The Buddha teaches on things that can’t be done (2nd), presenting a sixfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 6.93 Things That Can’t Be Done (2nd)

“Chayimāni, bhikkhave, abhabbaṭṭhānāni. Katamāni cha? Abhabbo diṭṭhisampanno puggalo kañci saṅkhāraṁ niccato upagantuṁ, abhabbo diṭṭhisampanno puggalo kañci saṅkhāraṁ sukhato upagantuṁ, abhabbo diṭṭhisampanno puggalo kañci dhammaṁ attato upagantuṁ, abhabbo diṭṭhisampanno puggalo ānantariyaṁ kammaṁ kātuṁ, abhabbo diṭṭhisampanno puggalo kotūhalamaṅgalena suddhiṁ paccāgantuṁ, abhabbo diṭṭhisampanno puggalo ito bahiddhā dakkhiṇeyyaṁ gavesituṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cha abhabbaṭṭhānānī”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Chayimāni, bhikkhave, abhabbaṭṭhānāni.

“Mendicants, these six things can’t be done.

Katamāni cha?

What six?

Abhabbo diṭṭhisampanno puggalo kañci saṅkhāraṁ niccato upagantuṁ, abhabbo diṭṭhisampanno puggalo kañci saṅkhāraṁ sukhato upagantuṁ, abhabbo diṭṭhisampanno puggalo kañci dhammaṁ attato upagantuṁ, abhabbo diṭṭhisampanno puggalo ānantariyaṁ kammaṁ kātuṁ, abhabbo diṭṭhisampanno puggalo kotūhalamaṅgalena suddhiṁ paccāgantuṁ, abhabbo diṭṭhisampanno puggalo ito bahiddhā dakkhiṇeyyaṁ gavesituṁ.

An individual accomplished in view can’t take conditions to be permanent. They cannot take conditions to be happiness. They cannot take anything to be the self. They can’t do deeds with fixed result in the next life. They can’t fall back on purification through boisterous, superstitious rites. They can’t seek outside of the Buddhist community for those worthy of religious donations.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cha abhabbaṭṭhānānī”ti.

These are the six things that can’t be done.”

Navamaṁ.

Qualities:

Happiness

Happiness

Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.

Also known as: pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease
Pāli: sukha
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Wrong view

Wrong view

A distorted understanding that sees permanence in the impermanent, satisfaction in the unsatisfactory, or self in the not-self. Wrong view guides action by delusion, obscuring cause and effect, and closes the door to wisdom and release.

Also known as: distorted or inverted perception, untrue view, false belief
Pāli: micchādiṭṭhi
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Last updated on July 27, 2026