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

AN 3.93 Seclusion

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā pavivekāni paññāpenti. Katamāni tīṇi? Cīvarapavivekaṁ, piṇḍapātapavivekaṁ, senāsanapavivekaṁ.

Tatridaṁ, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā cīvarapavivekasmiṁ paññāpenti, sāṇānipi dhārenti, masāṇānipi dhārenti, chavadussānipi dhārenti, paṁsukūlānipi dhārenti, tirīṭānipi dhārenti, ajinampi dhārenti, ajinakkhipampi dhārenti, kusacīrampi dhārenti, vākacīrampi dhārenti, phalakacīrampi dhārenti, kesakambalampi dhārenti, vālakambalampi dhārenti, ulūkapakkhikampi dhārenti. Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā cīvarapavivekasmiṁ paññāpenti.

Tatridaṁ, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā piṇḍapātapavivekasmiṁ paññāpenti. Sākabhakkhāpi honti, sāmākabhakkhāpi honti, nīvārabhakkhāpi honti, daddulabhakkhāpi honti, haṭabhakkhāpi honti, kaṇabhakkhāpi honti, ācāmabhakkhāpi honti, piññākabhakkhāpi honti, tiṇabhakkhāpi honti, gomayabhakkhāpi honti, vanamūlaphalāhārā yāpenti pavattaphalabhojī. Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā piṇḍapātapavivekasmiṁ paññāpenti.

Tatridaṁ, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā senāsanapavivekasmiṁ paññāpenti araññaṁ rukkhamūlaṁ susānaṁ vanapatthaṁ abbhokāsaṁ palālapuñjaṁ bhusāgāraṁ. Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā senāsanapavivekasmiṁ paññāpenti. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi aññatitthiyā paribbājakā pavivekāni paññāpenti.

Tīṇi kho panimāni, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye bhikkhuno pavivekāni. Katamāni tīṇi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā ca hoti, dussīlyañcassa pahīnaṁ hoti, tena ca vivitto hoti; sammādiṭṭhiko ca hoti, micchādiṭṭhi cassa pahīnā hoti, tāya ca vivitto hoti; khīṇāsavo ca hoti, āsavā cassa pahīnā honti, tehi ca vivitto hoti. Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, dussīlyañcassa pahīnaṁ hoti, tena ca vivitto hoti; sammādiṭṭhiko ca hoti, micchādiṭṭhi cassa pahīnā hoti, tāya ca vivitto hoti; khīṇāsavo ca hoti, āsavā cassa pahīnā honti, tehi ca vivitto hoti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘bhikkhu aggappatto sārappatto suddho sāre patiṭṭhito’.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kassakassa gahapatissa sampannaṁ sālikkhettaṁ. Tamenaṁ kassako gahapati sīghaṁ sīghaṁ lavāpeyya. Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ lavāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ saṅgharāpeyya. Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ saṅgharāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ ubbahāpeyya. Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ ubbahāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ puñjaṁ kārāpeyya. Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ puñjaṁ kārāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ maddāpeyya. Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ maddāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ palālāni uddharāpeyya. Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ palālāni uddharāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ bhusikaṁ uddharāpeyya. Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ bhusikaṁ uddharāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ opunāpeyya. Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ opunāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ atiharāpeyya. Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ atiharāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ koṭṭāpeyya. Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ koṭṭāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ thusāni uddharāpeyya. Evamassu tāni, bhikkhave, kassakassa gahapatissa dhaññāni aggappattāni sārappattāni suddhāni sāre patiṭṭhitāni.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yato bhikkhu sīlavā ca hoti, dussīlyañcassa pahīnaṁ hoti, tena ca vivitto hoti; sammādiṭṭhiko ca hoti, micchādiṭṭhi cassa pahīnā hoti, tāya ca vivitto hoti; khīṇāsavo ca hoti, āsavā cassa pahīnā honti, tehi ca vivitto hoti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘bhikkhu aggappatto sārappatto suddho sāre patiṭṭhito’”ti.

Dutiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā pavivekāni paññāpenti.

“Mendicants, wanderers of other religions advocate three kinds of seclusion.

Katamāni tīṇi?

What three?

Cīvarapavivekaṁ, piṇḍapātapavivekaṁ, senāsanapavivekaṁ.

Seclusion in robes, almsfood, and lodgings.

Tatridaṁ, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā cīvarapavivekasmiṁ paññāpenti, sāṇānipi dhārenti, masāṇānipi dhārenti, chavadussānipi dhārenti, paṁsukūlānipi dhārenti, tirīṭānipi dhārenti, ajinampi dhārenti, ajinakkhipampi dhārenti, kusacīrampi dhārenti, vākacīrampi dhārenti, phalakacīrampi dhārenti, kesakambalampi dhārenti, vālakambalampi dhārenti, ulūkapakkhikampi dhārenti.

Wanderers of other religions advocate this kind of seclusion in robes. They wear robes of sunn hemp, mixed hemp, corpse-wrapping cloth, rags, lodh tree bark, antelope hide (whole or in strips), kusa grass, bark, wood-chips, human hair, horse-tail hair, or owls’ wings.

Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā cīvarapavivekasmiṁ paññāpenti.

This is what wanderers of other religions advocate for seclusion in robes.

Tatridaṁ, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā piṇḍapātapavivekasmiṁ paññāpenti.

Wanderers of other religions advocate this kind of seclusion in almsfood.

Sākabhakkhāpi honti, sāmākabhakkhāpi honti, nīvārabhakkhāpi honti, daddulabhakkhāpi honti, haṭabhakkhāpi honti, kaṇabhakkhāpi honti, ācāmabhakkhāpi honti, piññākabhakkhāpi honti, tiṇabhakkhāpi honti, gomayabhakkhāpi honti, vanamūlaphalāhārā yāpenti pavattaphalabhojī.

