The Buddha teaches on one’s own volition, presenting a sixfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 6.38 One’s Own Volition

Atha kho aññataro brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“ahañhi, bho gotama, evaṁvādī evaṁdiṭṭhi: ‘natthi attakāro, natthi parakāro’”ti.

“Māhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁvādiṁ evaṁdiṭṭhiṁ addasaṁ assosiṁ vā. Kathañhi nāma sayaṁ abhikkamanto, sayaṁ paṭikkamanto evaṁ vakkhati: ‘natthi attakāro, natthi parakāro’ti.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa, atthi ārabbhadhātū”ti?

“Evaṁ, bho”.

“Ārabbhadhātuyā sati ārabbhavanto sattā paññāyantī”ti?

“Evaṁ, bho”.

“Yaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, ārabbhadhātuyā sati ārabbhavanto sattā paññāyanti, ayaṁ sattānaṁ attakāro ayaṁ parakāro.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa, atthi nikkamadhātu …pe… atthi parakkamadhātuatthi thāmadhātuatthi ṭhitidhātuatthi upakkamadhātū”ti?

“Evaṁ, bho”.

“Upakkamadhātuyā sati upakkamavanto sattā paññāyantī”ti?

“Evaṁ, bho”.

“Yaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, upakkamadhātuyā sati upakkamavanto sattā paññāyanti, ayaṁ sattānaṁ attakāro ayaṁ parakāro.

Māhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁvādiṁ evaṁdiṭṭhiṁ addasaṁ assosiṁ vā. Kathañhi nāma sayaṁ abhikkamanto sayaṁ paṭikkamanto evaṁ vakkhati: ‘natthi attakāro natthi parakāro’”ti.

“Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Atha kho aññataro brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.

Then a certain brahmin went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:

“ahañhi, bho gotama, evaṁvādī evaṁdiṭṭhi:

“Worthy Gotama, this is my doctrine and view:

‘natthi attakāro, natthi parakāro’”ti.

One does not act of one’s own volition, nor does one act of another’s volition.”

“Māhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁvādiṁ evaṁdiṭṭhiṁ addasaṁ assosiṁ vā.

“Brahmin, may I never see or hear of anyone holding such a doctrine or view!

Kathañhi nāma sayaṁ abhikkamanto, sayaṁ paṭikkamanto evaṁ vakkhati:

How on earth can someone who comes and goes on his own say that

‘natthi attakāro, natthi parakāro’ti.

one does not act of one’s own volition, nor does one act of another’s volition?

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa, atthi ārabbhadhātū”ti?

What do you think, brahmin, is there an element of initiative?”

“Evaṁ, bho”.

“Yes, sir.”

“Ārabbhadhātuyā sati ārabbhavanto sattā paññāyantī”ti?

“Since this is so, do we find sentient beings who initiate activity?”

“Evaṁ, bho”.

“Yes, sir.”

“Yaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, ārabbhadhātuyā sati ārabbhavanto sattā paññāyanti, ayaṁ sattānaṁ attakāro ayaṁ parakāro.

“Since there is an element of initiative, and sentient beings who initiate activity are found, sentient beings act of their own volition or that of another.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa, atthi nikkamadhātu …pe…

What do you think, brahmin, is there an element of persistence …

atthi parakkamadhātu

exertion …

atthi thāmadhātu

strength …

atthi ṭhitidhātu

endurance …

atthi upakkamadhātū”ti?

energy?”

“Evaṁ, bho”.

“Yes, sir.”

“Upakkamadhātuyā sati upakkamavanto sattā paññāyantī”ti?

“Since this is so, do we find sentient beings who have energy?”

“Evaṁ, bho”.

“Yes, sir.”

“Yaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, upakkamadhātuyā sati upakkamavanto sattā paññāyanti, ayaṁ sattānaṁ attakāro ayaṁ parakāro.

“Since there is an element of energy, and sentient beings who have energy are found, sentient beings act of their own volition or that of another.

Māhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁvādiṁ evaṁdiṭṭhiṁ addasaṁ assosiṁ vā.

Brahmin, may I never see or hear of anyone holding such a doctrine or view!

Kathañhi nāma sayaṁ abhikkamanto sayaṁ paṭikkamanto evaṁ vakkhati:

How on earth can someone who comes and goes on his own say that

‘natthi attakāro natthi parakāro’”ti.

one does not act of one’s own volition, nor does one act of another’s volition?”

“Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! …

ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Patience

Patience

A quality of calm endurance that bears hardship, delay, and harshness without resentment. It is the strength to remain composed and gentle under provocation, grounded in wisdom and compassion.

Also known as: endurance, tolerance, forbearance
Pāli: khanti, khama
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Vigour

Vigour

Energetic effort and resilience in practice. It is the refusal to shrink back, the 'uphill' force that initiates and sustains wholesome actions against the gravity of habit.

Also known as: energy, effort, enthusiasm, zeal, application of will, persistence
Pāli: vīriya
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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 July 27, 2026