The Buddha teaches on easy to admonish (2nd), presenting a sevenfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 7.35 Easy to Admonish (2nd)

“Imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā …pe… ‘sattime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti. Katame satta? Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, samādhigāravatā, sovacassatā, kalyāṇamittatā. Ime kho, bhante, satta dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī’ti.

Idamavoca, bhikkhave, devatā. Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyī”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā sāriputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“imassa kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi.

Idha, bhante, bhikkhu attanā ca satthugāravo hoti, satthugāravatāya ca vaṇṇavādī. Ye caññe bhikkhū na satthugāravā te ca satthugāravatāya samādapeti. Ye caññe bhikkhū satthugāravā tesañca vaṇṇaṁ bhaṇati bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena.

Attanā ca dhammagāravo hoti …pe…

saṅghagāravo hoti

sikkhāgāravo hoti

samādhigāravo hoti

suvaco hoti

kalyāṇamitto hoti, kalyāṇamittatāya ca vaṇṇavādī. Ye caññe bhikkhū na kalyāṇamittā te ca kalyāṇamittatāya samādapeti. Ye caññe bhikkhū kalyāṇamittā tesañca vaṇṇaṁ bhaṇati bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālenāti.

Imassa kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmī”ti.

“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta. Sādhu kho tvaṁ, sāriputta, imassa mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsi.

Idha, sāriputta, bhikkhu attanā ca satthugāravo hoti, satthugāravatāya ca vaṇṇavādī. Ye caññe bhikkhū na satthugāravā te ca satthugāravatāya samādapeti. Ye caññe bhikkhū satthugāravā tesañca vaṇṇaṁ bhaṇati bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena.

Attanā ca dhammagāravo hoti …pe…

saṅghagāravo hoti

sikkhāgāravo hoti

samādhigāravo hoti

suvaco hoti

kalyāṇamitto hoti, kalyāṇamittatāya ca vaṇṇavādī. Ye caññe bhikkhū na kalyāṇamittā te ca kalyāṇamittatāya samādapeti. Ye caññe bhikkhū kalyāṇamittā tesañca vaṇṇaṁ bhaṇati bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālenāti.

Imassa kho, sāriputta, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena attho daṭṭhabbo”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā …pe…

“Mendicants, tonight a deity … said to me:

‘sattime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti.

‘Sir, these seven things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant.

Katame satta?

What seven?

Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, samādhigāravatā, sovacassatā, kalyāṇamittatā.

Respect for the Teacher, for the teaching, for the Saṅgha, for the training, for immersion; being easy to admonish, and good friendship.

Ime kho, bhante, satta dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī’ti.

These seven things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant.’

Idamavoca, bhikkhave, devatā.

That is what that deity said.

Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyī”ti.

Then he bowed and respectfully circled me, keeping me on his right side, before vanishing right there.”

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā sāriputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When he said this, Venerable Sāriputta said to the Buddha:

“imassa kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi.

“Sir, this is how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement.

Idha, bhante, bhikkhu attanā ca satthugāravo hoti, satthugāravatāya ca vaṇṇavādī.

It’s when a mendicant personally respects the Teacher and praises such respect.

Ye caññe bhikkhū na satthugāravā te ca satthugāravatāya samādapeti.

And they encourage other mendicants who lack such respect to respect the Teacher.

Ye caññe bhikkhū satthugāravā tesañca vaṇṇaṁ bhaṇati bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena.

And they praise other mendicants who respect the Teacher at the right time, truthfully and correctly.

Attanā ca dhammagāravo hoti …pe…

They personally respect the teaching …

saṅghagāravo hoti

They personally respect the Saṅgha …

sikkhāgāravo hoti

They personally respect the training …

samādhigāravo hoti

They personally respect immersion …

suvaco hoti

They are personally easy to admonish …

kalyāṇamitto hoti, kalyāṇamittatāya ca vaṇṇavādī.

They personally have good friends, and praise such friendship.

Ye caññe bhikkhū na kalyāṇamittā te ca kalyāṇamittatāya samādapeti.

And they encourage other mendicants who lack good friends to develop good friendship.

Ye caññe bhikkhū kalyāṇamittā tesañca vaṇṇaṁ bhaṇati bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālenāti.

And they praise other mendicants who have good friends at the right time, truthfully and correctly.

Imassa kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmī”ti.

That’s how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement.”

“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta.

“Good, good, Sāriputta!

Sādhu kho tvaṁ, sāriputta, imassa mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsi.

It’s good that you understand the detailed meaning of what I’ve said in brief like this.

Idha, sāriputta, bhikkhu attanā ca satthugāravo hoti, satthugāravatāya ca vaṇṇavādī.

It’s when a mendicant personally respects the Teacher …

Ye caññe bhikkhū na satthugāravā te ca satthugāravatāya samādapeti.

And they encourage other mendicants who lack such respect to respect the Teacher.

Ye caññe bhikkhū satthugāravā tesañca vaṇṇaṁ bhaṇati bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena.

And they praise other mendicants who respect the Teacher at the right time, truthfully and correctly.

Attanā ca dhammagāravo hoti …pe…

They personally respect the teaching …

saṅghagāravo hoti

They personally respect the Saṅgha …

sikkhāgāravo hoti

They personally respect the training …

samādhigāravo hoti

They personally respect immersion …

suvaco hoti

They are personally easy to admonish …

kalyāṇamitto hoti, kalyāṇamittatāya ca vaṇṇavādī.

They personally have good friends, and praise such friendship.

Ye caññe bhikkhū na kalyāṇamittā te ca kalyāṇamittatāya samādapeti.

And they encourage other mendicants who lack good friends to develop good friendship.

Ye caññe bhikkhū kalyāṇamittā tesañca vaṇṇaṁ bhaṇati bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālenāti.

And they praise other mendicants who have good friends at the right time, truthfully and correctly.

Imassa kho, sāriputta, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena attho daṭṭhabbo”ti.

This is how to understand the detailed meaning of what I said in brief.”

Catutthaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Companionship

Companionship

Companionship is the state of being with others, fostering connection, support, and mutual growth. This topic highlights how our associations influence us, whether positively or negatively, and explores the conditions and choices that lead to different kinds of companionship.

Also known as: fellowship, association, camaraderie, friendship
Pāli: sahāyatā, mittatā
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Good friendship

Good friendship

Association with those who are virtuous and wise, who encourage faith, ethical conduct, and discernment. Good friendship is the chief support for progress on the path, guiding one toward right view and wholesome living.

Also known as: friendship with wholesome persons
Pāli: kalyāṇamittatā
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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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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