The Buddha teaches on proper occasions (2nd), presenting a sixfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 6.28 Proper Occasions (2nd)

Ekaṁ samayaṁ sambahulā therā bhikkhū bārāṇasiyaṁ viharanti isipatane migadāye. Atha kho tesaṁ therānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantānaṁ maṇḍalamāḷe sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ ayamantarākathā udapādi:

“ko nu kho, āvuso, samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti?

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu there bhikkhū etadavoca:

“yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto pāde pakkhāletvā nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:

“na kho, āvuso, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ. Yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto pāde pakkhāletvā nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, cārittakilamathopissa tasmiṁ samaye appaṭippassaddho hoti, bhattakilamathopissa tasmiṁ samaye appaṭippassaddho hoti. Tasmā so asamayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ. Yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito vihārapacchāyāyaṁ nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:

“na kho, āvuso, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ. Yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito vihārapacchāyāyaṁ nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, yadevassa divā samādhinimittaṁ manasikataṁ hoti tadevassa tasmiṁ samaye samudācarati. Tasmā so asamayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ. Yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:

“na kho, āvuso, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ. Yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, ojaṭṭhāyissa tasmiṁ samaye kāyo hoti phāsussa hoti buddhānaṁ sāsanaṁ manasi kātuṁ. Tasmā so asamayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

Evaṁ vutte āyasmā mahākaccāno there bhikkhū etadavoca:

“sammukhā metaṁ, āvuso, bhagavato sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ: ‘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 …pe…. Thinamiddhapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati …. Uddhaccakukkuccapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati …. Vicikicchāpariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati ….

Yaṁ nimittaṁ āgamma yaṁ nimittaṁ manasikaroto anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, taṁ nimittaṁ na jānāti na passati, tasmiṁ samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu upasaṅkamitvā evamassa vacanīyo: “ahaṁ kho, āvuso, yaṁ nimittaṁ āgamma yaṁ nimittaṁ manasikaroto anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti taṁ nimittaṁ na jānāmi na passāmi. Sādhu vata me āyasmā āsavānaṁ khayāya dhammaṁ desetū”ti. Tassa manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayāya dhammaṁ deseti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhu, chaṭṭho samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ’.

Sammukhā metaṁ, āvuso, bhagavato sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ: ‘ime kho, bhikkhu, cha samayā manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun’”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ sambahulā therā bhikkhū bārāṇasiyaṁ viharanti isipatane migadāye.

At one time several senior mendicants were staying near Varanasi, in the deer park at Isipatana.

Atha kho tesaṁ therānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantānaṁ maṇḍalamāḷe sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ ayamantarākathā udapādi:

Then after the meal, on their return from almsround, this discussion came up among them while sitting together in the pavilion.

“ko nu kho, āvuso, samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti?

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

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu there bhikkhū etadavoca:

When this was said, one of the mendicants said to the senior mendicants:

“yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto pāde pakkhāletvā nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

“Reverends, there’s a time after an esteemed mendicant’s meal when they return from almsround. Having washed their feet they sit down cross-legged, set their body straight, and bring mindfulness to the present. That is the proper occasion for going to see an esteemed mendicant.”

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:

When this was said, one of the mendicants said to that mendicant:

“na kho, āvuso, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

“Reverend, that’s not the proper occasion for going to see an esteemed mendicant.

Yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto pāde pakkhāletvā nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, cārittakilamathopissa tasmiṁ samaye appaṭippassaddho hoti, bhattakilamathopissa tasmiṁ samaye appaṭippassaddho hoti.

For at that time the fatigue from walking and from eating has not faded away.

Tasmā so asamayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

Yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito vihārapacchāyāyaṁ nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

There’s a time late in the afternoon when an esteemed mendicant comes out of retreat. They sit cross-legged in the shade of their porch , set their body straight, and bring mindfulness to the present. That is the proper occasion for going to see an esteemed mendicant.”

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:

When this was said, one of the mendicants said to that mendicant:

“na kho, āvuso, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

“Reverend, that’s not the proper occasion for going to see an esteemed mendicant.

Yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito vihārapacchāyāyaṁ nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, yadevassa divā samādhinimittaṁ manasikataṁ hoti tadevassa tasmiṁ samaye samudācarati.

For at that time they are still practicing the same meditation subject as a basis of immersion that they focused on during the day.

Tasmā so asamayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

Yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

There’s a time when an esteemed mendicant has risen at the crack of dawn. They sit down cross-legged, set their body straight, and bring mindfulness to the present. That is the proper occasion for going to see an esteemed mendicant.”

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:

When this was said, one of the mendicants said to that mendicant:

“na kho, āvuso, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

“Reverend, that’s not the proper occasion for going to see an esteemed mendicant.

Yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, ojaṭṭhāyissa tasmiṁ samaye kāyo hoti phāsussa hoti buddhānaṁ sāsanaṁ manasi kātuṁ.

For at that time their body is full of vitality and they find it easy to focus on the instructions of the Buddhas.”

Tasmā so asamayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

Evaṁ vutte āyasmā mahākaccāno there bhikkhū etadavoca:

When this was said, Venerable Mahākaccāna said to those senior mendicants:

“sammukhā metaṁ, āvuso, bhagavato sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ:

“Reverends, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha:

‘chayime, bhikkhu, samayā manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

‘Mendicants, 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 …pe….

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

Thinamiddhapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati ….

dullness and drowsiness …

Uddhaccakukkuccapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati ….

restlessness and remorse …

Vicikicchāpariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati ….

doubt …

Yaṁ nimittaṁ āgamma yaṁ nimittaṁ manasikaroto anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, taṁ nimittaṁ na jānāti na passati, 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 na jānāmi na passāmi.

“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.’

Sammukhā metaṁ, āvuso, bhagavato sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ:

Reverends, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha:

‘ime kho, bhikkhu, cha samayā manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun’”ti.

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

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

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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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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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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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