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.

AN 6.36  Vivādamūla sutta - Root Of Disputes

“Chayimāni, bhikkhave, vivādamūlāni. Katamāni cha?

“|Bhikkhus,::::| there are these six roots of disputes. What six?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kodhano hoti upanāhī. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kodhano hoti upanāhī so sattharipi agāravo viharati appatisso, dhammepi agāravo viharati appatisso, saṅghepi agāravo viharati appatisso, sikkhāyapi na paripūrakārī hoti. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari agāravo viharati appatisso, dhamme agāravo viharati appatisso, saṅghe agāravo viharati appatisso, sikkhāya na paripūrakārī so saṅghe vivādaṁ janeti, yo hoti vivādo bahujanāhitāya bahujanāsukhāya bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ. Evarūpañce tumhe, bhikkhave, vivādamūlaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā samanupasseyyātha. Tatra tumhe, bhikkhave, tasseva pāpakassa vivādamūlassa pahānāya vāyameyyātha. Evarūpañce tumhe, bhikkhave, vivādamūlaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā na samanupasseyyātha, tatra tumhe, bhikkhave, tasseva pāpakassa vivādamūlassa āyatiṁ anavassavāya paṭipajjeyyātha. Evametassa pāpakassa vivādamūlassa pahānaṁ hoti. Evametassa pāpakassa vivādamūlassa āyatiṁ anavassavo hoti.

1.) Here, |bhikkhus,::::| a bhikkhu is |irritable::prone to anger [kodhana]| and |resentful::who bears a grudge, who harbors enmity [upanāhī]|. When a bhikkhu is irritable and resentful, he dwells without respect and |deference::without politeness, without regard [appatissa]| toward the Teacher, dwells without respect and deference toward the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|, dwells without respect and deference toward the |Saṅgha::The community of monks and nuns practicing in line with the Buddha’s teachings. In the broader sense, this is the community of disciples who have realized the noble path and fruition through the Buddha’s teachings [saṅgha]|, and he does not fulfill the training. That bhikkhu|, bhikkhus,::::| who dwells without respect and deference toward the Teacher, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha, and who does not fulfill the training, instigates a dispute in the Saṅgha; such a dispute is for the harm of many people, for the unhappiness of many people, for the ruin, harm, and suffering of gods and humans. If|, bhikkhus,::::| you see such a root of dispute within yourselves or in others, you should strive to abandon that same harmful root of dispute. If|, bhikkhus,::::| you do not see such a root of dispute within yourselves or in others, you should practice to ensure that this |harmful::injurious, bad, or evil. Encompasses the deceptively alluring that is ultimately detrimental or ruinous [pāpaka]| root of dispute does not arise in the future. In this way, there is the abandoning of this harmful root of dispute. In this way, there is non-arising of this harmful root of dispute in the future.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu makkhī hoti paḷāsī. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kodhano hoti upanāhī so sattharipi agāravo viharati appatisso, dhammepi agāravo viharati appatisso, saṅghepi agāravo viharati appatisso, sikkhāyapi na paripūrakārī hoti. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari agāravo viharati appatisso, dhamme agāravo viharati appatisso, saṅghe agāravo viharati appatisso, sikkhāya na paripūrakārī so saṅghe vivādaṁ janeti, yo hoti vivādo bahujanāhitāya bahujanāsukhāya bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ. Evarūpañce tumhe, bhikkhave, vivādamūlaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā samanupasseyyātha. Tatra tumhe, bhikkhave, tasseva pāpakassa vivādamūlassa pahānāya vāyameyyātha. Evarūpañce tumhe, bhikkhave, vivādamūlaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā na samanupasseyyātha, tatra tumhe, bhikkhave, tasseva pāpakassa vivādamūlassa āyatiṁ anavassavāya paṭipajjeyyātha. Evametassa pāpakassa vivādamūlassa pahānaṁ hoti. Evametassa pāpakassa vivādamūlassa āyatiṁ anavassavo hoti.

