The Buddha teaches on proper occasions (1st), presenting a sixfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 6.27 Proper Occasions (1st)

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“kati nu kho, bhante, samayā manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti?

“Chayime, bhikkhu, samayā manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ. Katame cha?

Idha, bhikkhu, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu kāmarāgapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati kāmarāgaparetena, uppannassa ca kāmarāgassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti tasmiṁ samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu upasaṅkamitvā evamassa vacanīyo: ‘ahaṁ kho, āvuso, kāmarāgapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharāmi kāmarāgaparetena, uppannassa ca kāmarāgassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāmi. Sādhu vata me āyasmā kāmarāgassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desetū’ti. Tassa manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu kāmarāgassa pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhu, paṭhamo samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu byāpādapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati byāpādaparetena, uppannassa ca byāpādassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti tasmiṁ samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu upasaṅkamitvā evamassa vacanīyo: ‘ahaṁ kho, āvuso, byāpādapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharāmi byāpādaparetena, uppannassa ca byāpādassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāmi. Sādhu vata me āyasmā byāpādassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desetū’ti. Tassa manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu byāpādassa pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhu, dutiyo samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu thinamiddhapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati thinamiddhaparetena, uppannassa ca thinamiddhassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti tasmiṁ samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu upasaṅkamitvā evamassa vacanīyo: ‘ahaṁ kho, āvuso, thinamiddhapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharāmi thinamiddhaparetena, uppannassa ca thinamiddhassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāmi. Sādhu vata me āyasmā thinamiddhassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desetū’ti. Tassa manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu thinamiddhassa pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhu, tatiyo samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu uddhaccakukkuccapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati uddhaccakukkuccaparetena, uppannassa ca uddhaccakukkuccassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti tasmiṁ samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu upasaṅkamitvā evamassa vacanīyo: ‘ahaṁ kho, āvuso, uddhaccakukkuccapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharāmi uddhaccakukkuccaparetena, uppannassa ca uddhaccakukkuccassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāmi. Sādhu vata me āyasmā uddhaccakukkuccassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desetū’ti. Tassa manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu uddhaccakukkuccassa pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhu, catuttho samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu vicikicchāpariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati vicikicchāparetena, uppannāya ca vicikicchāya nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti tasmiṁ samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu upasaṅkamitvā evamassa vacanīyo: ‘ahaṁ, āvuso, vicikicchāpariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharāmi vicikicchāparetena, uppannāya ca vicikicchāya nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāmi. Sādhu vata me āyasmā vicikicchāya pahānāya dhammaṁ desetū’ti. Tassa manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu vicikicchāya pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhu, pañcamo samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu yaṁ nimittaṁ āgamma yaṁ nimittaṁ manasikaroto anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti taṁ nimittaṁ nappajānāti tasmiṁ samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu upasaṅkamitvā evamassa vacanīyo: ‘ahaṁ kho, āvuso, yaṁ nimittaṁ āgamma yaṁ nimittaṁ manasikaroto anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, taṁ nimittaṁ nappajānāmi. Sādhu vata me āyasmā āsavānaṁ khayāya dhammaṁ desetū’ti. Tassa manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayāya dhammaṁ deseti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhu, chaṭṭho samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

Ime kho, bhikkhu, cha samayā manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“kati nu kho, bhante, samayā manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti?

“Sir, how many occasions are there for going to see an esteemed mendicant?”

“Chayime, bhikkhu, samayā manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

“Mendicant, there are six occasions for going to see an esteemed mendicant.

Katame cha?

What six?

Idha, bhikkhu, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu kāmarāgapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati kāmarāgaparetena, uppannassa ca kāmarāgassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti tasmiṁ samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu upasaṅkamitvā evamassa vacanīyo:

Firstly, there’s a time when a mendicant’s heart is overcome and mired in sensual desire, and they don’t truly understand the escape from sensual desire that has arisen. On that occasion they should go to an esteemed mendicant and say:

‘ahaṁ kho, āvuso, kāmarāgapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharāmi kāmarāgaparetena, uppannassa ca kāmarāgassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāmi.

‘My heart is overcome and mired in sensual desire, and I don’t truly understand the escape from sensual desire that has arisen.

Sādhu vata me āyasmā kāmarāgassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desetū’ti.

Venerable, please teach me how to give up sensual desire.’

Tassa manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu kāmarāgassa pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti.

Then that esteemed mendicant teaches them how to give up sensual desire.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhu, paṭhamo samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

This is the first occasion for going to see an esteemed mendicant.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu byāpādapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati byāpādaparetena, uppannassa ca byāpādassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti tasmiṁ samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu upasaṅkamitvā evamassa vacanīyo:

Furthermore, there’s a time when a mendicant’s heart is overcome and mired in ill will …

‘ahaṁ kho, āvuso, byāpādapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharāmi byāpādaparetena, uppannassa ca byāpādassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāmi.

