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

AN 6.79 Achievement

“Chahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo anadhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ adhigantuṁ, adhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ phātiṁ kātuṁ. Katamehi chahi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na āyakusalo ca hoti, na apāyakusalo ca hoti, na upāyakusalo ca hoti, anadhigatānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ adhigamāya na chandaṁ janeti, adhigate kusale dhamme na ārakkhati, sātaccakiriyāya na sampādeti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, chahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo anadhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ adhigantuṁ, adhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ phātiṁ kātuṁ.

Chahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu bhabbo anadhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ adhigantuṁ, adhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ phātiṁ kātuṁ. Katamehi chahi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āyakusalo ca hoti, apāyakusalo ca hoti, upāyakusalo ca hoti, anadhigatānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ adhigamāya chandaṁ janeti, adhigate kusale dhamme ārakkhati, sātaccakiriyāya sampādeti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, chahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu bhabbo anadhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ adhigantuṁ, adhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ phātiṁ kātun”ti.

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Chahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo anadhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ adhigantuṁ, adhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ phātiṁ kātuṁ.

“Mendicants, a mendicant who has six qualities is unable to acquire more skillful qualities or to increase the skillful qualities they’ve already acquired.

Katamehi chahi?

What six?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na āyakusalo ca hoti, na apāyakusalo ca hoti, na upāyakusalo ca hoti, anadhigatānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ adhigamāya na chandaṁ janeti, adhigate kusale dhamme na ārakkhati, sātaccakiriyāya na sampādeti.

It’s when a mendicant is not skilled in progress, skilled in regress, or skilled in means. They don’t generate enthusiasm to achieve skillful qualities not yet achieved. They don’t protect skillful qualities they have achieved. And they don’t try to persist in the task.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, chahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo anadhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ adhigantuṁ, adhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ phātiṁ kātuṁ.

A mendicant who possesses these six qualities is unable to acquire more skillful qualities or to increase the skillful qualities they’ve already acquired.

Chahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu bhabbo anadhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ adhigantuṁ, adhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ phātiṁ kātuṁ.

A mendicant who has six qualities is able to acquire more skillful qualities or to increase the skillful qualities they’ve already acquired.

Katamehi chahi?

What six?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āyakusalo ca hoti, apāyakusalo ca hoti, upāyakusalo ca hoti, anadhigatānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ adhigamāya chandaṁ janeti, adhigate kusale dhamme ārakkhati, sātaccakiriyāya sampādeti.

It’s when a mendicant is skilled in progress, skilled in regress, and skilled in means. They generate enthusiasm to achieve skillful qualities not yet achieved. They protect skillful qualities they have achieved. And they try to persist in the task.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, chahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu bhabbo anadhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ adhigantuṁ, adhigataṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ phātiṁ kātun”ti.

A mendicant who possesses these six qualities is able to acquire more skillful qualities or to increase the skillful qualities they’ve already acquired.”

Pañcamaṁ.

Qualities:

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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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026