Seven types of noble persons are worthy of offerings. By constantly observing impermanence in all conditions, they attain liberation, ranging from Arahants who exhaust the taints in this life to different types of Non-Returners.

AN 7.16 Aniccānupassī sutta - Observing Impermanence

“Sattime, bhikkhave, puggalā āhuneyyā pāhuneyyā dakkhiṇeyyā añjalikaraṇīyā anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa. Katame satta?

“|Bhikkhus,::::| these seven persons are worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, and are the unsurpassed field of merit for the world. What seven?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī viharati, aniccasaññī, aniccapaṭisaṁvedī satataṁ samitaṁ abbokiṇṇaṁ cetasā adhimuccamāno paññāya pariyogāhamāno. So āsavānaṁ khayā …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo puggalo āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa.

1.) Here, |bhikkhus,::::| a certain person dwells |observing impermanence::watching instability [aniccānupassī]| in |all conditions::all activities, all processes, all fabrications, all formations [sabbasaṅkhāra]|, perceiving impermanence, experiencing impermanence, constantly, continuously, and uninterruptedly |resolving::determining [adhimuccamāna]| on it with the mind, and fathoming it with wisdom. Through the wearing away of the |taints::outflows, discharges; (comm) mental defilements [āsavā]|, he realizes with direct knowledge and attains in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, and having attained it, he dwells in it. This|, bhikkhus,::::| is the first person worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, and is the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī viharati, aniccasaññī, aniccapaṭisaṁvedī satataṁ samitaṁ abbokiṇṇaṁ cetasā adhimuccamāno paññāya pariyogāhamāno. Tassa apubbaṁ acarimaṁ āsavapariyādānañca hoti jīvitapariyādānañca. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo puggalo āhuneyyo …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa.

2.) Furthermore, |bhikkhus,::::| here a certain person dwells observing impermanence in all conditions, perceiving impermanence, experiencing impermanence, constantly, continuously, and uninterruptedly resolving on it with the mind, and fathoming it with wisdom. For him, the exhaustion of the taints and the exhaustion of life occur simultaneously. This|, bhikkhus,::::| is the second person worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, and is the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī viharati, aniccasaññī, aniccapaṭisaṁvedī satataṁ samitaṁ abbokiṇṇaṁ cetasā adhimuccamāno paññāya pariyogāhamāno. So pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti …pe…

3.) Furthermore, |bhikkhus,::::| here a certain person dwells observing impermanence in all conditions, perceiving impermanence, experiencing impermanence, constantly, continuously, and uninterruptedly resolving on it with the mind, and fathoming it with wisdom. With the total ending of the five lower fetters, he becomes one who attains |final Nibbāna::complete cooling, full quenching, total emancipation, dying one’s final death [parinibbāyi]| in the interval ...

upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti …pe…

4.) ... he becomes one who attains final Nibbāna upon landing ...

asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti …pe…

5.) ... he becomes one who attains final Nibbāna without exertion ...

sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti …pe…

6.) ... he becomes one who attains final Nibbāna with exertion ...

uddhaṁsoto hoti akaniṭṭhagāmī. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, sattamo puggalo āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa.

7.) ... he becomes one bound upstream, |heading towards the Akaniṭṭha realm::headed to the highest deva realm [akaniṭṭhagāmī]|. This|, bhikkhus,::::| is the seventh person worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, and is the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, satta puggalā āhuneyyā pāhuneyyā dakkhiṇeyyā añjalikaraṇīyā anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā”ti.

These seven persons|, bhikkhus,::::| are worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, and are the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.”

Topics & Qualities:

Liberation

Liberation

Liberation can imply a temporary release of the mind, i.e. liberated from certain unwholesome mental qualities or complete liberation from all unwholesome qualities of the mind, i.e. Nibbāna.

Also known as: freedom, release, emancipation, deliverance
Pāli: vimutti, vimokkha, cetovimutti, paññāvimutti, akuppā cetovimutti
View all discourses →
Recognition of impermanence

Recognition of impermanence

Perceiving all conditioned things as unstable and transient. This recognition weakens attachment by revealing the continual arising and ceasing of phenomena, turning the mind toward wisdom and release.

Also known as: perception of impermanence, perception of instability, realization of transience
Pāli: aniccasaññā
View all discourses →

Last updated on August 12, 2026