DiscoverANAN 3AN 3.6

The Buddha contrasts the fool and the astute person, each known by three qualities of conduct and response.

AN 3.6 Unskillful

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Akusalena kāyakammena, akusalena vacīkammena, akusalena manokammena.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo.

Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Kusalena kāyakammena, kusalena vacīkammena, kusalena manokammena.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. Tasmātiha …pe….

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo.

“A fool is known by three things.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Akusalena kāyakammena, akusalena vacīkammena, akusalena manokammena.

Unskillful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo.

These are the three things by which a fool is known.

Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo.

An astute person is known by three things.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Kusalena kāyakammena, kusalena vacīkammena, kusalena manokammena.

Skillful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo.

These are the three things by which an astute person is known.

Tasmātiha …pe….

So you should train …”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Qualities:

Immaturity

Immaturity

☁️ dark quality

A childish lack of discernment that fails to see the results of actions clearly. It delights in surface pleasure and ignores consequence. Immaturity leads to poor choices and association with unwise companions.

Also known as: lacking in discernment, lacking in good sense, child-like in understanding, lack of wisdom, lack of experience, foolishness
Pāli: bāla
View all discourses →
Unwholesome

Unwholesome

☁️ dark quality

Conducive to or suggestive of poor health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameworthy, unhealthy, unskillful, unbeneficial, karmically unprofitable
Pāli: akusala
View all discourses →
Wholesome

Wholesome

☀️ bright quality

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 →
Wisdom

Wisdom

☀️ bright quality

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
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026

View Pāli source ↗