The Buddha teaches on with a drawn sword, presenting a sixfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 6.103 With a Drawn Sword

“Cha, bhikkhave, ānisaṁse sampassamānena alameva bhikkhunā sabbasaṅkhāresu anodhiṁ karitvā dukkhasaññaṁ upaṭṭhāpetuṁ. Katame cha? ‘Sabbasaṅkhāresu ca me nibbidasaññā paccupaṭṭhitā bhavissati, seyyathāpi ukkhittāsike vadhake. Sabbalokā ca me mano vuṭṭhahissati, nibbāne ca santadassāvī bhavissāmi, anusayā ca me samugghātaṁ gacchissanti, kiccakārī ca bhavissāmi, satthā ca me pariciṇṇo bhavissati mettāvatāyā’ti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cha ānisaṁse sampassamānena alameva bhikkhunā sabbasaṅkhāresu anodhiṁ karitvā dukkhasaññaṁ upaṭṭhāpetun”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Cha, bhikkhave, ānisaṁse sampassamānena alameva bhikkhunā sabbasaṅkhāresu anodhiṁ karitvā dukkhasaññaṁ upaṭṭhāpetuṁ.

“Mendicants, seeing six benefits is quite enough to establish the perception of suffering in all conditions without qualification.

Katame cha?

What six?

‘Sabbasaṅkhāresu ca me nibbidasaññā paccupaṭṭhitā bhavissati, seyyathāpi ukkhittāsike vadhake.

‘Perception of disillusionment will be established in me for all conditions, like a killer with a drawn sword.’

Sabbalokā ca me mano vuṭṭhahissati, nibbāne ca santadassāvī bhavissāmi, anusayā ca me samugghātaṁ gacchissanti, kiccakārī ca bhavissāmi, satthā ca me pariciṇṇo bhavissati mettāvatāyā’ti.

‘My mind will rise above the whole world.’ ‘I will see extinguishment as peaceful.’ ‘My underlying tendencies will be uprooted.’ ‘I will fulfill my duty.’ ‘I will have served my Teacher with love.’

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cha ānisaṁse sampassamānena alameva bhikkhunā sabbasaṅkhāresu anodhiṁ karitvā dukkhasaññaṁ upaṭṭhāpetun”ti.

Seeing these six benefits is quite enough to establish the perception of suffering in all conditions without qualification.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Affection

Affection

A mental quality of tender affection and fond regard, often wholesome when rooted in kindness, which inclines the mind toward warmth and care. When unguarded, it may turn toward fixation upon what is 'dear,' leading the mind to attachment and the grief that follows separation from what has been clung to as 'dear'.

Also known as: fondness, love, tender regard
Pāli: pema
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026