2.) Furthermore, |bhikkhus,::::| a bhikkhu is a |denigrator::who slanders [makkhī]| and |contentious::stubborn, arrogant [paḷāsī]|. When a bhikkhu is a denigrator and contentious, he dwells without respect and deference toward the Teacher, dwells without respect and deference toward the Dhamma, dwells without respect and deference toward the Saṅgha, and he does not fulfill the training. That bhikkhu|, bhikkhus,::::| who dwells without respect and deference toward the Teacher, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha, and who does not fulfill the training, instigates a dispute in the Saṅgha; such a dispute is for the harm of many people, for the unhappiness of many people, for the ruin, harm, and suffering of gods and humans. If|, bhikkhus,::::| you see such a root of dispute within yourselves or in others, you should strive to abandon that same harmful root of dispute. If|, bhikkhus,::::| you do not see such a root of dispute within yourselves or in others, you should practice to ensure that this harmful root of dispute does not arise in the future. In this way, there is the abandoning of this harmful root of dispute. In this way, there is non-arising of this harmful root of dispute in the future.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu issukī hoti maccharī. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kodhano hoti upanāhī so sattharipi agāravo viharati appatisso, dhammepi agāravo viharati appatisso, saṅghepi agāravo viharati appatisso, sikkhāyapi na paripūrakārī hoti. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari agāravo viharati appatisso, dhamme agāravo viharati appatisso, saṅghe agāravo viharati appatisso, sikkhāya na paripūrakārī so saṅghe vivādaṁ janeti, yo hoti vivādo bahujanāhitāya bahujanāsukhāya bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ. Evarūpañce tumhe, bhikkhave, vivādamūlaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā samanupasseyyātha. Tatra tumhe, bhikkhave, tasseva pāpakassa vivādamūlassa pahānāya vāyameyyātha. Evarūpañce tumhe, bhikkhave, vivādamūlaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā na samanupasseyyātha, tatra tumhe, bhikkhave, tasseva pāpakassa vivādamūlassa āyatiṁ anavassavāya paṭipajjeyyātha. Evametassa pāpakassa vivādamūlassa pahānaṁ hoti. Evametassa pāpakassa vivādamūlassa āyatiṁ anavassavo hoti.

3.) Furthermore, |bhikkhus,::::| a bhikkhu is |envious::jealous, covetous [issukī]| and |miserly::stingy, greedy [maccharī]|. When a bhikkhu is envious and miserly, he dwells without respect and deference toward the Teacher, dwells without respect and deference toward the Dhamma, dwells without respect and deference toward the Saṅgha, and he does not fulfill the training. That bhikkhu|, bhikkhus,::::| who dwells without respect and deference toward the Teacher, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha, and who does not fulfill the training, instigates a dispute in the Saṅgha; such a dispute is for the harm of many people, for the unhappiness of many people, for the ruin, harm, and suffering of gods and humans. If|, bhikkhus,::::| you see such a root of dispute within yourselves or in others, you should strive to abandon that same harmful root of dispute. If|, bhikkhus,::::| you do not see such a root of dispute within yourselves or in others, you should practice to ensure that this harmful root of dispute does not arise in the future. In this way, there is the abandoning of this harmful root of dispute. In this way, there is non-arising of this harmful root of dispute in the future.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saṭho hoti māyāvī. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kodhano hoti upanāhī so sattharipi agāravo viharati appatisso, dhammepi agāravo viharati appatisso, saṅghepi agāravo viharati appatisso, sikkhāyapi na paripūrakārī hoti. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari agāravo viharati appatisso, dhamme agāravo viharati appatisso, saṅghe agāravo viharati appatisso, sikkhāya na paripūrakārī so saṅghe vivādaṁ janeti, yo hoti vivādo bahujanāhitāya bahujanāsukhāya bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ. Evarūpañce tumhe, bhikkhave, vivādamūlaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā samanupasseyyātha. Tatra tumhe, bhikkhave, tasseva pāpakassa vivādamūlassa pahānāya vāyameyyātha. Evarūpañce tumhe, bhikkhave, vivādamūlaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā na samanupasseyyātha, tatra tumhe, bhikkhave, tasseva pāpakassa vivādamūlassa āyatiṁ anavassavāya paṭipajjeyyātha. Evametassa pāpakassa vivādamūlassa pahānaṁ hoti. Evametassa pāpakassa vivādamūlassa āyatiṁ anavassavo hoti.

