality

Speech that is purified by abstaining from falsehood, divisive talk, harsh words, and idle chatter.

Also known as: truthful speech, honest speech, kind speech, beneficial speech, harmonious speech, articulate words, eloquent communication
Pāli: sammāvācā
View all discourses →
Vigour

Vigour

☀️ bright quality

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 →

Last updated on July 27, 2026

View Pāli source ↗