Sādhu vata me āyasmā byāpādassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desetū’ti.

Tassa manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu byāpādassa pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhu, dutiyo samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

This is the second occasion for going to see an esteemed mendicant.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu thinamiddhapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati thinamiddhaparetena, uppannassa ca thinamiddhassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti tasmiṁ samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu upasaṅkamitvā evamassa vacanīyo:

Furthermore, there’s a time when a mendicant’s heart is overcome and mired in dullness and drowsiness …

‘ahaṁ kho, āvuso, thinamiddhapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharāmi thinamiddhaparetena, uppannassa ca thinamiddhassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāmi.

Sādhu vata me āyasmā thinamiddhassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desetū’ti.

Tassa manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu thinamiddhassa pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhu, tatiyo samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

This is the third occasion for going to see an esteemed mendicant.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu uddhaccakukkuccapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati uddhaccakukkuccaparetena, uppannassa ca uddhaccakukkuccassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti tasmiṁ samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu upasaṅkamitvā evamassa vacanīyo:

Furthermore, there’s a time when a mendicant’s heart is overcome and mired in restlessness and remorse …

‘ahaṁ kho, āvuso, uddhaccakukkuccapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharāmi uddhaccakukkuccaparetena, uppannassa ca uddhaccakukkuccassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāmi.

Sādhu vata me āyasmā uddhaccakukkuccassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desetū’ti.

Tassa manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu uddhaccakukkuccassa pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhu, catuttho samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

This is the fourth occasion for going to see an esteemed mendicant.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu vicikicchāpariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati vicikicchāparetena, uppannāya ca vicikicchāya nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti tasmiṁ samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu upasaṅkamitvā evamassa vacanīyo:

Furthermore, there’s a time when a mendicant’s heart is overcome and mired in doubt …

‘ahaṁ, āvuso, vicikicchāpariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharāmi vicikicchāparetena, uppannāya ca vicikicchāya nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāmi.

Sādhu vata me āyasmā vicikicchāya pahānāya dhammaṁ desetū’ti.

Tassa manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu vicikicchāya pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhu, pañcamo samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

This is the fifth occasion for going to see an esteemed mendicant.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu yaṁ nimittaṁ āgamma yaṁ nimittaṁ manasikaroto anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti taṁ nimittaṁ nappajānāti tasmiṁ samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu upasaṅkamitvā evamassa vacanīyo:

Furthermore, there’s a time when a mendicant doesn’t understand what kind of meditation they need to focus on in order to end the defilements without delay. On that occasion they should go to an esteemed mendicant and say:

‘ahaṁ kho, āvuso, yaṁ nimittaṁ āgamma yaṁ nimittaṁ manasikaroto anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, taṁ nimittaṁ nappajānāmi.

‘I don’t understand what kind of meditation to focus on in order to end the defilements without delay.

Sādhu vata me āyasmā āsavānaṁ khayāya dhammaṁ desetū’ti.

Venerable, please teach me how to end the defilements.’

Tassa manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayāya dhammaṁ deseti.

Then that esteemed mendicant teaches them how to end the defilements.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhu, chaṭṭho samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

This is the sixth occasion for going to see an esteemed mendicant.

Ime kho, bhikkhu, cha samayā manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

These are the six occasions for going to see an esteemed mendicant.”

Sattamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Doubt

Doubt

Paralyzing indecision about the path or practice. Doubt obstructs confidence and clarity.

Also known as: confusion, indecisiveness, uncertainty, wavering, perplexity
Pāli: vicikiccha, kaṅkhā, vimati
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Drowsiness

Drowsiness

A heaviness or stiffness of the mind that leads to sleepiness. It shrouds clarity like a fog, making the mind unwieldy and prone to drifting away from its object.

Also known as: sleepiness, torpor, feeling lethargic, lit. stiffness (of mind/body due to tiredness)
Pāli: middha
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Jhana

Jhana

An abiding with a steady, collected awareness that is attained through seclusion from the five hindrances and unwholesome mental states. When supported by right view, a jhāna can be a basis for the wearing away of taints and directing the mind toward the vision of Nibbāna.

Also known as: meditation, undistracted awareness, absorption, mental absorption
Pāli: jhāna, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Sensual desire

Sensual desire

A mental quality of desiring sensory gratification. It pulls the mind’s attention toward sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches in a search for satisfaction.

Also known as: craving for sensuality, passion for sensual pleasures, lust, pull toward enticing sense objects
Pāli: kāmacchanda
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Last updated on July 27, 2026