4.) Furthermore, |bhikkhus,::::| a bhikkhu is |deceitful::dishonest, cunning [saṭha]| and |hypocritical::pretentious [māyāvī]|. When a bhikkhu is deceitful and hypocritical, he dwells without respect and deference toward the Teacher, dwells without respect and deference toward the Dhamma, dwells without respect and deference toward the Saṅgha, and he does not fulfill the training. That bhikkhu|, bhikkhus,::::| who dwells without respect and deference toward the Teacher, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha, and who does not fulfill the training, instigates a dispute in the Saṅgha; such a dispute is for the harm of many people, for the unhappiness of many people, for the ruin, harm, and suffering of gods and humans. If|, bhikkhus,::::| you see such a root of dispute within yourselves or in others, you should strive to abandon that same harmful root of dispute. If|, bhikkhus,::::| you do not see such a root of dispute within yourselves or in others, you should practice to ensure that this harmful root of dispute does not arise in the future. In this way, there is the abandoning of this harmful root of dispute. In this way, there is non-arising of this harmful root of dispute in the future.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pāpiccho hoti micchādiṭṭhi. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kodhano hoti upanāhī so sattharipi agāravo viharati appatisso, dhammepi agāravo viharati appatisso, saṅghepi agāravo viharati appatisso, sikkhāyapi na paripūrakārī hoti. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari agāravo viharati appatisso, dhamme agāravo viharati appatisso, saṅghe agāravo viharati appatisso, sikkhāya na paripūrakārī so saṅghe vivādaṁ janeti, yo hoti vivādo bahujanāhitāya bahujanāsukhāya bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ. Evarūpañce tumhe, bhikkhave, vivādamūlaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā samanupasseyyātha. Tatra tumhe, bhikkhave, tasseva pāpakassa vivādamūlassa pahānāya vāyameyyātha. Evarūpañce tumhe, bhikkhave, vivādamūlaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā na samanupasseyyātha, tatra tumhe, bhikkhave, tasseva pāpakassa vivādamūlassa āyatiṁ anavassavāya paṭipajjeyyātha. Evametassa pāpakassa vivādamūlassa pahānaṁ hoti. Evametassa pāpakassa vivādamūlassa āyatiṁ anavassavo hoti.

5.) Furthermore, |bhikkhus,::::| a bhikkhu |has evil desires::has evil wishes [pāpiccho]| and holds |wrong view::a distorted perception, an untrue view, a false belief [micchādiṭṭhi]|. When a bhikkhu has evil desires and holds wrong view, he dwells without respect and deference toward the Teacher, dwells without respect and deference toward the Dhamma, dwells without respect and deference toward the Saṅgha, and he does not fulfill the training. That bhikkhu|, bhikkhus,::::| who dwells without respect and deference toward the Teacher, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha, and who does not fulfill the training, instigates a dispute in the Saṅgha; such a dispute is for the harm of many people, for the unhappiness of many people, for the ruin, harm, and suffering of gods and humans. If|, bhikkhus,::::| you see such a root of dispute within yourselves or in others, you should strive to abandon that same harmful root of dispute. If|, bhikkhus,::::| you do not see such a root of dispute within yourselves or in others, you should practice to ensure that this harmful root of dispute does not arise in the future. In this way, there is the abandoning of this harmful root of dispute. In this way, there is non-arising of this harmful root of dispute in the future.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sandiṭṭhiparāmāsī hoti ādhānaggāhī duppaṭinissaggī. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sandiṭṭhiparāmāsī hoti ādhānaggāhī duppaṭinissaggī, so sattharipi agāravo viharati appatisso, dhammepi agāravo viharati appatisso, saṅghepi agāravo viharati appatisso, sikkhāyapi na paripūrakārī hoti. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari agāravo viharati appatisso, dhammesaṅghe agāravo viharati appatisso, sikkhāya na paripūrakārī, so saṅghe vivādaṁ janeti, yo hoti vivādo bahujanāhitāya bahujanāsukhāya bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ. Evarūpañce tumhe, bhikkhave, vivādamūlaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā samanupasseyyātha. Tatra tumhe, bhikkhave, tasseva pāpakassa vivādamūlassa pahānāya vāyameyyātha. Evarūpañce tumhe, bhikkhave, vivādamūlaṁ ajjhattaṁ bahiddhā na samanupasseyyātha. Tatra tumhe, bhikkhave, tasseva pāpakassa vivādamūlassa āyatiṁ anavassavāya paṭipajjeyyātha. Evametassa pāpakassa vivādamūlassa pahānaṁ hoti. Evametassa pāpakassa vivādamūlassa āyatiṁ anavassavo hoti.

