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

AN 10.170 The Near Shore

“Orimañca, bhikkhave, tīraṁ desessāmi pārimañca tīraṁ. Taṁ suṇātha …pe… katamañca, bhikkhave, orimaṁ tīraṁ, katamañca pārimaṁ tīraṁ? Pāṇātipāto, bhikkhave, orimaṁ tīraṁ, pāṇātipātā veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Adinnādānaṁ orimaṁ tīraṁ, adinnādānā veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Kāmesumicchācāro orimaṁ tīraṁ, kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Musāvādo orimaṁ tīraṁ, musāvādā veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Pisuṇā vācā orimaṁ tīraṁ, pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Pharusā vācā orimaṁ tīraṁ, pharusāya vācāya veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Samphappalāpo orimaṁ tīraṁ, samphappalāpā veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Abhijjhā orimaṁ tīraṁ, anabhijjhā pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Byāpādo orimaṁ tīraṁ, abyāpādo pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Micchādiṭṭhi orimaṁ tīraṁ, sammādiṭṭhi pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, orimaṁ tīraṁ, idaṁ pārimaṁ tīranti.

Appakā te manussesu,
ye janā pāragāmino;
Athāyaṁ itarā pajā,
tīramevānudhāvati.

Ye ca kho sammadakkhāte,
dhamme dhammānuvattino;
Te janā pāramessanti,
maccudheyyaṁ suduttaraṁ.

Kaṇhaṁ dhammaṁ vippahāya,
sukkaṁ bhāvetha paṇḍito;
Okā anokamāgamma,
viveke yattha dūramaṁ.

Tatrābhiratimiccheyya,
hitvā kāme akiñcano;
Pariyodapeyya attānaṁ,
cittaklesehi paṇḍito.

Yesaṁ sambodhiyaṅgesu,
sammā cittaṁ subhāvitaṁ;
Ādānapaṭinissagge,
anupādāya ye ratā;
Khīṇāsavā jutimanto,
te loke parinibbutā”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Orimañca, bhikkhave, tīraṁ desessāmi pārimañca tīraṁ.

“Mendicants, I will teach you the near shore and the far shore.

Taṁ suṇātha …pe…

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

katamañca, bhikkhave, orimaṁ tīraṁ, katamañca pārimaṁ tīraṁ?

And what, mendicants, is the near shore? What is the far shore?

Pāṇātipāto, bhikkhave, orimaṁ tīraṁ, pāṇātipātā veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ.

Killing living creatures is the near shore, mendicants, and not killing living creatures is the far shore.

Adinnādānaṁ orimaṁ tīraṁ, adinnādānā veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ.

Stealing is the near shore, and not stealing is the far shore.

Kāmesumicchācāro orimaṁ tīraṁ, kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ.

Sexual misconduct is the near shore, and avoiding sexual misconduct is the far shore.

Musāvādo orimaṁ tīraṁ, musāvādā veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ.

Lying is the near shore, and not lying is the far shore.

Pisuṇā vācā orimaṁ tīraṁ, pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ.

Backbiting is the near shore, and avoiding backbiting is the far shore.

Pharusā vācā orimaṁ tīraṁ, pharusāya vācāya veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ.

Harsh speech is the near shore, and avoiding harsh speech is the far shore.

Samphappalāpo orimaṁ tīraṁ, samphappalāpā veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ.

Talking nonsense is the near shore, and avoiding talking nonsense is the far shore.

Abhijjhā orimaṁ tīraṁ, anabhijjhā pārimaṁ tīraṁ.

Covetousness is the near shore, and contentment is the far shore.

Byāpādo orimaṁ tīraṁ, abyāpādo pārimaṁ tīraṁ.

Ill will is the near shore, and good will is the far shore.

Micchādiṭṭhi orimaṁ tīraṁ, sammādiṭṭhi pārimaṁ tīraṁ.

Wrong view is the near shore, and right view is the far shore.

Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, orimaṁ tīraṁ, idaṁ pārimaṁ tīranti.

This is the near shore, and this is the far shore.

Appakā te manussesu,

Few are those among humans

ye janā pāragāmino;

who cross to the far shore.

Athāyaṁ itarā pajā,

The rest just run

tīramevānudhāvati.

around on the near shore.

Ye ca kho sammadakkhāte,

When the teaching is well explained,

dhamme dhammānuvattino;

those who practice accordingly

Te janā pāramessanti,

are the ones who will cross over

maccudheyyaṁ suduttaraṁ.

Death’s dominion so hard to pass.

Kaṇhaṁ dhammaṁ vippahāya,

Rid of dark qualities,

sukkaṁ bhāvetha paṇḍito;

an astute person should develop the bright.

Okā anokamāgamma,

Leaving home behind

viveke yattha dūramaṁ.

for the seclusion so hard to enjoy,

Tatrābhiratimiccheyya,

try to find satisfaction there,

hitvā kāme akiñcano;

having left behind sensual pleasures.

Pariyodapeyya attānaṁ,

Owning nothing, an astute person

cittaklesehi paṇḍito.

should cleanse themselves of mental corruptions.

Yesaṁ sambodhiyaṅgesu,

And those whose minds are rightly developed

sammā cittaṁ subhāvitaṁ;

in the awakening factors;

Ādānapaṭinissagge,

letting go of attachments,

anupādāya ye ratā;

they delight in not grasping.

Khīṇāsavā jutimanto,

With defilements ended, brilliant,

te loke parinibbutā”ti.

they are quenched in this world.”

Catutthaṁ.

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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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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Sexual misconduct

Sexual misconduct

Transgression of boundaries in intimate relations—acting on desire in ways that betray trust, cause harm, or violate the commitments of oneself or others.

Also known as: crossing boundaries, infidelity, inappropriate sexual behavior, unfaithfulness to one's partner
Pāli: kāmesumicchācāra
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Slaughtering

Slaughtering

The deliberate killing of a living being, carried out with the intention of ending its life while disregarding its natural drive to continue living.

Also known as: killing, murdering, taking life
Pāli: pāṇātipāta
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Stealing

Stealing

Also known as: theft, taking what is not given, taking what is not offerred, dishonesty regarding possessions
Pāli: adinnādānā
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Wrong speech

Wrong speech

Speech that deceives, divides, wounds, or wastes. It includes lying, slander, harshness, and idle chatter. Such speech distorts truth, breaks trust, and stirs the mind toward harm and discord.

Also known as: false speech, lying, divisive, slanderous or defamatory or malicious speech, abusive or rude or unkind way of speaking, meaningless talk or idle chatter or gossip
Pāli: musāvāda, pisuṇavācā, pharusāvācā, samphappalāpa
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Last updated on July 27, 2026