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

AN 10.44 At Kusinārā

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kusinārāyaṁ viharati baliharaṇe vanasaṇḍe. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Codakena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā paraṁ codetukāmena pañca dhamme ajjhattaṁ paccavekkhitvā pañca dhamme ajjhattaṁ upaṭṭhāpetvā paro codetabbo. Katame pañca dhammā ajjhattaṁ paccavekkhitabbā? Codakena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā paraṁ codetukāmena evaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ: ‘parisuddhakāyasamācāro nu khomhi, parisuddhenamhi kāyasamācārena samannāgato acchiddena appaṭimaṁsena. Saṁvijjati nu kho me eso dhammo udāhu no’ti? No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu parisuddhakāyasamācāro hoti parisuddhena kāyasamācārena samannāgato acchiddena appaṭimaṁsena, tassa bhavanti vattāro: ‘iṅgha tāva āyasmā kāyikaṁ sikkhassū’ti, itissa bhavanti vattāro.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, codakena bhikkhunā paraṁ codetukāmena evaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ: ‘parisuddhavacīsamācāro nu khomhi, parisuddhenamhi vacīsamācārena samannāgato acchiddena appaṭimaṁsena. Saṁvijjati nu kho me eso dhammo udāhu no’ti? No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu parisuddhavacīsamācāro hoti parisuddhena vacīsamācārena samannāgato acchiddena appaṭimaṁsena, tassa bhavanti vattāro: ‘iṅgha tāva āyasmā vācasikaṁ sikkhassū’ti, itissa bhavanti vattāro.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, codakena bhikkhunā paraṁ codetukāmena evaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ: ‘mettaṁ nu kho me cittaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ sabrahmacārīsu anāghātaṁ. Saṁvijjati nu kho me eso dhammo udāhu no’ti? No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno mettaṁ cittaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ hoti sabrahmacārīsu anāghātaṁ, tassa bhavanti vattāro: ‘iṅgha tāva āyasmā sabrahmacārīsu mettaṁ cittaṁ upaṭṭhāpehī’ti, itissa bhavanti vattāro.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, codakena bhikkhunā paraṁ codetukāmena evaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ: ‘bahussuto nu khomhi sutadharo sutasannicayo, ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpā me dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā. Saṁvijjati nu kho me eso dhammo udāhu no’ti? No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo, ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā, tassa bhavanti vattāro: ‘iṅgha tāva āyasmā āgamaṁ pariyāpuṇassū’ti, itissa bhavanti vattāro.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, codakena bhikkhunā paraṁ codetukāmena evaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ: ‘ubhayāni kho pana me pātimokkhāni vitthārena svāgatāni honti suvibhattāni suppavattīni suvinicchitāni suttaso anubyañjanaso. Saṁvijjati nu kho me eso dhammo udāhu no’ti? No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ubhayāni pātimokkhāni vitthārena svāgatāni honti suvibhattāni suppavattīni suvinicchitāni suttaso anubyañjanaso, ‘idaṁ panāyasmā, kattha vuttaṁ bhagavatā’ti, iti puṭṭho na sampāyissati. Tassa bhavanti vattāro: ‘iṅgha tāva āyasmā vinayaṁ sikkhassū’ti, itissa bhavanti vattāro. Ime pañca dhammā ajjhattaṁ paccavekkhitabbā.

Katame pañca dhammā ajjhattaṁ upaṭṭhāpetabbā? ‘Kālena vakkhāmi, no akālena; bhūtena vakkhāmi, no abhūtena; saṇhena vakkhāmi, no pharusena; atthasaṁhitena vakkhāmi, no anatthasaṁhitena; mettacitto vakkhāmi, no dosantaro’ti ime pañca dhammā ajjhattaṁ upaṭṭhāpetabbā. Codakena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā paraṁ codetukāmena ime pañca dhamme ajjhattaṁ paccavekkhitvā ime pañca dhamme ajjhattaṁ upaṭṭhāpetvā paro codetabbo”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kusinārāyaṁ viharati baliharaṇe vanasaṇḍe.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Kusinārā, in the Forest of Offerings.

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,

“bhikkhavo”ti.

“Mendicants!”

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

“Venerable sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

“Codakena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā paraṁ codetukāmena pañca dhamme ajjhattaṁ paccavekkhitvā pañca dhamme ajjhattaṁ upaṭṭhāpetvā paro codetabbo.

“Mendicants, a mendicant who wants to accuse another should first check five things in themselves and establish five things in themselves.

Katame pañca dhammā ajjhattaṁ paccavekkhitabbā?

What five things should they check in themselves?

Codakena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā paraṁ codetukāmena evaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ:

A mendicant who wants to accuse another should check this:

‘parisuddhakāyasamācāro nu khomhi, parisuddhenamhi kāyasamācārena samannāgato acchiddena appaṭimaṁsena.

‘Is my bodily behavior pure? Do I have pure bodily behavior that is impeccable and irreproachable?

Saṁvijjati nu kho me eso dhammo udāhu no’ti?

Is this thing found in me or not?’

No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu parisuddhakāyasamācāro hoti parisuddhena kāyasamācārena samannāgato acchiddena appaṭimaṁsena, tassa bhavanti vattāro:

If it’s not, there will be people who say:

‘iṅgha tāva āyasmā kāyikaṁ sikkhassū’ti, itissa bhavanti vattāro.

‘Come on, venerable, train your own bodily behavior first.’