6.) Furthermore, |bhikkhus,::::| a bhikkhu |clings to his own views::who adheres to his own belief system [sandiṭṭhiparāmāsī]|, |holding on tightly::clutching [ādhānaggāhī]|, and |giving up with difficulty::not relinquishing quickly [duppaṭinissaggī]|. When a bhikkhu is clinging to his own views, holding on tightly, and giving up with difficulty, he dwells without respect and deference toward the Teacher, dwells without respect and deference toward the Dhamma, dwells without respect and deference toward the Saṅgha, and he does not fulfill the training. That bhikkhu|, bhikkhus,::::| who dwells without respect and deference toward the Teacher, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha, and who does not fulfill the training, instigates a dispute in the Saṅgha; such a dispute is for the harm of many people, for the unhappiness of many people, for the ruin, harm, and suffering of gods and humans. If|, bhikkhus,::::| you see such a root of dispute within yourselves or in others, you should strive to abandon that same harmful root of dispute. If|, bhikkhus,::::| you do not see such a root of dispute within yourselves or in others, you should practice to ensure that this harmful root of dispute does not arise in the future. In this way, there is the abandoning of this harmful root of dispute. In this way, there is non-arising of this harmful root of dispute in the future.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cha vivādamūlānī”ti.

These|, bhikkhus,::::| are the six roots of disputes.”

Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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Contempt

Contempt

A dismissive or belittling attitude that refuses to acknowledge worth or goodness. It closes the heart, undermines gratitude, and prepares the ground for ill will.

Also known as: ungratefulness, depreciation, denigration, disrespect, belittlement, disparagement
Pāli: makkha, vambhaka
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Feuding

Feuding

An entrenched pattern of opposition and rivalry where parties seek to prevail over one another. It sustains hostility, disturbs peace, and obstructs harmony in community.

Also known as: competitiveness, contentiousness, quarreling, rivalry, opposition, struggle, conflict
Pāli: paḷāsa
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Giving up

Giving up

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

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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Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy

A counterfeit display of virtue or attainment—concealing faults and projecting qualities one lacks—often to secure material support, status, or admiration; it thrives on craving for recognition and collapses with honesty, modesty, and accountability.

Also known as: pretense, insincerity, deceitfulness, putting on a false front, fraudulent
Pāli: māyāvī
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Irritability

Irritability

A prickly restlessness of mind easily stirred by small discomforts or disagreement. It weakens patience and readies the ground for anger and harsh reaction.

Also known as: crankiness, moodiness, being prone to annoyance, being prone to anger
Pāli: kodhana
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Jealousy

Jealousy

A painful mental state that arises when seeing the good fortune or qualities of others. It begrudges what others have and resents their happiness, closing the heart to appreciative joy.

Also known as: covetousness, envy, possessiveness, protective of, unwilling to part with
Pāli: issā
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Resentment

Resentment

Holding a grudge and keeping anger alive in memory. Unlike a sudden flash of anger, resentment ties a knot of hostility, holding onto past grievances and refusing to forgive.

Also known as: bearing a grudge, harboring enmity
Pāli: upanāha
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Stinginess

Stinginess

A contracted, possessive refusal to share what one has—whether material goods, knowledge, or status. It clings tightly to what is “mine,” fearing loss and closing the hand against generosity.

Also known as: miserliness, meanness, tight-fistedness
Pāli: macchariya
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Treachery

Treachery

Deliberate deception that exploits another's trust for personal gain. It wears a mask of friendliness while secretly working against the other's welfare.

Also known as: deviousness, scamming, betrayal
Pāli: sāṭheyya
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Wrong view

Wrong view

A distorted understanding that sees permanence in the impermanent, satisfaction in the unsatisfactory, or self in the not-self. Wrong view guides action by delusion, obscuring cause and effect, and closes the door to wisdom and release.

Also known as: distorted or inverted perception, untrue view, false belief
Pāli: micchādiṭṭhi
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Last updated on June 10, 2026