The Buddha teaches on with nandiya, presenting a elevenfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 11.13 With Nandiya

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ upagantukāmo hoti.

Assosi kho nandiyo sakko: “bhagavā kira sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ upagantukāmo”ti. Atha kho nandiyassa sakkassa etadahosi: “yannūnāhampi sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ upagaccheyyaṁ. Tattha kammantañceva adhiṭṭhahissāmi, bhagavantañca lacchāmi kālena kālaṁ dassanāyā”ti.

Atha kho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ upagacchi. Nandiyopi kho sakko sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ upagacchi. Tattha kammantañceva adhiṭṭhāsi, bhagavantañca labhi kālena kālaṁ dassanāya.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti: “niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī”ti.

Assosi kho nandiyo sakko: “sambahulā kira bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti: ‘niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’”ti. Atha kho nandiyo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho nandiyo sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante: ‘sambahulā kira bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti. Tesaṁ no, bhante, nānāvihārehi viharataṁ kenassa vihārena vihātabban”ti?

“Sādhu sādhu, nandiya. Etaṁ kho, nandiya, tumhākaṁ patirūpaṁ kulaputtānaṁ, yaṁ tumhe tathāgataṁ upasaṅkamitvā puccheyyātha: ‘tesaṁ no, bhante, nānāvihārehi viharataṁ kenassa vihārena vihātabban’ti? Saddho kho, nandiya, ārādhako hoti, no assaddho; sīlavā ārādhako hoti, no dussīlo; āraddhavīriyo ārādhako hoti, no kusīto; upaṭṭhitassati ārādhako hoti, no muṭṭhassati; samāhito ārādhako hoti, no asamāhito; paññavā ārādhako hoti, no duppañño. Imesu kho te, nandiya, chasu dhammesu patiṭṭhāya pañcasu dhammesu ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

Idha tvaṁ, nandiya, tathāgataṁ anussareyyāsi: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi, satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. Iti kho te, nandiya, tathāgataṁ ārabbha ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, nandiya, dhammaṁ anussareyyāsi: ‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti. Iti kho te, nandiya, dhammaṁ ārabbha ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, nandiya, kalyāṇamitte anussareyyāsi: ‘lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yassa me kalyāṇamittā anukampakā atthakāmā ovādakā anusāsakā’ti. Iti kho te, nandiya, kalyāṇamitte ārabbha ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, nandiya, attano cāgaṁ anussareyyāsi: ‘lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yohaṁ maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitāya pajāya vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasāmi muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato’ti. Iti kho te, nandiya, cāgaṁ ārabbha ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, nandiya, devatā anussareyyāsi: ‘yā devatā atikkammeva kabaḷīkārāhārabhakkhānaṁ devatānaṁ sahabyataṁ aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā, karaṇīyaṁ attano na samanupassanti katassa paticayaṁ’. Seyyathāpi, nandiya, bhikkhu asamayavimutto karaṇīyaṁ attano na samanupassati katassa paticayaṁ; evamevaṁ kho, nandiya, devatā atikkammeva kabaḷīkārāhārabhakkhānaṁ devatānaṁ sahabyataṁ aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā, karaṇīyaṁ attano na samanupassanti katassa paticayaṁ. Iti kho te, nandiya, devatā ārabbha ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

Imehi kho, nandiya, ekādasahi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako pajahateva pāpake akusale dhamme, na upādiyati. Seyyathāpi, nandiya, kumbho nikkujjo vamateva udakaṁ, no vantaṁ paccāvamati; seyyathāpi pana, nandiya, sukkhe tiṇadāye aggi mutto ḍahaññeva gacchati, no daḍḍhaṁ paccudāvattati; evamevaṁ kho, nandiya, imehi ekādasahi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako pajahateva pāpake akusale dhamme, na upādiyatī”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ upagantukāmo hoti.

Now at that time the Buddha wanted to commence the rains residence at Sāvatthī.

Assosi kho nandiyo sakko:

Nandiya the Sakyan heard about this,

“bhagavā kira sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ upagantukāmo”ti.

Atha kho nandiyassa sakkassa etadahosi:

and thought,

“yannūnāhampi sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ upagaccheyyaṁ.

“Why don’t I also commence the rains residence at Sāvatthī.

Tattha kammantañceva adhiṭṭhahissāmi, bhagavantañca lacchāmi kālena kālaṁ dassanāyā”ti.

There I can focus on my work and from time to time get to see the Buddha.”

Atha kho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ upagacchi.

So the Buddha commenced the rains residence in Sāvatthī,

Nandiyopi kho sakko sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ upagacchi.

and so did Nandiya.

Tattha kammantañceva adhiṭṭhāsi, bhagavantañca labhi kālena kālaṁ dassanāya.

There he focused on his work and from time to time got to see the Buddha.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti:

At that time several mendicants were making a robe for the Buddha, thinking that

“niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī”ti.

when his robe was finished and the three months of the rains residence had passed the Buddha would set out wandering.

Assosi kho nandiyo sakko:

Nandiya the Sakyan heard about this.

“sambahulā kira bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti:

‘niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’”ti.

Atha kho nandiyo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho nandiyo sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

He went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante:

“Sir, I have heard that

‘sambahulā kira bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti

several mendicants are making a robe for the Buddha, thinking that

niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti.

when his robe was finished and the three months of the rains residence had passed the Buddha would set out wandering.

