The Book of the Sixes

The Buddha explains the six qualities in relation to the six senses that makes a person worthy of offerings, hospitality, gifts, and reverence.

The Buddha outlines the six unsurpassable things in seeing, hearing, acquisitions, training, service, and recollection.

The Buddha outlines the six subjects for recollection: the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Saṅgha, virtue, generosity, and the deities.

When Mahānāma inquires about the frequent abidings of a stream-enterer who has cognized the Dhamma, the Buddha reveals six foundational recollections. A frequent cultivation of these recollections allows the stream-enterer to remain completely steady even when living amidst unbalanced and afflicted people.

The Buddha describes the six releases of mind, through 1) loving-kindness, 2) compassion, 3) appreciative joy, 4) equanimity, 5) the signless, and 6) the uprooting of the conceit “I am" - that assuredly lead to freedom from 1) ill will, 2) cruelty, 3) dissatisfaction, 4) passion, 5) following after signs, and 6) the conceit “I am" when cultivated and frequently practiced to fulfillment.

One who delights in work, talk, sleep, company, bonding, and mental proliferation faces a bad death, remaining bound to personal existence.

One who delights in work, talk, sleep, company, bonding, and mental proliferation faces a passing full of regret and remains bound to personal existence.

On observing a fisherman killing fish and selling them, the Buddha explains the consequences of cruelty.

When the Buddha asks the bhikkhus on how they cultivate recollection of death, their answers reveal a negligent mindset. The Buddha then instructs to cultivate recollection of death with diligence and keenness, which leads to the wearing away of the taints.

The Buddha explains how to cultivate recollection of death so that it is of great fruit and great benefit, and leads to the deathless.

The Buddha explains the six appropriate times to seek guidance from an esteemed monk: whenever the mind is overcome by any of the five hindrances, or when one lacks the sign for the immediate wearing away of the taints.

Elder bhikkhus debate the best time of day to approach an esteemed bhikkhu. Mahākaccāna resolves the discussion by quoting the Buddha: the proper time is not based on the clock, but rather whenever one is internally overwhelmed by the five hindrances or lacks the sign for the wearing away of the taints.

Following Udāyī’s failure to answer, Ānanda outlines five subjects of recollection including the jhānas, perception of light, and contemplating the body’s impurities and mortality. The Buddha then adds a sixth one.

The Buddha describes the six unsurpassable things among seeing, listening, acquisitions, training, service, and recollection.

A radiant deity visits the Buddha and shares six qualities that ensure the non-decline of a bhikkhu - 1) respect for the Teacher, 2) the Dhamma, 3) the Saṅgha, 4) the training, 5) diligence, and 6) courteousness. The Buddha affirms these qualities as supportive of progress toward Nibbāna.

A radiant deity visits the Buddha and shares six qualities that ensure the non-decline of a bhikkhu - 1) respect for the Teacher, 2) the Dhamma, 3) the Saṅgha, 4) the training, 5) conscience, and 6) moral dread. The Buddha confirms these as conditions for stability and progress on the path.

The Buddha shares the six roots of disputes - 1.) irritable nature and resentment, 2.) denigration and contention, 3.) envy and miserliness, 4.) deceit and hypocrisy, 5.) evil desires and wrong view, 6.) clinging to views, holding on to them, and insisting on them - that lead to one not fulfilling the training, to dispute in the community, and to the harm and suffering of many.

The Buddha rejects fame and the pleasure of gains, extolling seclusion and awakening. He disapproves of living near villages—even when collected—as it invites disturbance and attachment to acquisitions, honor, and praise. He approves forest dwelling—even if dozing or distracted—for it leads to unification, collectedness, and freeing an unliberated mind.

The Buddha explains the six kinds of persons found existing in the world based on their mental qualities and understanding of the Dhamma.

Through a simile of a tree, the Buddha describes the importance of sense restraint as the foundational proximate cause for ethical conduct, collectedness, and knowledge and vision of things as they truly are.

The Buddha advises Soṇa on the importance of balanced energy and breaking through to a balanced state of the faculties with the example of the lute strings.

A number of elder bhikkhus are discussing the meaning of the Buddha's words from the verse on ‘Metteyya’s Questions’ in the Sutta Nipāta. They each share a well-spoken explanation and then present it to the Buddha, who presents his intended meaning when he spoke those words.

The Buddha shares a penetrative dhamma exposition on sensual pleasures, feelings, perceptions, taints, actions, and suffering.

The Buddha explains the six powers of a Tathāgata that are accessible to one with collectedness.

Delighting in company prevents a practitioner from grasping the theme of the mind and fulfilling right view.

Six qualities to abandon to dwell in the first jhāna - 1) sensual desire, 2) ill will, 3) complacency, 4) restlessness, 5) doubt, 6) failure to clearly see the true danger in sensual pleasures with correct wisdom.

Six qualities to abandon to dwell in the first jhāna - 1) thoughts of sensual desire, 2) thoughts of ill will, 3) thoughts of harm, 4) perception of sensual desire, 5) perception of ill will, 6) perception of harm.

Six qualities to dwell in ease, without distress, without anguish - 1) thoughts of relinquishment, 2) non-ill will, 3) non-harming, 4) perceptions of relinquishment, 5) non-ill will, 6) non-harming.

Six qualities that help achieve greatness and expansiveness in wholesome qualities in no long time.

The Buddha contrasts two sets of six qualities that determine one's capacity for progress when hearing the Dhamma. One is incapable of growth in wholesome qualities if they are unwilling to listen, inattentive, misinterpret the meaning, and hold contrary views.

The Buddha outlines six deeds an individual accomplished in view is incapable of committing, including the five heinous crimes and dedicating oneself to another teacher

Awakening requires six rare conditions: a Tathāgata's appearance, a teacher of the Dhamma, rebirth in a noble realm, unimpaired faculties, intelligence, and the desire for wholesome qualities.

The Buddha outlines six benefits of realizing the fruit of stream-entry.

Observing the body in and of itself requires giving up six traits: delight in work, talking, sleeping, company, unguarded senses, and immoderation in eating. Abandoning these makes one capable of success.