They eat herbs, millet, wild rice, poor rice, water lettuce, rice bran, scum from boiling rice, sesame flour, grass, or cow dung. They survive on forest roots and fruits, or eating fallen fruit.

Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā piṇḍapātapavivekasmiṁ paññāpenti.

This is what the wanderers of other religions advocate for seclusion in almsfood.

Tatridaṁ, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā senāsanapavivekasmiṁ paññāpenti araññaṁ rukkhamūlaṁ susānaṁ vanapatthaṁ abbhokāsaṁ palālapuñjaṁ bhusāgāraṁ.

Wanderers of other religions advocate this kind of seclusion in lodgings. They stay in a wilderness, at the root of a tree, in a charnel ground, a forest, the open air, a heap of straw, or a threshing-hut.

Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā senāsanapavivekasmiṁ paññāpenti.

This is what wanderers of other religions advocate for seclusion in lodgings.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi aññatitthiyā paribbājakā pavivekāni paññāpenti.

These are the three kinds of seclusion that wanderers of other religions advocate.

Tīṇi kho panimāni, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye bhikkhuno pavivekāni.

In this teaching and training, there are three kinds of seclusion for a mendicant.

Katamāni tīṇi?

What three?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā ca hoti, dussīlyañcassa pahīnaṁ hoti, tena ca vivitto hoti;

Firstly, a mendicant is ethical, giving up unethical conduct, being secluded from it.

sammādiṭṭhiko ca hoti, micchādiṭṭhi cassa pahīnā hoti, tāya ca vivitto hoti;

They have right view, giving up wrong view, being secluded from it.

khīṇāsavo ca hoti, āsavā cassa pahīnā honti, tehi ca vivitto hoti.

They’ve ended defilements, giving up defilements, being secluded from them.

Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, dussīlyañcassa pahīnaṁ hoti, tena ca vivitto hoti;

When a mendicant has these three kinds of seclusion,

sammādiṭṭhiko ca hoti, micchādiṭṭhi cassa pahīnā hoti, tāya ca vivitto hoti;

khīṇāsavo ca hoti, āsavā cassa pahīnā honti, tehi ca vivitto hoti.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘bhikkhu aggappatto sārappatto suddho sāre patiṭṭhito’.

they’re called a mendicant who has reached the peak and the pith, being pure and consolidated in the core.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kassakassa gahapatissa sampannaṁ sālikkhettaṁ.

When a farmer’s rice field is ripe,

Tamenaṁ kassako gahapati sīghaṁ sīghaṁ lavāpeyya.

they’d have the rice cut swiftly,

Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ lavāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ saṅgharāpeyya.

gathered swiftly,

Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ saṅgharāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ ubbahāpeyya.

transported swiftly,

Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ ubbahāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ puñjaṁ kārāpeyya.

made into heaps swiftly,

Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ puñjaṁ kārāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ maddāpeyya.

threshed swiftly,

Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ maddāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ palālāni uddharāpeyya.

the straw removed swiftly,

Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ palālāni uddharāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ bhusikaṁ uddharāpeyya.

Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ bhusikaṁ uddharāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ opunāpeyya.

winnowed swiftly,

Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ opunāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ atiharāpeyya.

brought over swiftly,

Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ atiharāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ koṭṭāpeyya.

pounded swiftly,

Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ koṭṭāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ thusāni uddharāpeyya.

and have the husks removed swiftly.

Evamassu tāni, bhikkhave, kassakassa gahapatissa dhaññāni aggappattāni sārappattāni suddhāni sāre patiṭṭhitāni.

In this way that farmer’s crop would reach the peak and the pith, being pure and consolidated in the core.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yato bhikkhu sīlavā ca hoti, dussīlyañcassa pahīnaṁ hoti, tena ca vivitto hoti;

In the same way, when a mendicant is ethical, giving up unethical conduct, being secluded from it;

sammādiṭṭhiko ca hoti, micchādiṭṭhi cassa pahīnā hoti, tāya ca vivitto hoti;

when they have right view, giving up wrong view, being secluded from it;

khīṇāsavo ca hoti, āsavā cassa pahīnā honti, tehi ca vivitto hoti.

when they’ve ended defilements, giving up defilements, being secluded from them:

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘bhikkhu aggappatto sārappatto suddho sāre patiṭṭhito’”ti.

they’re called a mendicant who has reached the peak and the pith, being pure and consolidated in the core.”

Dutiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Adventurousness

Adventurousness

A restless, thrill-seeking bent of mind that delights in novelty and roaming rather than in restraint. When untrained, it pulls one outward to stimulation and risk, making it hard to settle, listen, or practice steadily.

Also known as: audacious, bold, wild, unrestrained, untamed, with wanderlust
Pāli: adanta
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Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
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Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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Right view

Right view

View that is in line with the Dhamma — teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth.

Also known as: right understanding, right belief, view that is inline with the Dhamma
Pāli: sammādiṭṭhi
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Solitude

Solitude

Physical seclusion from crowds and mental seclusion from unwholesome states. It provides the quietude necessary for the mind to settle, detach from worldly entanglements, and develop deep collectedness.

Also known as: seclusion, privacy, aloofness, non-association
Pāli: viveka, asaṃsaṭṭha
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Wrong view

Wrong view

A distorted understanding that sees permanence in the impermanent, satisfaction in the unsatisfactory, or self in the not-self. Wrong view guides action by delusion, obscuring cause and effect, and closes the door to wisdom and release.

Also known as: distorted or inverted perception, untrue view, false belief
Pāli: micchādiṭṭhi
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Last updated on July 27, 2026