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

AN 3.75 Support

Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

“Ye, ānanda, anukampeyyātha ye ca sotabbaṁ maññeyyuṁ mittā amaccā ñātī sālohitā te vo, ānanda, tīsu ṭhānesu samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā. Katamesu tīsu?

Buddhe aveccappasāde samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ, buddho bhagavā’ti,

dhamme aveccappasāde samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā: ‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti,

saṅghe aveccappasāde samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā: ‘suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho ujuppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho ñāyappaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho sāmīcippaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā’ti.

Siyā, ānanda, catunnaṁ mahābhūtānaṁ aññathattaṁ pathavīdhātuyā āpodhātuyā tejodhātuyā vāyodhātuyā, na tveva buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa siyā aññathattaṁ tatridaṁ aññathattaṁ. So vatānanda, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato ariyasāvako nirayaṁ tiracchānayoniṁ pettivisayaṁ upapajjissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

Siyā, ānanda, catunnaṁ mahābhūtānaṁ aññathattaṁ pathavīdhātuyā āpodhātuyā tejodhātuyā vāyodhātuyā, na tveva dhamme …pe… na tveva saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa siyā aññathattaṁ tatridaṁ aññathattaṁ. So vatānanda, saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato ariyasāvako nirayaṁ tiracchānayoniṁ pettivisayaṁ upapajjissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

Ye, ānanda, anukampeyyātha ye ca sotabbaṁ maññeyyuṁ mittā amaccā ñātī sālohitā te vo, ānanda, imesu tīsu ṭhānesu samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā”ti.

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

“Ye, ānanda, anukampeyyātha ye ca sotabbaṁ maññeyyuṁ mittā amaccā ñātī sālohitā te vo, ānanda, tīsu ṭhānesu samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā.

“Ānanda, those who you have sympathy for, and those worth listening to—friends and colleagues, relatives and family—should be encouraged, supported, and established in three things.

Katamesu tīsu?

What three?

Buddhe aveccappasāde samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā:

Experiential confidence in the Buddha:

‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ, buddho bhagavā’ti,

‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

dhamme aveccappasāde samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā:

Experiential confidence in the teaching:

‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti,

‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’

saṅghe aveccappasāde samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā:

Experiential confidence in the Saṅgha:

‘suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho ujuppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho ñāyappaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho sāmīcippaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā’ti.

‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’

Siyā, ānanda, catunnaṁ mahābhūtānaṁ aññathattaṁ

There might be change in the four principal states—

pathavīdhātuyā āpodhātuyā tejodhātuyā vāyodhātuyā, na tveva buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa siyā aññathattaṁ tatridaṁ aññathattaṁ.

earth, water, air, and fire—but a noble disciple with experiential confidence in the Buddha would never change.

So vatānanda, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato ariyasāvako nirayaṁ tiracchānayoniṁ pettivisayaṁ upapajjissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

In this context, ‘change’ means that such a noble disciple will be reborn in hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm: this is quite impossible.

Siyā, ānanda, catunnaṁ mahābhūtānaṁ aññathattaṁ

There might be change in the four principal states—

pathavīdhātuyā āpodhātuyā tejodhātuyā vāyodhātuyā, na tveva dhamme …pe…

earth, water, air, and fire—but a noble disciple with experiential confidence in the teaching …

na tveva saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa siyā aññathattaṁ tatridaṁ aññathattaṁ.

or the Saṅgha would never change.

So vatānanda, saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato ariyasāvako nirayaṁ tiracchānayoniṁ pettivisayaṁ upapajjissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

In this context, ‘change’ means that such a noble disciple will be reborn in hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm: this is quite impossible.

Ye, ānanda, anukampeyyātha ye ca sotabbaṁ maññeyyuṁ mittā amaccā ñātī sālohitā te vo, ānanda, imesu tīsu ṭhānesu samādapetabbā nivesetabbā patiṭṭhāpetabbā”ti.

Those who you have sympathy for, and those worth listening to—friends and colleagues, relatives and family—should be encouraged, supported, and established by you in these three things.”

Pañcamaṁ.

Qualities:

Compassion

Compassion

A mental quality of wise empathy in response to suffering, which counters qualities of harm or cruelty.

Also known as: benevolence, concern, sympathy, kindness towards those who are suffering
Pāli: karuṇā, anukampa
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Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Merit

Merit

Wholesome result of good conduct, generosity, and right intention. Merit brightens the mind and supports happiness and favorable conditions for practice.

Also known as: good deeds, spiritual wealth
Pāli: puñña, kalyāṇa
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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