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

AN 6.39 Sources

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāya. Katamāni tīṇi? Lobho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, doso nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, moho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya. Na, bhikkhave, lobhā alobho samudeti; atha kho, bhikkhave, lobhā lobhova samudeti. Na, bhikkhave, dosā adoso samudeti; atha kho, bhikkhave, dosā dosova samudeti. Na, bhikkhave, mohā amoho samudeti; atha kho, bhikkhave, mohā mohova samudeti. Na, bhikkhave, lobhajena kammena dosajena kammena mohajena kammena devā paññāyanti, manussā paññāyanti, panaññāpi kāci sugatiyo. Atha kho, bhikkhave, lobhajena kammena dosajena kammena mohajena kammena nirayo paññāyati tiracchānayoni paññāyati pettivisayo paññāyati, panaññāpi kāci duggatiyo. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāya.

Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāya. Katamāni tīṇi? Alobho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, adoso nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, amoho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya. Na, bhikkhave, alobhā lobho samudeti; atha kho, bhikkhave, alobhā alobhova samudeti. Na, bhikkhave, adosā doso samudeti; atha kho, bhikkhave, adosā adosova samudeti. Na, bhikkhave, amohā moho samudeti; atha kho, bhikkhave, amohā amohova samudeti. Na, bhikkhave, alobhajena kammena adosajena kammena amohajena kammena nirayo paññāyati tiracchānayoni paññāyati pettivisayo paññāyati, panaññāpi kāci duggatiyo. Atha kho, bhikkhave, alobhajena kammena adosajena kammena amohajena kammena devā paññāyanti, manussā paññāyanti, panaññāpi kāci sugatiyo. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāyā”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāya.

“Mendicants, there are these three sources that give rise to deeds.

Katamāni tīṇi?

What three?

Lobho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, doso nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, moho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya.

Greed, hate, and delusion are sources that give rise to deeds.

Na, bhikkhave, lobhā alobho samudeti;

Greed doesn’t give rise to contentment.

atha kho, bhikkhave, lobhā lobhova samudeti.

Rather, greed just gives rise to greed.

Na, bhikkhave, dosā adoso samudeti;

Hate doesn’t give rise to love.

atha kho, bhikkhave, dosā dosova samudeti.

Rather, hate just gives rise to hate.

Na, bhikkhave, mohā amoho samudeti;

Delusion doesn’t give rise to understanding.

atha kho, bhikkhave, mohā mohova samudeti.

Rather, delusion just gives rise to delusion.

Na, bhikkhave, lobhajena kammena dosajena kammena mohajena kammena devā paññāyanti, manussā paññāyanti, panaññāpi kāci sugatiyo.

It’s not because of deeds born of greed, hate, and delusion that gods, humans, or those in any other good places are found.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, lobhajena kammena dosajena kammena mohajena kammena nirayo paññāyati tiracchānayoni paññāyati pettivisayo paññāyati, panaññāpi kāci duggatiyo.

Rather, it’s because of deeds born of greed, hate, and delusion that hell, the animal realm, the ghost realm, or any other bad places are found.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāya.

These are three sources that give rise to deeds.

Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāya.

Mendicants, there are these three sources that give rise to deeds.

Katamāni tīṇi?

What three?

Alobho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, adoso nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, amoho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya.

Contentment, love, and understanding are sources that give rise to deeds.

Na, bhikkhave, alobhā lobho samudeti;

Contentment doesn’t give rise to greed.

atha kho, bhikkhave, alobhā alobhova samudeti.

Rather, contentment just gives rise to contentment.

Na, bhikkhave, adosā doso samudeti;

Love doesn’t give rise to hate.

atha kho, bhikkhave, adosā adosova samudeti.

Rather, love just gives rise to love.

Na, bhikkhave, amohā moho samudeti;

Understanding doesn’t give rise to delusion.

atha kho, bhikkhave, amohā amohova samudeti.

Rather, understanding just gives rise to understanding.

Na, bhikkhave, alobhajena kammena adosajena kammena amohajena kammena nirayo paññāyati tiracchānayoni paññāyati pettivisayo paññāyati, panaññāpi kāci duggatiyo.

It’s not because of deeds born of contentment, love, and understanding that hell, the animal realm, the ghost realm, or any other bad places are found.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, alobhajena kammena adosajena kammena amohajena kammena devā paññāyanti, manussā paññāyanti, panaññāpi kāci sugatiyo.

Rather, it’s because of deeds born of contentment, love, and understanding that gods, humans, or those in any other good places are found.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāyā”ti.

These are three sources that give rise to deeds.”

Navamaṁ.

Qualities:

Affection

Affection

A mental quality of tender affection and fond regard, often wholesome when rooted in kindness, which inclines the mind toward warmth and care. When unguarded, it may turn toward fixation upon what is 'dear,' leading the mind to attachment and the grief that follows separation from what has been clung to as 'dear'.

Also known as: fondness, love, tender regard
Pāli: pema
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Aversion

Aversion

A rejecting mental quality rooted in perception, where one instinctively turns away from or resists unpleasant experiences or objects; it manifests as a tendency to push away discomfort, obstructing patience and acceptance.

Also known as: animosity, hate, hostility, fault-finding mindset, upset
Pāli: dosa, paṭighasaññā, vera
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Contentment

Contentment

The quality of being satisfied with the requisites one has and with the present conditions, resulting in having few desires and being free from agitation.

Also known as: fewness of wishes, having few desires, satisfaction, sense of ease
Pāli: santutthi, appicchatā, tuṭṭha, tosana
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Delusion

Delusion

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
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Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026