Tesaṁ no, bhante, nānāvihārehi viharataṁ kenassa vihārena vihātabban”ti?

Now, we spend our life in various ways. Which of these should we practice?”

“Sādhu sādhu, nandiya.

“Good, good Nandiya!

Etaṁ kho, nandiya, tumhākaṁ patirūpaṁ kulaputtānaṁ, yaṁ tumhe tathāgataṁ upasaṅkamitvā puccheyyātha:

It’s appropriate that gentlemen such as you come to me and ask:

‘tesaṁ no, bhante, nānāvihārehi viharataṁ kenassa vihārena vihātabban’ti?

‘We spend our life in various ways. Which of these should we practice?’

Saddho kho, nandiya, ārādhako hoti, no assaddho;

The faithful succeed, not the faithless.

sīlavā ārādhako hoti, no dussīlo;

The ethical succeed, not the unethical.

āraddhavīriyo ārādhako hoti, no kusīto;

The energetic succeed, not the lazy.

upaṭṭhitassati ārādhako hoti, no muṭṭhassati;

The mindful succeed, not the unmindful.

samāhito ārādhako hoti, no asamāhito;

Those with immersion succeed, not those without immersion.

paññavā ārādhako hoti, no duppañño.

The wise succeed, not the witless.

Imesu kho te, nandiya, chasu dhammesu patiṭṭhāya pañcasu dhammesu ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

When you’re grounded on these six things, go on to establish mindfulness on five further things internally.

Idha tvaṁ, nandiya, tathāgataṁ anussareyyāsi:

Firstly, you should recollect the Realized One:

‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi, satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

Iti kho te, nandiya, tathāgataṁ ārabbha ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

In this way you should establish mindfulness internally based on the Realized One.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, nandiya, dhammaṁ anussareyyāsi:

Furthermore, you should recollect the teaching:

‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti.

‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’

Iti kho te, nandiya, dhammaṁ ārabbha ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

In this way you should establish mindfulness internally based on the teaching.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, nandiya, kalyāṇamitte anussareyyāsi:

Furthermore, you should recollect your good friends:

‘lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me,

‘I’m fortunate, so very fortunate,

yassa me kalyāṇamittā anukampakā atthakāmā ovādakā anusāsakā’ti.

to have good friends who advise and instruct me out of kindness and sympathy.’

Iti kho te, nandiya, kalyāṇamitte ārabbha ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

In this way you should establish mindfulness internally based on good friends.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, nandiya, attano cāgaṁ anussareyyāsi:

Furthermore, you should recollect your own generosity:

‘lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me,

‘I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate.

yohaṁ maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitāya pajāya vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasāmi muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato’ti.

Among people with hearts full of the stain of stinginess I live at home rid of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.’

Iti kho te, nandiya, cāgaṁ ārabbha ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

In this way you should establish mindfulness internally based on generosity.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, nandiya, devatā anussareyyāsi:

Furthermore, you should recollect the deities:

‘yā devatā atikkammeva kabaḷīkārāhārabhakkhānaṁ devatānaṁ sahabyataṁ aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā, karaṇīyaṁ attano na samanupassanti katassa paticayaṁ’.

‘There are deities who, surpassing the company of deities that consume edible food, are reborn in a certain host of mind-made deities. They don’t see in themselves anything more to do, or anything that needs improvement.’

Seyyathāpi, nandiya, bhikkhu asamayavimutto karaṇīyaṁ attano na samanupassati katassa paticayaṁ;

An irreversibly freed mendicant doesn’t see in themselves anything more to do, or anything that needs improvement.

evamevaṁ kho, nandiya, devatā atikkammeva kabaḷīkārāhārabhakkhānaṁ devatānaṁ sahabyataṁ aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā, karaṇīyaṁ attano na samanupassanti katassa paticayaṁ.

In the same way, Nandiya, there are deities who, surpassing the company of deities that consume edible food, are reborn in a certain host of mind-made deities. They don’t see in themselves anything more to do, or anything that needs improvement.

Iti kho te, nandiya, devatā ārabbha ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

In this way you should establish mindfulness internally based on the deities.

Imehi kho, nandiya, ekādasahi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako pajahateva pāpake akusale dhamme, na upādiyati.

A noble disciple who possesses these eleven qualities gives up bad, unskillful qualities and doesn’t cling to them.

Seyyathāpi, nandiya, kumbho nikkujjo vamateva udakaṁ, no vantaṁ paccāvamati;

It’s like when a pot full of water is tipped over, so the water drains out and doesn’t go back in.

seyyathāpi pana, nandiya, sukkhe tiṇadāye aggi mutto ḍahaññeva gacchati, no daḍḍhaṁ paccudāvattati;

Suppose there was an uncontrolled fire. It advances burning up dry woodlands and doesn’t turn back over what it has burned.

evamevaṁ kho, nandiya, imehi ekādasahi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako pajahateva pāpake akusale dhamme, na upādiyatī”ti.

In the same way, a noble disciple who possesses these eleven qualities gives up bad, unskillful qualities and doesn’t cling to them.”

Tatiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
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Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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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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Stinginess

Stinginess

A contracted, possessive refusal to share what one has—whether material goods, knowledge, or status. It clings tightly to what is “mine,” fearing loss and closing the hand against generosity.

Also known as: miserliness, meanness, tight-fistedness
Pāli: macchariya
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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