The Buddha teaches on well-known, presenting a threefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 3.11 Well-known -

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato ñāto bhikkhu bahujanaahitāya paṭipanno hoti bahujanadukkhāya, bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ. Katamehi tīhi? Ananulomike kāyakamme samādapeti, ananulomike vacīkamme samādapeti, ananulomikesu dhammesu samādapeti.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato ñāto bhikkhu bahujanaahitāya paṭipanno hoti bahujanadukkhāya, bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ.

Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato ñāto bhikkhu bahujanahitāya paṭipanno hoti bahujanasukhāya, bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānaṁ. Katamehi tīhi? Anulomike kāyakamme samādapeti, anulomike vacīkamme samādapeti, anulomikesu dhammesu samādapeti.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato ñāto bhikkhu bahujanahitāya paṭipanno hoti bahujanasukhāya, bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānan”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato ñāto bhikkhu bahujanaahitāya paṭipanno hoti bahujanadukkhāya, bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ.

“Mendicants, a well-known mendicant who has three qualities is acting for the detriment and suffering of the people, against the people, for the harm, detriment, and suffering of gods and humans.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Ananulomike kāyakamme samādapeti, ananulomike vacīkamme samādapeti, ananulomikesu dhammesu samādapeti.

They encourage deeds of body and speech, as well as principles, that aren’t in line with good qualities.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato ñāto bhikkhu bahujanaahitāya paṭipanno hoti bahujanadukkhāya, bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ.

A well-known mendicant who possesses these three qualities is acting for the detriment and suffering of the people, against the people, for the harm, detriment, and suffering of gods and humans.

Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato ñāto bhikkhu bahujanahitāya paṭipanno hoti bahujanasukhāya, bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānaṁ.

A well-known mendicant who has three qualities is acting for the welfare and happiness of the people, for the people, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Anulomike kāyakamme samādapeti, anulomike vacīkamme samādapeti, anulomikesu dhammesu samādapeti.

They encourage deeds of body and speech, as well as principles, that are in line with good qualities.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato ñāto bhikkhu bahujanahitāya paṭipanno hoti bahujanasukhāya, bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānan”ti.

A well-known mendicant who possesses these three qualities is acting for the welfare and happiness of the people, for the people, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Happiness

Happiness

Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.

Also known as: pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease
Pāli: sukha
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →
Suffering

Suffering

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
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026