The Buddha teaches that a mendicant who has given up defilements by restraint, using, enduring, avoiding, getting rid, and developing is worthy of offerings and the supreme field of merit.

AN 6.58 Defilements

“Chahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa. Katamehi chahi?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ye āsavā saṁvarā pahātabbā te saṁvarena pahīnā honti, ye āsavā paṭisevanā pahātabbā te paṭisevanāya pahīnā honti, ye āsavā adhivāsanā pahātabbā te adhivāsanāya pahīnā honti, ye āsavā parivajjanā pahātabbā te parivajjanāya pahīnā honti, ye āsavā vinodanā pahātabbā te vinodanāya pahīnā honti, ye āsavā bhāvanā pahātabbā te bhāvanāya pahīnā honti.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā saṁvarā pahātabbā ye saṁvarena pahīnā honti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso cakkhundriyasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati. Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, cakkhundriyasaṁvaraṁ asaṁvutassa viharato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, cakkhundriyasaṁvaraṁ saṁvutassa viharato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti. Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso sotindriya …pe… ghānindriyajivhindriyakāyindriyamanindriyasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati. Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, manindriyasaṁvaraṁ asaṁvutassa viharato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, manindriyasaṁvaraṁ saṁvutassa viharato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti. Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā saṁvarā pahātabbā ye saṁvarena pahīnā honti.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā paṭisevanā pahātabbā ye paṭisevanāya pahīnā honti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso cīvaraṁ paṭisevati: ‘yāvadeva sītassa paṭighātāya, uṇhassa paṭighātāya, ḍaṁsamakasavātātapasarīsapasamphassānaṁ paṭighātāya, yāvadeva hirikopīnapaṭicchādanatthaṁ’. Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso piṇḍapātaṁ paṭisevati: ‘neva davāya na madāya na maṇḍanāya na vibhūsanāya, yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā yāpanāya, vihiṁsūparatiyā brahmacariyānuggahāya, iti purāṇañca vedanaṁ paṭihaṅkhāmi, navañca vedanaṁ na uppādessāmi, yātrā ca me bhavissati anavajjatā ca phāsuvihāro ca’. Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso senāsanaṁ paṭisevati: ‘yāvadeva sītassa paṭighātāya, uṇhassa paṭighātāya, ḍaṁsamakasavātātapasarīsapasamphassānaṁ paṭighātāya, yāvadeva utuparissayavinodanapaṭisallānārāmatthaṁ’. Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso gilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ paṭisevati: ‘yāvadeva uppannānaṁ veyyābādhikānaṁ vedanānaṁ paṭighātāya, abyābajjhaparamatāyā’ti. Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, appaṭisevato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, paṭisevato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti. Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā paṭisevanā pahātabbā ye paṭisevanāya pahīnā honti.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā adhivāsanā pahātabbā ye adhivāsanāya pahīnā honti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso khamo hoti sītassa uṇhassa, jighacchāya, pipāsāya, ḍaṁsamakasavātātapasarīsapasamphassānaṁ, duruttānaṁ durāgatānaṁ vacanapathānaṁ, uppannānaṁ sārīrikānaṁ vedanānaṁ dukkhānaṁ tibbānaṁ kharānaṁ kaṭukānaṁ asātānaṁ amanāpānaṁ pāṇaharānaṁ adhivāsakajātiko hoti. Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, anadhivāsato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, adhivāsato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti. Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā adhivāsanā pahātabbā ye adhivāsanāya pahīnā honti.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā parivajjanā pahātabbā ye parivajjanāya pahīnā honti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso caṇḍaṁ hatthiṁ parivajjeti, caṇḍaṁ assaṁ parivajjeti, caṇḍaṁ goṇaṁ parivajjeti, caṇḍaṁ kukkuraṁ parivajjeti, ahiṁ khāṇuṁ kaṇṭakaṭṭhānaṁ sobbhaṁ papātaṁ candanikaṁ oḷigallaṁ, yathārūpe anāsane nisinnaṁ, yathārūpe agocare carantaṁ, yathārūpe pāpake mitte bhajantaṁ viññū sabrahmacārī pāpakesu ṭhānesu okappeyyuṁ, so tañca anāsanaṁ tañca agocaraṁ te ca pāpake mitte paṭisaṅkhā yoniso parivajjeti. Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, aparivajjayato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, parivajjayato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti. Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā parivajjanā pahātabbā ye parivajjanāya pahīnā honti.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā vinodanā pahātabbā ye vinodanāya pahīnā honti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso uppannaṁ kāmavitakkaṁ nādhivāseti pajahati vinodeti byantīkaroti anabhāvaṁ gameti, paṭisaṅkhā yoniso uppannaṁ byāpādavitakkaṁuppannaṁ vihiṁsāvitakkaṁuppannuppanne pāpake akusale dhamme nādhivāseti pajahati vinodeti byantīkaroti anabhāvaṁ gameti. Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, avinodayato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, vinodayato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti. Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā vinodanā pahātabbā ye vinodanāya pahīnā honti.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā bhāvanā pahātabbā ye bhāvanāya pahīnā honti? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vosaggapariṇāmiṁ, paṭisaṅkhā yoniso dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāvetivīriyasambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāvetipītisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāvetipassaddhisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāvetisamādhisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāvetiupekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vosaggapariṇāmiṁ. Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, abhāvayato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, bhāvayato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti. Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā bhāvanā pahātabbā ye bhāvanāya pahīnā honti.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, chahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Chahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa.