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, codakena bhikkhunā paraṁ codetukāmena evaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ:

Furthermore, a mendicant who wants to accuse another should check this:

‘parisuddhavacīsamācāro nu khomhi, parisuddhenamhi vacīsamācārena samannāgato acchiddena appaṭimaṁsena.

‘Is my verbal behavior pure? Do I have pure verbal behavior that is impeccable and irreproachable?

Saṁvijjati nu kho me eso dhammo udāhu no’ti?

Is this thing found in me or not?’

No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu parisuddhavacīsamācāro hoti parisuddhena vacīsamācārena samannāgato acchiddena appaṭimaṁsena, tassa bhavanti vattāro:

If it’s not, there will be people who say:

‘iṅgha tāva āyasmā vācasikaṁ sikkhassū’ti, itissa bhavanti vattāro.

‘Come on, venerable, train your own verbal behavior first.’

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, codakena bhikkhunā paraṁ codetukāmena evaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ:

Furthermore, a mendicant who wants to accuse another should check this:

‘mettaṁ nu kho me cittaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ sabrahmacārīsu anāghātaṁ.

‘Is my heart established in love for my spiritual companions, without resentment?

Saṁvijjati nu kho me eso dhammo udāhu no’ti?

Is this thing found in me or not?’

No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno mettaṁ cittaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ hoti sabrahmacārīsu anāghātaṁ, tassa bhavanti vattāro:

If it’s not, there will be people who say:

‘iṅgha tāva āyasmā sabrahmacārīsu mettaṁ cittaṁ upaṭṭhāpehī’ti, itissa bhavanti vattāro.

‘Come on, venerable, establish your heart in love for your spiritual companions first.’

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, codakena bhikkhunā paraṁ codetukāmena evaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ:

Furthermore, a mendicant who wants to accuse another should check this:

‘bahussuto nu khomhi sutadharo sutasannicayo, ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpā me dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.

‘Am I very learned, remembering and keeping what I’ve learned? These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. Am I very learned in such teachings, remembering them, rehearsing them, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically?

Saṁvijjati nu kho me eso dhammo udāhu no’ti?

Is this thing found in me or not?’

No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo, ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā, tassa bhavanti vattāro:

If it’s not, there will be people who say:

‘iṅgha tāva āyasmā āgamaṁ pariyāpuṇassū’ti, itissa bhavanti vattāro.

‘Come on, venerable, memorize the scriptures first.’

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, codakena bhikkhunā paraṁ codetukāmena evaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ:

Furthermore, a mendicant who wants to accuse another should check this:

‘ubhayāni kho pana me pātimokkhāni vitthārena svāgatāni honti suvibhattāni suppavattīni suvinicchitāni suttaso anubyañjanaso.

‘Have both monastic codes been passed down to me in detail, well analyzed, well mastered, and well evaluated in both the rules and accompanying material?

Saṁvijjati nu kho me eso dhammo udāhu no’ti?

Is this thing found in me or not?’

No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ubhayāni pātimokkhāni vitthārena svāgatāni honti suvibhattāni suppavattīni suvinicchitāni suttaso anubyañjanaso, ‘idaṁ panāyasmā, kattha vuttaṁ bhagavatā’ti, iti puṭṭho na sampāyissati.

If it’s not, and if they are unable to respond when asked “Venerable, where was this spoken by the Buddha?” there will be people who say:

Tassa bhavanti vattāro:

‘iṅgha tāva āyasmā vinayaṁ sikkhassū’ti, itissa bhavanti vattāro.

‘Come on, venerable, train in the monastic code first.’

Ime pañca dhammā ajjhattaṁ paccavekkhitabbā.

These are the five things they should check in themselves.

Katame pañca dhammā ajjhattaṁ upaṭṭhāpetabbā?

What five things should they establish in themselves?

‘Kālena vakkhāmi, no akālena;

‘I will speak at the right time, not at the wrong time.

bhūtena vakkhāmi, no abhūtena;

I will speak truthfully, not falsely.

saṇhena vakkhāmi, no pharusena;

I will speak gently, not harshly.

atthasaṁhitena vakkhāmi, no anatthasaṁhitena;

I will speak beneficially, not harmfully.

mettacitto vakkhāmi, no dosantaro’ti

I will speak lovingly, not from secret hate.’

ime pañca dhammā ajjhattaṁ upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

These are the five things they should establish in themselves.

Codakena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā paraṁ codetukāmena ime pañca dhamme ajjhattaṁ paccavekkhitvā ime pañca dhamme ajjhattaṁ upaṭṭhāpetvā paro codetabbo”ti.

A mendicant who wants to accuse another should first check these five things in themselves and establish these five things in themselves.”

Catutthaṁ.

Qualities:

Affection

Affection

A mental quality of tender affection and fond regard, often wholesome when rooted in kindness, which inclines the mind toward warmth and care. When unguarded, it may turn toward fixation upon what is 'dear,' leading the mind to attachment and the grief that follows separation from what has been clung to as 'dear'.

Also known as: fondness, love, tender regard
Pāli: pema
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Aversion

Aversion

A rejecting mental quality rooted in perception, where one instinctively turns away from or resists unpleasant experiences or objects; it manifests as a tendency to push away discomfort, obstructing patience and acceptance.

Also known as: animosity, hate, hostility, fault-finding mindset, upset
Pāli: dosa, paṭighasaññā, vera
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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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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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Resentment

Resentment

Holding a grudge and keeping anger alive in memory. Unlike a sudden flash of anger, resentment ties a knot of hostility, holding onto past grievances and refusing to forgive.

Also known as: bearing a grudge, harboring enmity
Pāli: upanāha
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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
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Last updated on July 27, 2026