The Buddha teaches on three trainings (2nd), presenting a threefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 3.90 Three Trainings (2nd)

“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, sikkhā. Katamā tisso? Adhisīlasikkhā, adhicittasikkhā, adhipaññāsikkhā.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, adhisīlasikkhā? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti …pe… samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, adhisīlasikkhā.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, adhicittasikkhā? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, adhicittasikkhā.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, adhipaññāsikkhā? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, adhipaññāsikkhā. Imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso sikkhāti.

Adhisīlaṁ adhicittaṁ,
adhipaññañca vīriyavā;
Thāmavā dhitimā jhāyī,
sato guttindriyo care.

Yathā pure tathā pacchā,
yathā pacchā tathā pure;
Yathā adho tathā uddhaṁ,
yathā uddhaṁ tathā adho.

Yathā divā tathā rattiṁ,
yathā rattiṁ tathā divā;
Abhibhuyya disā sabbā,
appamāṇasamādhinā.

Tamāhu sekhaṁ paṭipadaṁ,
atho saṁsuddhacāriyaṁ;
Tamāhu loke sambuddhaṁ,
dhīraṁ paṭipadantaguṁ.

Viññāṇassa nirodhena,
taṇhākkhayavimuttino;
Pajjotasseva nibbānaṁ,
vimokkho hoti cetaso”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, sikkhā.

“Mendicants, these are the three trainings.

Katamā tisso?

What three?

Adhisīlasikkhā, adhicittasikkhā, adhipaññāsikkhā.

The training in the higher ethics, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, adhisīlasikkhā?

And what is the training in the higher ethics?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti …pe… samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.

It’s when a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, adhisīlasikkhā.

This is called the training in the higher ethics.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, adhicittasikkhā?

And what is the training in the higher mind?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

It’s when a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption … second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, adhicittasikkhā.

This is called the training in the higher mind.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, adhipaññāsikkhā?

And what is the training in the higher wisdom?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.

It’s when a mendicant realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, adhipaññāsikkhā.

This is called the training in the higher wisdom.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso sikkhāti.

These are the three trainings.

Adhisīlaṁ adhicittaṁ,

The higher ethics, the higher mind,

adhipaññañca vīriyavā;

and the higher wisdom should be practiced

Thāmavā dhitimā jhāyī,

by those energetic, steadfast, and resolute,

sato guttindriyo care.

practicing absorption, mindful, with guarded senses.

Yathā pure tathā pacchā,

As before, so behind;

yathā pacchā tathā pure;

as behind, so before.

Yathā adho tathā uddhaṁ,

As below, so above;

yathā uddhaṁ tathā adho.

as above, so below.

Yathā divā tathā rattiṁ,

As by day, so by night;

yathā rattiṁ tathā divā;

as by night, so by day.

Abhibhuyya disā sabbā,

Having mastered every direction

appamāṇasamādhinā.

with limitless immersion,

Tamāhu sekhaṁ paṭipadaṁ,

they call them a ‘trainee on the path’,

atho saṁsuddhacāriyaṁ;

and ‘one living a pure life’.

Tamāhu loke sambuddhaṁ,

But a wise one who has gone to the end of the path

dhīraṁ paṭipadantaguṁ.

they call a ‘Buddha’ in the world.

Viññāṇassa nirodhena,

With the cessation of consciousness,

taṇhākkhayavimuttino;

freed by the ending of craving,

Pajjotasseva nibbānaṁ,

the liberation of their heart

vimokkho hoti cetaso”ti.

is like a lamp going out.”

Dasamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Insight

Insight

Insight is deep, intuitive realization that transforms understanding and guides practice.

Also known as: having insight, with understanding, right knowledge
Pāli: ñāṇa, sammāñāṇa
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Jhana

Jhana

An abiding with a steady, collected awareness that is attained through seclusion from the five hindrances and unwholesome mental states. When supported by right view, a jhāna can be a basis for the wearing away of taints and directing the mind toward the vision of Nibbāna.

Also known as: meditation, undistracted awareness, absorption, mental absorption
Pāli: jhāna, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Liberation

Liberation

Liberation can imply a temporary release of the mind, i.e. liberated from certain unwholesome mental qualities or complete liberation from all unwholesome qualities of the mind, i.e. Nibbāna.

Also known as: freedom, release, emancipation, deliverance
Pāli: vimutti, vimokkha, cetovimutti, paññāvimutti, akuppā cetovimutti
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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