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

AN 3.84 The Vajji

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Atha kho aññataro vajjiputtako bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so vajjiputtako bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“sādhikamidaṁ, bhante, diyaḍḍhasikkhāpadasataṁ anvaddhamāsaṁ uddesaṁ āgacchati. Nāhaṁ, bhante, ettha sakkomi sikkhitun”ti.

“Sakkhissasi pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, tīsu sikkhāsu sikkhituṁ adhisīlasikkhāya, adhicittasikkhāya adhipaññāsikkhāyā”ti?

“Sakkomahaṁ, bhante, tīsu sikkhāsu sikkhituṁ adhisīlasikkhāya, adhicittasikkhāya, adhipaññāsikkhāyā”ti.

“Tasmātiha tvaṁ, bhikkhu, tīsu sikkhāsu sikkhassu adhisīlasikkhāya, adhicittasikkhāya, adhipaññāsikkhāya.

Yato kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, adhisīlampi sikkhissasi, adhicittampi sikkhissasi, adhipaññampi sikkhissasi, tassa tuyhaṁ bhikkhu adhisīlampi sikkhato adhicittampi sikkhato adhipaññampi sikkhato rāgo pahīyissati, doso pahīyissati, moho pahīyissati. So tvaṁ rāgassa pahānā dosassa pahānā mohassa pahānā yaṁ akusalaṁ na taṁ karissasi, yaṁ pāpaṁ na taṁ sevissasī”ti.

Atha kho so bhikkhu aparena samayena adhisīlampi sikkhi, adhicittampi sikkhi, adhipaññampi sikkhi. Tassa adhisīlampi sikkhato adhicittampi sikkhato adhipaññampi sikkhato rāgo pahīyi, doso pahīyi, moho pahīyi. So rāgassa pahānā dosassa pahānā mohassa pahānā yaṁ akusalaṁ taṁ nākāsi, yaṁ pāpaṁ taṁ na sevīti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Atha kho aññataro vajjiputtako bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so vajjiputtako bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then a certain Vajji monk went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“sādhikamidaṁ, bhante, diyaḍḍhasikkhāpadasataṁ anvaddhamāsaṁ uddesaṁ āgacchati.

“Sir, each fortnight over a hundred and fifty training rules are recited.

Nāhaṁ, bhante, ettha sakkomi sikkhitun”ti.

I’m not able to train in them.”

“Sakkhissasi pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, tīsu sikkhāsu sikkhituṁ

“But monk, are you able to train in three trainings:

adhisīlasikkhāya, adhicittasikkhāya adhipaññāsikkhāyā”ti?

the higher ethics, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom?”

“Sakkomahaṁ, bhante, tīsu sikkhāsu sikkhituṁ

“I am, sir.”

adhisīlasikkhāya, adhicittasikkhāya, adhipaññāsikkhāyā”ti.

“Tasmātiha tvaṁ, bhikkhu, tīsu sikkhāsu sikkhassu

“So, monk, you should train in these three trainings:

adhisīlasikkhāya, adhicittasikkhāya, adhipaññāsikkhāya.

the higher ethics, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom.

Yato kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, adhisīlampi sikkhissasi, adhicittampi sikkhissasi, adhipaññampi sikkhissasi, tassa tuyhaṁ bhikkhu adhisīlampi sikkhato adhicittampi sikkhato adhipaññampi sikkhato rāgo pahīyissati, doso pahīyissati, moho pahīyissati.

As you train in these, you will give up greed, hate, and delusion.

So tvaṁ rāgassa pahānā dosassa pahānā mohassa pahānā yaṁ akusalaṁ na taṁ karissasi, yaṁ pāpaṁ na taṁ sevissasī”ti.

Then you won’t do anything unskillful, or practice anything bad.”

Atha kho so bhikkhu aparena samayena adhisīlampi sikkhi, adhicittampi sikkhi, adhipaññampi sikkhi.

After some time that monk trained in the higher ethics, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom.

Tassa adhisīlampi sikkhato adhicittampi sikkhato adhipaññampi sikkhato rāgo pahīyi, doso pahīyi, moho pahīyi.

He gave up greed, hate, and delusion.

So rāgassa pahānā dosassa pahānā mohassa pahānā yaṁ akusalaṁ taṁ nākāsi, yaṁ pāpaṁ taṁ na sevīti.

Then he didn’t do anything unskillful, or practice anything bad.

Catutthaṁ.

Qualities:

Aversion

Aversion

A rejecting mental quality rooted in perception, where one instinctively turns away from or resists unpleasant experiences or objects; it manifests as a tendency to push away discomfort, obstructing patience and acceptance.

Also known as: animosity, hate, hostility, fault-finding mindset, upset
Pāli: dosa, paṭighasaññā, vera
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Delusion

Delusion

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
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Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
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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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Unwholesome

Unwholesome

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

Also known as: blameworthy, unhealthy, unskillful, unbeneficial, karmically unprofitable
Pāli: akusala
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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