The Buddha teaches on at the peacocks’ feeding ground, presenting a elevenfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 11.10 At the Peacocks’ Feeding Ground

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati moranivāpe paribbājakārāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.

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

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ. Katamehi tīhi? Asekhena sīlakkhandhena, asekhena samādhikkhandhena, asekhena paññākkhandhena imehi, kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ.

Aparehipi, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ. Katamehi tīhi? Iddhipāṭihāriyena, ādesanāpāṭihāriyena, anusāsanīpāṭihāriyena imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti, accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ.

Aparehipi, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ. Katamehi tīhi? Sammādiṭṭhiyā, sammāñāṇena, sammāvimuttiyā imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ.

Dvīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ. Katamehi dvīhi? Vijjāya, caraṇena imehi kho, bhikkhave, dvīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ. Brahmunā pesā, bhikkhave, sanaṅkumārena gāthā bhāsitā:

‘Khattiyo seṭṭho janetasmiṁ,
ye gottapaṭisārino;
Vijjācaraṇasampanno,
so seṭṭho devamānuse’ti.

kho panesā, bhikkhave, sanaṅkumārena gāthā bhāsitā subhāsitā, no dubbhāsitā; atthasaṁhitā, no anatthasaṁhitā; anumatā mayā. Ahampi, bhikkhave, evaṁ vadāmi:

‘Khattiyo seṭṭho janetasmiṁ,
ye gottapaṭisārino;
Vijjācaraṇasampanno,
so seṭṭho devamānuse’”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Nissayavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Kimatthiyā cetanā tayo,
upanisā byasanena ca;
Dve saññā manasikāro,
saddho moranivāpakanti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati moranivāpe paribbājakārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, at the monastery of the wanderers in the peacocks’ feeding ground.

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:

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ.

“Mendicants, a mendicant who has three qualities has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal. They are best among gods and humans.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Asekhena sīlakkhandhena, asekhena samādhikkhandhena, asekhena paññākkhandhena

The entire spectrum of an adept’s ethics, immersion, and wisdom.

imehi, kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ.

A mendicant with these three qualities has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal. They are best among gods and humans.

Aparehipi, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ.

A mendicant who has another three qualities has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal. They are best among gods and humans.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Iddhipāṭihāriyena, ādesanāpāṭihāriyena, anusāsanīpāṭihāriyena

A demonstration of psychic power, a demonstration of revealing, and a demonstration of instruction.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti, accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ.

A mendicant with these three qualities has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal. They are best among gods and humans.

Aparehipi, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ.

A mendicant who has another three qualities has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal. They are best among gods and humans.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Sammādiṭṭhiyā, sammāñāṇena, sammāvimuttiyā

Right view, right knowledge, and right freedom.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ.

A mendicant with these three qualities has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal. They are best among gods and humans.

Dvīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ.

A mendicant who has two qualities has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal. They are best among gods and humans.

Katamehi dvīhi?

What two?

Vijjāya, caraṇena

Knowledge and conduct.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, dvīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu accantaniṭṭho hoti accantayogakkhemī accantabrahmacārī accantapariyosāno seṭṭho devamanussānaṁ.

A mendicant with these two qualities has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal. They are best among gods and humans.

Brahmunā pesā, bhikkhave, sanaṅkumārena gāthā bhāsitā:

The divinity Sanaṅkumāra also spoke this verse:

‘Khattiyo seṭṭho janetasmiṁ,

‘The aristocrat is best among people

ye gottapaṭisārino;

who take clan as the standard.

Vijjācaraṇasampanno,

But one accomplished in knowledge and conduct

so seṭṭho devamānuse’ti.

is first among gods and humans.’

kho panesā, bhikkhave, sanaṅkumārena gāthā bhāsitā subhāsitā, no dubbhāsitā; atthasaṁhitā, no anatthasaṁhitā; anumatā mayā.

Now, that verse spoken by the divinity Sanaṅkumāra is well spoken, not poorly spoken. It’s beneficial, not pointless, and I agree with it.

Ahampi, bhikkhave, evaṁ vadāmi:

I also say:

‘Khattiyo seṭṭho janetasmiṁ,

‘The aristocrat is best among people

ye gottapaṭisārino;

who take clan as the standard.

Vijjācaraṇasampanno,

But one accomplished in knowledge and conduct

so seṭṭho devamānuse’”ti.

is first among gods and humans.’”

Dasamaṁ.

Nissayavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Kimatthiyā cetanā tayo,

upanisā byasanena ca;

Dve saññā manasikāro,

saddho moranivāpakanti.

Qualities:

Insight

Insight

Insight is deep, intuitive realization that transforms understanding and guides practice.

Also known as: having insight, with understanding, right knowledge
Pāli: ñāṇa, sammāñāṇa
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Psychic power

Psychic power

Supernormal capacities resulting from a practice of collectedness rooted in aspiration, determination, purification of mind, and investigation of phenomena.

Also known as: supernormal abilities, psychic ability, spiritual power
Pāli: iddhi, iddhimant
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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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Safety

Safety

A state of complete security and refuge where there is no threat from defilements or the turbulence of becoming. It is the peace of one who has found shelter from the storms of craving and has nothing left to lose or fear.

Also known as: sanctuary, security, at peace, rest
Pāli: khema
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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
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026