DiscoverANAN 6AN 6.109

The Buddha teaches on thoughts, presenting a sixfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 6.109 Thoughts

“Tayome, bhikkhave, dhammā. Katame tayo? Kāmavitakko, byāpādavitakko, vihiṁsāvitakko. Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhammā. Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tiṇṇaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya tayo dhammā bhāvetabbā. Katame tayo? Kāmavitakkassa pahānāya nekkhammavitakko bhāvetabbo, byāpādavitakkassa pahānāya abyāpādavitakko bhāvetabbo, vihiṁsāvitakkassa pahānāya avihiṁsāvitakko bhāvetabbo. Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tiṇṇaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya ime tayo dhammā bhāvetabbā”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tayome, bhikkhave, dhammā.

“Mendicants, there are these three things.

Katame tayo?

What three?

Kāmavitakko, byāpādavitakko, vihiṁsāvitakko.

Sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhammā.

These are the three things.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tiṇṇaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya tayo dhammā bhāvetabbā.

To give up these three things you should develop three things.

Katame tayo?

What three?

Kāmavitakkassa pahānāya nekkhammavitakko bhāvetabbo, byāpādavitakkassa pahānāya abyāpādavitakko bhāvetabbo, vihiṁsāvitakkassa pahānāya avihiṁsāvitakko bhāvetabbo.

You should develop thoughts of renunciation to give up sensual thoughts, thoughts of good will to give up malicious thoughts, and thoughts of harmlessness to give up cruel thoughts.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tiṇṇaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya ime tayo dhammā bhāvetabbā”ti.

These are the three things you should develop to give up those three things.”

Tatiyaṁ.

Qualities:

Giving up

Giving up

☀️ bright quality

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

☁️ dark quality

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

☀️ bright quality

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

☀️ bright quality

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

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