The Buddha teaches that eleven things should be developed for insight into and the complete ending of greed, hate, delusion, and other unwholesome qualities.

AN 11.982 Abbreviated Texts Beginning with Greed

“Rāgassa, bhikkhave, abhiññāya ekādasa dhammā bhāvetabbā. Katame ekādasa? Paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ, dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ, tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ, catutthaṁ jhānaṁ, mettācetovimutti, karuṇācetovimutti, muditācetovimutti, upekkhācetovimutti, ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ, viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ, ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ rāgassa, bhikkhave, abhiññāya ime ekādasa dhammā bhāvetabbā”.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Rāgassa, bhikkhave, abhiññāya ekādasa dhammā bhāvetabbā.

“For insight into greed, eleven things should be developed.

Katame ekādasa?

What eleven?

Paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ, dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ, tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ, catutthaṁ jhānaṁ, mettācetovimutti, karuṇācetovimutti, muditācetovimutti, upekkhācetovimutti, ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ, viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ, ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ

The first, second, third, and fourth absorptions; the heart’s releases by love, compassion, rejoicing, and equanimity; the dimensions of infinite space, infinite consciousness, and nothingness.

rāgassa, bhikkhave, abhiññāya ime ekādasa dhammā bhāvetabbā”.

For insight into greed, these eleven things should be developed.”

Topics & 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
View all discourses →
Compassion

Compassion

A mental quality of wise empathy in response to suffering, which counters qualities of harm or cruelty.

Also known as: benevolence, concern, sympathy, kindness towards those who are suffering
Pāli: karuṇā, anukampa
View all discourses →
Equanimity

Equanimity

A state of mental poise and balance, characterized by non-reactivity and composure in the face of agreeable or disagreeable experiences.

Also known as: mental poise, mental balance, equipose, non-reactivity, composure
Pāli: upekkha
View all discourses →
Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026