The Buddha teaches on arguments, presenting a threefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 3.124 Arguments

“Yassaṁ, bhikkhave, disāyaṁ bhikkhū bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharanti, manasi kātumpi me esā, bhikkhave, disā na phāsu hoti, pageva gantuṁ. Niṭṭhamettha gacchāmi: ‘addhā te āyasmanto tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu, tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsu. Katame tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu? Nekkhammavitakkaṁ, abyāpādavitakkaṁ, avihiṁsāvitakkaṁ ime tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu. Katame tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsu? Kāmavitakkaṁ, byāpādavitakkaṁ, vihiṁsāvitakkaṁ ime tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsu’. Yassaṁ, bhikkhave, disāyaṁ bhikkhū bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharanti, manasi kātumpi me esā, bhikkhave, disā na phāsu hoti, pageva gantuṁ. Niṭṭhamettha gacchāmi: ‘addhā te āyasmanto ime tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu, ime tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsu’.

Yassaṁ pana, bhikkhave, disāyaṁ bhikkhū samaggā sammodamānā avivadamānā khīrodakībhūtā aññamaññaṁ piyacakkhūhi sampassantā viharanti, gantumpi me esā, bhikkhave, disā phāsu hoti, pageva manasi kātuṁ. Niṭṭhamettha gacchāmi: ‘addhā te āyasmanto tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu, tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsu. Katame tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu? Kāmavitakkaṁ, byāpādavitakkaṁ, vihiṁsāvitakkaṁ ime tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu. Katame tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsu? Nekkhammavitakkaṁ, abyāpādavitakkaṁ, avihiṁsāvitakkaṁ ime tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsu’. Yassaṁ, bhikkhave, disāyaṁ bhikkhū samaggā sammodamānā avivadamānā khīrodakībhūtā aññamaññaṁ piyacakkhūhi sampassantā viharanti, gantumpi me esā, bhikkhave, disā phāsu hoti, pageva manasi kātuṁ. Niṭṭhamettha gacchāmi: ‘addhā te āyasmanto ime tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu, ime tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsū’”ti.

Dutiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Yassaṁ, bhikkhave, disāyaṁ bhikkhū bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharanti, manasi kātumpi me esā, bhikkhave, disā na phāsu hoti, pageva gantuṁ.

“Mendicants, I’m not even comfortable thinking about a place where mendicants fight—quarreling and disputing, continually wounding each other with barbed words—let alone going there.

Niṭṭhamettha gacchāmi:

I come to a conclusion about them:

‘addhā te āyasmanto tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu, tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsu.

‘Clearly those venerables have given up three things and cultivated three things.’

Katame tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu?

What three things have they given up?

Nekkhammavitakkaṁ, abyāpādavitakkaṁ, avihiṁsāvitakkaṁ

Thoughts of renunciation, good will, and harmlessness.

ime tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu.

Katame tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsu?

What three things have they cultivated?

Kāmavitakkaṁ, byāpādavitakkaṁ, vihiṁsāvitakkaṁ

Sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts. …

ime tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsu’.

Yassaṁ, bhikkhave, disāyaṁ bhikkhū bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharanti, manasi kātumpi me esā, bhikkhave, disā na phāsu hoti, pageva gantuṁ.

Niṭṭhamettha gacchāmi:

I come to a conclusion about them:

‘addhā te āyasmanto ime tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu, ime tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsu’.

‘Clearly those venerables have given up three things and cultivated three things.’

Yassaṁ pana, bhikkhave, disāyaṁ bhikkhū samaggā sammodamānā avivadamānā khīrodakībhūtā aññamaññaṁ piyacakkhūhi sampassantā viharanti, gantumpi me esā, bhikkhave, disā phāsu hoti, pageva manasi kātuṁ.

I feel comfortable going to a place where the mendicants live in harmony—appreciating each other, without quarreling, blending like milk and water, and regarding each other with kindly eyes—let alone thinking about it.

Niṭṭhamettha gacchāmi:

I come to a conclusion about them:

‘addhā te āyasmanto tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu, tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsu.

‘Clearly those venerables have given up three things and cultivated three things.’

Katame tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu?

What three things have they given up?

Kāmavitakkaṁ, byāpādavitakkaṁ, vihiṁsāvitakkaṁ

Sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts.

ime tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu.

Katame tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsu?

What three things have they cultivated?

Nekkhammavitakkaṁ, abyāpādavitakkaṁ, avihiṁsāvitakkaṁ

Thoughts of renunciation, good will, and harmlessness. …

ime tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsu’.

Yassaṁ, bhikkhave, disāyaṁ bhikkhū samaggā sammodamānā avivadamānā khīrodakībhūtā aññamaññaṁ piyacakkhūhi sampassantā viharanti, gantumpi me esā, bhikkhave, disā phāsu hoti, pageva manasi kātuṁ.

Niṭṭhamettha gacchāmi:

I come to a conclusion about them:

‘addhā te āyasmanto ime tayo dhamme pajahiṁsu, ime tayo dhamme bahulamakaṁsū’”ti.

‘Clearly those venerables have given up three things and cultivated three things.’”

Dutiyaṁ.

Qualities:

Feuding

Feuding

An entrenched pattern of opposition and rivalry where parties seek to prevail over one another. It sustains hostility, disturbs peace, and obstructs harmony in community.

Also known as: competitiveness, contentiousness, quarreling, rivalry, opposition, struggle, conflict
Pāli: paḷāsa
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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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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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Non-harm

Non-harm

The intention of harmlessness, rooted in the understanding that all beings tremble at violence and fear death.

Also known as: non-violence, non-injury, harmlessness, non-killing, non-hurting
Pāli: avihiṃsā, ahiṁsa
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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