The Buddha teaches on wilderness, presenting a fourfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 4.262 Wilderness

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu nālaṁ araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevituṁ. Katamehi catūhi? Kāmavitakkena, byāpādavitakkena, vihiṁsāvitakkena, duppañño hoti jaḷo elamūgo imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu nālaṁ araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevituṁ.

Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevituṁ. Katamehi catūhi? Nekkhammavitakkena, abyāpādavitakkena, avihiṁsāvitakkena, paññavā hoti ajaḷo anelamūgo imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevitun”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu nālaṁ araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevituṁ.

“Mendicants, when a mendicant has four qualities they’re not ready to frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest.

Katamehi catūhi?

What four?

Kāmavitakkena, byāpādavitakkena, vihiṁsāvitakkena, duppañño hoti jaḷo elamūgo

They have sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts; or they’re witless, dull, and idiotic.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu nālaṁ araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevituṁ.

When a mendicant possesses these four qualities they’re not ready to frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest.

Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevituṁ.

When a mendicant has four qualities they’re ready to frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest.

Katamehi catūhi?

What four?

Nekkhammavitakkena, abyāpādavitakkena, avihiṁsāvitakkena, paññavā hoti ajaḷo anelamūgo

They have thoughts of renunciation, good will, and harmlessness; and they’re wise, bright, and clever.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevitun”ti.

When a mendicant possesses these four qualities they’re ready to frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest.”

Navamaṁ.

Qualities:

Flexible

Flexible

A quality of the cultivated mind—malleable, workable, and free from rigidity and resistance. Akin to refined gold, a flexible mind is suitable for cultivation of direct knowledge.

Also known as: gentle, pliable, workable, malleable, yielding, ready, suitable for use
Pāli: mudu, kammañña, soracca
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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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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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Non-harm

Non-harm

The intention of harmlessness, rooted in the understanding that all beings tremble at violence and fear death.

Also known as: non-violence, non-injury, harmlessness, non-killing, non-hurting
Pāli: avihiṃsā, ahiṁsa
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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