The Buddha teaches on apparent in the present life (2nd), presenting a sixfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 6.48 Apparent in the Present Life (2nd)

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

“‘sandiṭṭhiko dhammo, sandiṭṭhiko dhammo’ti, bho gotama, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, bho gotama, sandiṭṭhiko dhammo hoti akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī”ti?

“Tena hi, brāhmaṇa, taññevettha paṭipucchissāmi. Yathā te khameyya tathā naṁ byākareyyāsi. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa, santaṁ ajjhattaṁ rāgaṁ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ rāgo’ti pajānāsi, asantaṁ ajjhattaṁ rāgaṁ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ rāgo’ti pajānāsī”ti?

“Evaṁ, bho”.

“Yaṁ kho tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, santaṁ ajjhattaṁ rāgaṁ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ rāgo’ti pajānāsi, asantaṁ ajjhattaṁ rāgaṁ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ rāgo’ti pajānāsi evampi kho, brāhmaṇa, sandiṭṭhiko dhammo hoti …pe….

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa, santaṁ ajjhattaṁ dosaṁ …pe… santaṁ ajjhattaṁ mohaṁ …pe… santaṁ ajjhattaṁ kāyasandosaṁ …pe… santaṁ ajjhattaṁ vacīsandosaṁ …pe… santaṁ ajjhattaṁ manosandosaṁ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ manosandoso’ti pajānāsi, asantaṁ ajjhattaṁ manosandosaṁ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ manosandoso’ti pajānāsī”ti?

“Evaṁ, bho”.

“Yaṁ kho tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, santaṁ ajjhattaṁ manosandosaṁ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ manosandoso’ti pajānāsi, asantaṁ ajjhattaṁ manosandosaṁ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ manosandoso’ti pajānāsi evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, sandiṭṭhiko dhammo hoti akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī”ti.

“Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

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:

“‘sandiṭṭhiko dhammo, sandiṭṭhiko dhammo’ti, bho gotama, vuccati.

“Worthy Gotama, they speak of ‘a teaching apparent in the present life’.

Kittāvatā nu kho, bho gotama, sandiṭṭhiko dhammo hoti akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī”ti?

In what way is the teaching apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves?”

“Tena hi, brāhmaṇa, taññevettha paṭipucchissāmi. Yathā te khameyya tathā naṁ byākareyyāsi.

“Well then, brahmin, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa,

What do you think, brahmin?

santaṁ ajjhattaṁ rāgaṁ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ rāgo’ti pajānāsi, asantaṁ ajjhattaṁ rāgaṁ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ rāgo’ti pajānāsī”ti?

When there’s greed in you, do you understand ‘I have greed in me’? And when there’s no greed in you, do you understand ‘I have no greed in me’?”

“Evaṁ, bho”.

“Yes, sir.”

“Yaṁ kho tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, santaṁ ajjhattaṁ rāgaṁ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ rāgo’ti pajānāsi, asantaṁ ajjhattaṁ rāgaṁ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ rāgo’ti pajānāsi

“Since you know this,

evampi kho, brāhmaṇa, sandiṭṭhiko dhammo hoti …pe….

this is how the teaching is apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa,

What do you think, brahmin?

santaṁ ajjhattaṁ dosaṁ …pe…

When there’s hate …

santaṁ ajjhattaṁ mohaṁ …pe…

delusion …

santaṁ ajjhattaṁ kāyasandosaṁ …pe…

corruption that leads to physical deeds …

santaṁ ajjhattaṁ vacīsandosaṁ …pe…

corruption that leads to speech …

santaṁ ajjhattaṁ manosandosaṁ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ manosandoso’ti pajānāsi, asantaṁ ajjhattaṁ manosandosaṁ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ manosandoso’ti pajānāsī”ti?

When there’s corruption that leads to mental deeds in you, do you understand ‘I have corruption that leads to mental deeds in me’? And when there’s no corruption that leads to mental deeds in you, do you understand ‘I have no corruption that leads to mental deeds in me’?”

“Evaṁ, bho”.

“Yes, sir.”

“Yaṁ kho tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, santaṁ ajjhattaṁ manosandosaṁ ‘atthi me ajjhattaṁ manosandoso’ti pajānāsi, asantaṁ ajjhattaṁ manosandosaṁ ‘natthi me ajjhattaṁ manosandoso’ti pajānāsi

“Since you know this,

evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, sandiṭṭhiko dhammo hoti akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī”ti.

this is how the teaching is apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.”

“Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! …

upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu 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.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Qualities:

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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Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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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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Ill will

Ill will

A mental quality of actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, manifesting as deliberate thoughts or intentions that oppose kindness and compassion; it fuels conflict and obstructs goodwill.

Also known as: actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, thought of malevolence towards another, hostile reflections towards another
Pāli: byāpāda
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Last updated on July 27, 2026