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

AN 3.125 The Gotamaka Shrine

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati gotamake cetiye. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Abhiññāyāhaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desemi, no anabhiññāya. Sanidānāhaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desemi, no anidānaṁ. Sappāṭihāriyāhaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desemi, no appāṭihāriyaṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, abhiññāya dhammaṁ desayato no anabhiññāya, sanidānaṁ dhammaṁ desayato no anidānaṁ, sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desayato no appāṭihāriyaṁ, karaṇīyo ovādo, karaṇīyā anusāsanī. Alañca pana vo, bhikkhave, tuṭṭhiyā, alaṁ attamanatāya, alaṁ somanassāya: ‘sammāsambuddho bhagavā, svākkhāto dhammo, suppaṭipanno saṅgho’”ti.

Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti. Imasmiñca pana veyyākaraṇasmiṁ bhaññamāne sahassī lokadhātu akampitthāti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati gotamake cetiye.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Gotamaka Shrine.

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,

“bhikkhavo”ti.

“Mendicants!”

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

“Venerable sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

“Abhiññāyāhaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desemi, no anabhiññāya.

“Mendicants, I teach based on direct knowledge, not without direct knowledge.

Sanidānāhaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desemi, no anidānaṁ.

I teach with reasons, not without them.

Sappāṭihāriyāhaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammaṁ desemi, no appāṭihāriyaṁ.

I teach with a demonstrable basis, not without it.

Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, abhiññāya dhammaṁ desayato no anabhiññāya, sanidānaṁ dhammaṁ desayato no anidānaṁ, sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desayato no appāṭihāriyaṁ, karaṇīyo ovādo, karaṇīyā anusāsanī.

Since this is so, you should follow my advice and instruction.

Alañca pana vo, bhikkhave, tuṭṭhiyā, alaṁ attamanatāya, alaṁ somanassāya:

This is enough for you to feel joyful, delighted, and happy:

‘sammāsambuddho bhagavā, svākkhāto dhammo, suppaṭipanno saṅgho’”ti.

‘The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha! The teaching is well explained! The Saṅgha is practicing well!’”

Idamavoca bhagavā.

That is what the Buddha said.

Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.

Imasmiñca pana veyyākaraṇasmiṁ bhaññamāne sahassī lokadhātu akampitthāti.

And while this discourse was being spoken, the thousandfold galaxy shook.

Tatiyaṁ.

Qualities:

Direct knowledge

Direct knowledge

A deep, firsthand realization or knowing that arises from personal experience, not from study or conceptual understanding; it is an immediate, unmediated apprehension of truth.

Also known as: experiential understanding, direct experience
Pāli: abhiñña
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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