“Mendicants, a mendicant with six qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.

Katamehi chahi?

What six?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ye āsavā saṁvarā pahātabbā te saṁvarena pahīnā honti,

It’s a mendicant who, by restraint, has given up the defilements that should be given up by restraint.

ye āsavā paṭisevanā pahātabbā te paṭisevanāya pahīnā honti,

By using, they’ve given up the defilements that should be given up by using.

ye āsavā adhivāsanā pahātabbā te adhivāsanāya pahīnā honti,

By enduring, they’ve given up the defilements that should be given up by enduring.

ye āsavā parivajjanā pahātabbā te parivajjanāya pahīnā honti,

By avoiding, they’ve given up the defilements that should be given up by avoiding.

ye āsavā vinodanā pahātabbā te vinodanāya pahīnā honti,

By getting rid, they’ve given up the defilements that should be given up by getting rid.

ye āsavā bhāvanā pahātabbā te bhāvanāya pahīnā honti.

By developing, they’ve given up the defilements that should be given up by developing.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā saṁvarā pahātabbā ye saṁvarena pahīnā honti?

And what are the defilements that should be given up by restraint?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso cakkhundriyasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati.

Take a mendicant who, reflecting rationally, lives restraining the eye faculty.

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, cakkhundriyasaṁvaraṁ asaṁvutassa viharato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, cakkhundriyasaṁvaraṁ saṁvutassa viharato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.

For the distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without restraint of the eye faculty do not arise when there is such restraint.

Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso sotindriya …pe…

Reflecting rationally, they live restraining the ear faculty …

ghānindriya

the nose faculty …

jivhindriya

the tongue faculty …

kāyindriya

the body faculty …

manindriyasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati.

the mind faculty.

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, manindriyasaṁvaraṁ asaṁvutassa viharato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, manindriyasaṁvaraṁ saṁvutassa viharato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.

For the distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without restraint of the mind faculty do not arise when there is such restraint.

Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā saṁvarā pahātabbā ye saṁvarena pahīnā honti.

These are called the defilements that should be given up by restraint.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā paṭisevanā pahātabbā ye paṭisevanāya pahīnā honti?

And what are the defilements that should be given up by using?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso cīvaraṁ paṭisevati:

Take a mendicant who, reflecting rationally, makes use of robes:

‘yāvadeva sītassa paṭighātāya, uṇhassa paṭighātāya, ḍaṁsamakasavātātapasarīsapasamphassānaṁ paṭighātāya, yāvadeva hirikopīnapaṭicchādanatthaṁ’.

‘Only for the sake of warding off cold and heat; for warding off the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles; and for covering up the private parts.’

Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso piṇḍapātaṁ paṭisevati:

Reflecting rationally, they make use of almsfood:

‘neva davāya na madāya na maṇḍanāya na vibhūsanāya, yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā yāpanāya, vihiṁsūparatiyā brahmacariyānuggahāya, iti purāṇañca vedanaṁ paṭihaṅkhāmi, navañca vedanaṁ na uppādessāmi, yātrā ca me bhavissati anavajjatā ca phāsuvihāro ca’.

‘Not for fun, indulgence, adornment, or decoration, but only to sustain this body, to avoid harm, and to support spiritual practice. In this way, I shall put an end to old discomfort and not give rise to new discomfort, and I will have the means to keep going, blamelessness, and a comfortable abiding.’

Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso senāsanaṁ paṭisevati:

Reflecting rationally, they make use of lodgings:

‘yāvadeva sītassa paṭighātāya, uṇhassa paṭighātāya, ḍaṁsamakasavātātapasarīsapasamphassānaṁ paṭighātāya, yāvadeva utuparissayavinodanapaṭisallānārāmatthaṁ’.

‘Only for the sake of warding off cold and heat; for warding off the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles; to shelter from harsh weather and to enjoy retreat.’

Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso gilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ paṭisevati:

Reflecting rationally, they make use of medicines and supplies for the sick:

‘yāvadeva uppannānaṁ veyyābādhikānaṁ vedanānaṁ paṭighātāya, abyābajjhaparamatāyā’ti.

‘Only for the sake of warding off the pains of illness and to promote good health.’

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, appaṭisevato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, paṭisevato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.

For the distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without using these things do not arise when they are used.

Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā paṭisevanā pahātabbā ye paṭisevanāya pahīnā honti.

These are called the defilements that should be given up by using.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā adhivāsanā pahātabbā ye adhivāsanāya pahīnā honti?

And what are the defilements that should be given up by enduring?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso khamo hoti sītassa uṇhassa, jighacchāya, pipāsāya, ḍaṁsamakasavātātapasarīsapasamphassānaṁ, duruttānaṁ durāgatānaṁ vacanapathānaṁ, uppannānaṁ sārīrikānaṁ vedanānaṁ dukkhānaṁ tibbānaṁ kharānaṁ kaṭukānaṁ asātānaṁ amanāpānaṁ pāṇaharānaṁ adhivāsakajātiko hoti.

