The Buddha teaches on vital conditions (2nd), presenting a tenfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 10.4 Vital Conditions (2nd)

Tatra kho āyasmā sāriputto bhikkhū āmantesi …pe… “dussīlassa, āvuso, sīlavipannassa hatūpaniso hoti avippaṭisāro; avippaṭisāre asati avippaṭisāravipannassa hatūpanisaṁ hoti …pe… vimuttiñāṇadassanaṁ. Seyyathāpi, āvuso, rukkho sākhāpalāsavipanno. Tassa papaṭikāpi na pāripūriṁ gacchati, tacopipheggupisāropi na pāripūriṁ gacchati. Evamevaṁ kho, āvuso, dussīlassa sīlavipannassa hatūpaniso hoti avippaṭisāro; avippaṭisāre asati avippaṭisāravipannassa hatūpanisaṁ hoti …pe… vimuttiñāṇadassanaṁ.

Sīlavato, āvuso, sīlasampannassa upanisasampanno hoti avippaṭisāro; avippaṭisāre sati avippaṭisārasampannassa upanisasampannaṁ hoti …pe… vimuttiñāṇadassanaṁ. Seyyathāpi, āvuso, rukkho sākhāpalāsasampanno. Tassa papaṭikāpi pāripūriṁ gacchati, tacopipheggupisāropi pāripūriṁ gacchati. Evamevaṁ kho, āvuso, sīlavato sīlasampannassa upanisasampanno hoti avippaṭisāro; avippaṭisāre sati avippaṭisārasampannassa upanisasampannaṁ hoti …pe… vimuttiñāṇadassanan”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Tatra kho āyasmā sāriputto bhikkhū āmantesi …pe…

There Venerable Sāriputta addressed the mendicants …

“dussīlassa, āvuso, sīlavipannassa hatūpaniso hoti avippaṭisāro;

“Reverends, an unethical person, who lacks ethics, has destroyed a vital condition for having no regrets.

avippaṭisāre asati avippaṭisāravipannassa hatūpanisaṁ hoti …pe…

When there are regrets, one who has regrets has destroyed a vital condition for joy. …

vimuttiñāṇadassanaṁ.

One who lacks disillusionment and dispassion has destroyed a vital condition for knowledge and vision of freedom.

Seyyathāpi, āvuso, rukkho sākhāpalāsavipanno. Tassa papaṭikāpi na pāripūriṁ gacchati, tacopipheggupisāropi na pāripūriṁ gacchati.

Suppose there was a tree that lacked branches and foliage. Its shoots, bark, softwood, and heartwood would not grow to fullness.

Evamevaṁ kho, āvuso, dussīlassa sīlavipannassa hatūpaniso hoti avippaṭisāro;

In the same way, an unethical person, who lacks ethics, has destroyed a vital condition for having no regrets.

avippaṭisāre asati avippaṭisāravipannassa hatūpanisaṁ hoti …pe…

When there are regrets, one who has regrets has destroyed a vital condition for joy. …

vimuttiñāṇadassanaṁ.

One who lacks disillusionment and dispassion has destroyed a vital condition for knowledge and vision of freedom.

Sīlavato, āvuso, sīlasampannassa upanisasampanno hoti avippaṭisāro;

An ethical person, who has fulfilled ethics, has fulfilled a vital condition for not having regrets.

avippaṭisāre sati avippaṭisārasampannassa upanisasampannaṁ hoti …pe…

When there are no regrets, one who has no regrets has fulfilled a vital condition for joy. …

vimuttiñāṇadassanaṁ.

One who has fulfilled disillusionment and dispassion has fulfilled a vital condition for knowledge and vision of freedom.

Seyyathāpi, āvuso, rukkho sākhāpalāsasampanno. Tassa papaṭikāpi pāripūriṁ gacchati, tacopipheggupisāropi pāripūriṁ gacchati.

Suppose there was a tree that was complete with branches and foliage. Its shoots, bark, softwood, and heartwood would grow to fullness.

Evamevaṁ kho, āvuso, sīlavato sīlasampannassa upanisasampanno hoti avippaṭisāro;

In the same way, an ethical person, who has fulfilled ethics, has fulfilled a vital condition for not having regrets.

avippaṭisāre sati avippaṭisārasampannassa upanisasampannaṁ hoti …pe…

When there are no regrets, one who has no regrets has fulfilled a vital condition for joy. …

vimuttiñāṇadassanan”ti.

One who has fulfilled disillusionment and dispassion has fulfilled a vital condition for knowledge and vision of freedom.”

Catutthaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Dispassion

Dispassion

The fading of desire and attraction toward conditioned things. It arises through seeing the impermanent and unsatisfactory nature of experience. It is the natural fragrance of understanding and the forerunner of release.

Also known as: detachment, disinterest, fading of desire, disentanglement
Pāli: virāga, visaṁyutta
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Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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Joy

Joy

A fresh and mild happiness arising from a sense of spiritual well-being and a clear conscience

Also known as: cheerfulness, gladness, wellbeing
Pāli: pāmojja, somanassa
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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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Quenching

Quenching

An experiential state of being “cooled,” where the burning fever of craving has subsided and the mind dwells in a peace free from the anxiety of needing to become something else.

Also known as: being cooled, desirelessness, free from hope, fulfilled, fully satiated, having attained emancipation
Pāli: nibbuta, nirāsa, parinibbāyati
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Vision

Vision

The corrective clarity that clearly sees into the true nature of things as they actually are.

Also known as: knowledge and vision, seeing clearly, seeing things as they are, seeing the truth, seeing the dhamma
Pāli: dassana, ñāṇadassana, yathābhūtañāṇadassana
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Last updated on July 27, 2026