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

AN 6.77 Superhuman States

“Cha, bhikkhave, dhamme appahāya abhabbo uttari manussadhammaṁ alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ sacchikātuṁ. Katame cha? Muṭṭhassaccaṁ, asampajaññaṁ, indriyesu aguttadvārataṁ, bhojane amattaññutaṁ, kuhanaṁ, lapanaṁ. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cha dhamme appahāya abhabbo uttari manussadhammaṁ alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ sacchikātuṁ.

Cha, bhikkhave, dhamme pahāya bhabbo uttari manussadhammaṁ alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ sacchikātuṁ. Katame cha? Muṭṭhassaccaṁ, asampajaññaṁ, indriyesu aguttadvārataṁ, bhojane amattaññutaṁ, kuhanaṁ, lapanaṁ. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cha dhamme pahāya bhabbo uttari manussadhammaṁ alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ sacchikātun”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Cha, bhikkhave, dhamme appahāya abhabbo uttari manussadhammaṁ alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ sacchikātuṁ.

“Mendicants, without giving up six qualities you can’t realize a superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones.

Katame cha?

What six?

Muṭṭhassaccaṁ, asampajaññaṁ, indriyesu aguttadvārataṁ, bhojane amattaññutaṁ, kuhanaṁ, lapanaṁ.

Lack of mindfulness and situational awareness, not guarding the sense doors, eating too much, fawning, and flattery.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cha dhamme appahāya abhabbo uttari manussadhammaṁ alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ sacchikātuṁ.

Without giving up these six qualities you can’t realize a superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones.

Cha, bhikkhave, dhamme pahāya bhabbo uttari manussadhammaṁ alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ sacchikātuṁ.

But after giving up six qualities you can realize a superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones.

Katame cha?

What six?

Muṭṭhassaccaṁ, asampajaññaṁ, indriyesu aguttadvārataṁ, bhojane amattaññutaṁ, kuhanaṁ, lapanaṁ.

Lack of mindfulness and situational awareness, not guarding the sense doors, eating too much, fawning, and flattery.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cha dhamme pahāya bhabbo uttari manussadhammaṁ alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ sacchikātun”ti.

After giving up these six qualities you can realize a superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones.”

Tatiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →
Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
View all discourses →
Vision

Vision

The corrective clarity that clearly sees into the true nature of things as they actually are.

Also known as: knowledge and vision, seeing clearly, seeing things as they are, seeing the truth, seeing the dhamma
Pāli: dassana, ñāṇadassana, yathābhūtañāṇadassana
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026