Take a mendicant who, reflecting rationally, endures cold, heat, hunger, and thirst. They endure the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles. They endure rude and unwelcome criticism. And they put up with physical pain—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable, and life-threatening.

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, anadhivāsato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, adhivāsato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.

For the distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without enduring these things do not arise when they are endured.

Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā adhivāsanā pahātabbā ye adhivāsanāya pahīnā honti.

These are called the defilements that should be given up by enduring.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā parivajjanā pahātabbā ye parivajjanāya pahīnā honti?

And what are the defilements that should be given up by avoiding?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso caṇḍaṁ hatthiṁ parivajjeti, caṇḍaṁ assaṁ parivajjeti, caṇḍaṁ goṇaṁ parivajjeti, caṇḍaṁ kukkuraṁ parivajjeti, ahiṁ khāṇuṁ kaṇṭakaṭṭhānaṁ sobbhaṁ papātaṁ candanikaṁ oḷigallaṁ, yathārūpe anāsane nisinnaṁ, yathārūpe agocare carantaṁ, yathārūpe pāpake mitte bhajantaṁ viññū sabrahmacārī pāpakesu ṭhānesu okappeyyuṁ, so tañca anāsanaṁ tañca agocaraṁ te ca pāpake mitte paṭisaṅkhā yoniso parivajjeti.

Take a mendicant who, reflecting rationally, avoids a wild elephant, a wild horse, a wild ox, a wild dog, a snake, a stump, thorny ground, a pit, a cliff, a swamp, and a sewer. Reflecting rationally, they avoid sitting on inappropriate seats, walking in inappropriate neighborhoods, and mixing with bad friends—whatever sensible spiritual companions would believe to be a bad setting.

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, aparivajjayato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, parivajjayato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.

For the distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without avoiding these things do not arise when they are avoided.

Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā parivajjanā pahātabbā ye parivajjanāya pahīnā honti.

These are called the defilements that should be given up by avoiding.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā vinodanā pahātabbā ye vinodanāya pahīnā honti?

And what are the defilements that should be given up by getting rid?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso uppannaṁ kāmavitakkaṁ nādhivāseti pajahati vinodeti byantīkaroti anabhāvaṁ gameti,

Take a mendicant who, reflecting rationally, doesn’t tolerate a sensual,

paṭisaṅkhā yoniso uppannaṁ byāpādavitakkaṁ

malicious,

uppannaṁ vihiṁsāvitakkaṁ

or cruel thought that has arisen.

uppannuppanne pāpake akusale dhamme nādhivāseti pajahati vinodeti byantīkaroti anabhāvaṁ gameti.

They don’t tolerate any bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen, but give them up, get rid of them, eliminate them, and obliterate them.

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, avinodayato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, vinodayato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.

For the distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without getting rid of these things do not arise when they are gotten rid of.

Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā vinodanā pahātabbā ye vinodanāya pahīnā honti.

These are called the defilements that should be given up by getting rid.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā bhāvanā pahātabbā ye bhāvanāya pahīnā honti?

And what are the defilements that should be given up by developing?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vosaggapariṇāmiṁ,

Take a mendicant who, reflecting rationally, develops the awakening factors of mindfulness,

paṭisaṅkhā yoniso dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti

investigation of principles,

vīriyasambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti

energy,

pītisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti

rapture,

passaddhisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti

tranquility,

samādhisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti

immersion,

upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vosaggapariṇāmiṁ.

and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go.

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, abhāvayato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, bhāvayato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.

For the distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without developing these things do not arise when they are developed.

Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā bhāvanā pahātabbā ye bhāvanāya pahīnā honti.

These are called the defilements that should be given up by developing.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, chahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā”ti.

A mendicant with these six qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.”

Catutthaṁ.

Qualities:

Adventurousness

Adventurousness

A restless, thrill-seeking bent of mind that delights in novelty and roaming rather than in restraint. When untrained, it pulls one outward to stimulation and risk, making it hard to settle, listen, or practice steadily.

Also known as: audacious, bold, wild, unrestrained, untamed, with wanderlust
Pāli: adanta
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Equanimity

Equanimity

A state of mental poise and balance, characterized by non-reactivity and composure in the face of agreeable or disagreeable experiences.

Also known as: mental poise, mental balance, equipose, non-reactivity, composure
Pāli: upekkha
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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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Merit

Merit

Wholesome result of good conduct, generosity, and right intention. Merit brightens the mind and supports happiness and favorable conditions for practice.

Also known as: good deeds, spiritual wealth
Pāli: puñña, kalyāṇa
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Respect

Respect

A mental attitude of reverent attentiveness that values goodness and wisdom in oneself and others. It steadies conduct and opens the mind to learning and humility.

Also known as: reverence, veneration, regard, admiration, appreciation, deference, honour, attentiveness
Pāli: gārava, pūjā, sakkāra
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026