DiscoverANAN 11AN 11.454-501

The Buddha teaches a repeated simile applying eleven factors of a cowherd to eleven qualities a mendicant needs to meditate on impermanence, suffering, and not-self in the sense bases in this grouped discourse.

AN 11.454-501 Similarity

… Rūpavicāre… saddavicāre… gandhavicāre… rasavicāre… phoṭṭhabbavicāre… dhammavicāre aniccānupassī viharituṁ… dukkhānupassī viharituṁ… anattānupassī viharituṁ… khayānupassī viharituṁ… vayānupassī viharituṁ… virāgānupassī viharituṁ… nirodhānupassī viharituṁ… paṭinissaggānupassī viharituṁ… pe…

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

…

…

Rūpavicāre…

“… considerations regarding sights …

saddavicāre…

considerations regarding sounds …

gandhavicāre…

considerations regarding smells …

rasavicāre…

considerations regarding tastes …

phoṭṭhabbavicāre…

considerations regarding touches …

dhammavicāre aniccānupassī viharituṁ…

meditate observing impermanence in considerations about ideas …

dukkhānupassī viharituṁ…

meditate observing suffering …

anattānupassī viharituṁ…

meditate observing not-self …

khayānupassī viharituṁ…

meditate observing ending …

vayānupassī viharituṁ…

meditate observing vanishing …

virāgānupassī viharituṁ…

meditate observing fading away …

nirodhānupassī viharituṁ…

meditate observing cessation …

paṭinissaggānupassī viharituṁ… pe…

meditate observing letting go. …”

Qualities:

Ending

Ending

☀️ bright quality

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Giving up

Giving up

☀️ bright quality

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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Suffering

Suffering

☁️ dark quality

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026

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