The Buddha teaches that serenity and discernment should be developed for insight into and the complete understanding, giving up, and letting go of greed, hate, delusion, and other defilements—closing the Book of the Twos.

AN 2.310-479 The Chapter of Abbreviated Texts Beginning with Greed

310–319

“Rāgassa, bhikkhave, abhiññāya dve dhammā bhāvetabbā. Katame dve? Samatho ca vipassanā ca. Rāgassa, bhikkhave, abhiññāya ime dve dhammā bhāvetabbā”ti.

“Rāgassa, bhikkhave, pariññāyaparikkhayāyapahānāyakhayāyavayāyavirāgāyanirodhāyacāgāyapaṭinissaggāya dve dhammā bhāvetabbā …pe…

320–479

“Dosassa …pe… mohassakodhassaupanāhassamakkhassapaḷāsassaissāyamacchariyassamāyāyasāṭheyyassathambhassasārambhassamānassaatimānassamadassapamādassaabhiññāyapariññāyaparikkhayāyapahānāyakhayāyavayāyavirāgāyanirodhāyacāgāyapaṭinissaggāya dve dhammā bhāvetabbā. Katame dve? Samatho ca vipassanā ca. Pamādassa, bhikkhave, paṭinissaggāya ime dve dhammā bhāvetabbā”ti.

Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

Rāgapeyyālaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

Dukanipātapāḷi niṭṭhitā.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

2.310–319

“Rāgassa, bhikkhave, abhiññāya dve dhammā bhāvetabbā.

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

Katame dve?

What two?

Samatho ca vipassanā ca.

Serenity and discernment.

Rāgassa, bhikkhave, abhiññāya ime dve dhammā bhāvetabbā”ti.

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

“Rāgassa, bhikkhave, pariññāyaparikkhayāyapahānāyakhayāyavayāyavirāgāyanirodhāyacāgāyapaṭinissaggāya dve dhammā bhāvetabbā …pe…

“For the complete understanding … finishing … giving up … ending … vanishing … fading away … cessation … giving away … letting go of greed, two things should be developed.”

2.320–479

“Dosassa …pe… mohassakodhassaupanāhassamakkhassapaḷāsassaissāyamacchariyassamāyāyasāṭheyyassathambhassasārambhassamānassaatimānassamadassapamādassaabhiññāyapariññāyaparikkhayāyapahānāyakhayāyavayāyavirāgāyanirodhāyacāgāyapaṭinissaggāya dve dhammā bhāvetabbā.

“Of hate … delusion … anger … acrimony … disdain … contempt … jealousy … stinginess … deceit … deviousness … obstinacy … aggression … conceit … arrogance … vanity … negligence … for insight … complete understanding … finishing … giving up … ending … vanishing … fading away … cessation … giving away … letting go … two things should be developed.

Katame dve?

What two?

Samatho ca vipassanā ca.

Serenity and discernment.

Pamādassa, bhikkhave, paṭinissaggāya ime dve dhammā bhāvetabbā”ti.

For the letting go of negligence, these two things should be developed.”

Idamavoca bhagavā.

That is what the Buddha said.

Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.

Rāgapeyyālaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

Dukanipātapāḷi niṭṭhitā.

The Book of the Twos is finished.

Topics & Qualities:

Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Discernment

Discernment

Clear seeing that distinguishes what is wholesome from unwholesome, true from false.

Also known as: ability to make out distinctions, ability to discriminate, distinguish, clear seeing, penetrating internal vision
Pāli: viveka, nipaka, niccheyya
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Giving up

Giving up

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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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
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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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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