The Buddha teaches on places people are reborn, presenting a sevenfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 7.55 Places People Are Reborn

“Satta ca, bhikkhave, purisagatiyo desessāmi anupādā ca parinibbānaṁ. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“katamā ca, bhikkhave, satta purisagatiyo?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaṁ bhūtaṁ taṁ pajahāmī’ti upekkhaṁ paṭilabhati. So bhave na rajjati, sambhave na rajjati, atthuttari padaṁ santaṁ sammappaññāya passati. Tañca khvassa padaṁ na sabbena sabbaṁ sacchikataṁ hoti, tassa na sabbena sabbaṁ mānānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ bhavarāgānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ avijjānusayo pahīno hoti. So pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā nibbāyeyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaṁ bhūtaṁ taṁ pajahāmī’ti upekkhaṁ paṭilabhati. So bhave na rajjati, sambhave na rajjati, atthuttari padaṁ santaṁ sammappaññāya passati. Tañca khvassa padaṁ na sabbena sabbaṁ sacchikataṁ hoti, tassa na sabbena sabbaṁ mānānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ bhavarāgānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ avijjānusayo pahīno hoti. So pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaṁ bhūtaṁ taṁ pajahāmī’ti upekkhaṁ paṭilabhati. So bhave na rajjati, sambhave na rajjati, atthuttari padaṁ santaṁ sammappaññāya passati. Tañca khvassa padaṁ na sabbena sabbaṁ sacchikataṁ hoti, tassa na sabbena sabbaṁ mānānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ bhavarāgānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ avijjānusayo pahīno hoti. So pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā nibbāyeyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā anupahacca talaṁ nibbāyeyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā upahacca talaṁ nibbāyeyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā paritte tiṇapuñje kaṭṭhapuñje nipateyya. tattha aggimpi janeyya, dhūmampi janeyya, aggimpi janetvā dhūmampi janetvā tameva parittaṁ tiṇapuñjaṁ kaṭṭhapuñjaṁ pariyādiyitvā anāhārā nibbāyeyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā vipule tiṇapuñje kaṭṭhapuñje nipateyya. tattha aggimpi janeyya, dhūmampi janeyya, aggimpi janetvā dhūmampi janetvā tameva vipulaṁ tiṇapuñjaṁ kaṭṭhapuñjaṁ pariyādiyitvā anāhārā nibbāyeyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaṁ bhūtaṁ taṁ pajahāmī’ti upekkhaṁ paṭilabhati. So bhave na rajjati, sambhave na rajjati, atthuttari padaṁ santaṁ sammappaññāya passati. Tañca khvassa padaṁ na sabbena sabbaṁ sacchikataṁ hoti, tassa na sabbena sabbaṁ mānānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ bhavarāgānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ avijjānusayo pahīno hoti. So pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā uddhaṁsoto hoti akaniṭṭhagāmī. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā mahante tiṇapuñje kaṭṭhapuñje nipateyya. tattha aggimpi janeyya, dhūmampi janeyya, aggimpi janetvā dhūmampi janetvā tameva mahantaṁ tiṇapuñjaṁ kaṭṭhapuñjaṁ pariyādiyitvā gacchampi daheyya, dāyampi daheyya, gacchampi dahitvā dāyampi dahitvā haritantaṁ pathantaṁ selantaṁ udakantaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ bhūmibhāgaṁ āgamma anāhārā nibbāyeyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā uddhaṁsoto hoti akaniṭṭhagāmī. Imā kho, bhikkhave, satta purisagatiyo.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, anupādāparinibbānaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaṁ bhūtaṁ taṁ pajahāmī’ti upekkhaṁ paṭilabhati. So bhave na rajjati, sambhave na rajjati, atthuttari padaṁ santaṁ sammappaññāya passati. Tañca khvassa padaṁ sabbena sabbaṁ sacchikataṁ hoti, tassa sabbena sabbaṁ mānānusayo pahīno hoti, sabbena sabbaṁ bhavarāgānusayo pahīno hoti, sabbena sabbaṁ avijjānusayo pahīno hoti. So āsavānaṁ khayā …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, anupādāparinibbānaṁ.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, satta purisagatiyo anupādā ca parinibbānan”ti.

Dutiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Satta ca, bhikkhave, purisagatiyo desessāmi anupādā ca parinibbānaṁ.

“Mendicants, I will teach you seven places people are reborn, and extinguishment by not grasping.

Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

“Yes, sir,” the mendicants replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

“katamā ca, bhikkhave, satta purisagatiyo?

“And what are the seven places people are reborn?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti:

Take a mendicant who practices like this:

‘no cassa no ca me siyā, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaṁ bhūtaṁ taṁ pajahāmī’ti upekkhaṁ paṭilabhati.

‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. It will not be, and it will not be mine. I am giving up what exists, what has come to be.’ They gain equanimity.

So bhave na rajjati, sambhave na rajjati, atthuttari padaṁ santaṁ sammappaññāya passati.

They’re not attached to life, or to creating a new life. And they see with right wisdom that there is a peaceful state beyond.

Tañca khvassa padaṁ na sabbena sabbaṁ sacchikataṁ hoti, tassa na sabbena sabbaṁ mānānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ bhavarāgānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ avijjānusayo pahīno hoti.

But they haven’t completely realized that state. They haven’t totally given up the underlying tendencies of conceit, desire for continued existence, and ignorance.

So pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti.

With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished between one life and the next.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā nibbāyeyya.

Suppose you struck an iron pot that had been heated all day. Any spark that flew off would be extinguished.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti:

In the same way, a mendicant who practices like this …

‘no cassa no ca me siyā, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaṁ bhūtaṁ taṁ pajahāmī’ti upekkhaṁ paṭilabhati.

So bhave na rajjati, sambhave na rajjati, atthuttari padaṁ santaṁ sammappaññāya passati.

Tañca khvassa padaṁ na sabbena sabbaṁ sacchikataṁ hoti, tassa na sabbena sabbaṁ mānānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ bhavarāgānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ avijjānusayo pahīno hoti.

So pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti.

With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished between one life and the next.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti:

Take a mendicant who practices like this:

‘no cassa no ca me siyā, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaṁ bhūtaṁ taṁ pajahāmī’ti upekkhaṁ paṭilabhati.

‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. It will not be, and it will not be mine. I am giving up what exists, what has come to be.’ They gain equanimity.

So bhave na rajjati, sambhave na rajjati, atthuttari padaṁ santaṁ sammappaññāya passati.

They’re not attached to life, or to creating a new life. And they see with right wisdom that there is a peaceful state beyond.

Tañca khvassa padaṁ na sabbena sabbaṁ sacchikataṁ hoti, tassa na sabbena sabbaṁ mānānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ bhavarāgānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ avijjānusayo pahīno hoti.

But they haven’t totally realized that state. They haven’t completely given up the underlying tendencies of conceit, desire for continued existence, and ignorance.

So pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti.

With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished between one life and the next.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā nibbāyeyya.

Suppose you struck an iron pot that had been heated all day. Any spark that flew off and floated away would be extinguished.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti:

In the same way, a mendicant who practices like this …

‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe…

so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti.

With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished between one life and the next.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti:

Take a mendicant who practices like this:

‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe…

‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’

so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti.

With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished between one life and the next.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā anupahacca talaṁ nibbāyeyya.

Suppose you struck an iron pot that had been heated all day. Any spark that flew off and floated away would be extinguished before landing.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti:

In the same way, a mendicant who practices like this …

‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe…

so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti.

With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished between one life and the next.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti:

Take a mendicant who practices like this:

‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe…

‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’

so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti.

With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished upon landing.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā upahacca talaṁ nibbāyeyya.

Suppose you struck an iron pot that had been heated all day. Any spark that flew off and floated away would be extinguished upon landing.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti:

In the same way, a mendicant who practices like this …

‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe…

‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’

so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti.

With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished upon landing.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti:

Take a mendicant who practices like this:

‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe…

‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’

so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti.

With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished without extra effort.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā paritte tiṇapuñje kaṭṭhapuñje nipateyya.

Suppose you struck an iron pot that had been heated all day. Any spark that flew off and floated away would fall on a little heap of grass or twigs.

tattha aggimpi janeyya, dhūmampi janeyya, aggimpi janetvā dhūmampi janetvā tameva parittaṁ tiṇapuñjaṁ kaṭṭhapuñjaṁ pariyādiyitvā anāhārā nibbāyeyya.

There it would ignite a fire and produce smoke. But the fire would consume the grass or twigs and become extinguished due to not being fed.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti:

In the same way, a mendicant who practices like this …

‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe…

‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’

so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti.

With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished without extra effort.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti:

Take a mendicant who practices like this:

‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe…

‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’

so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti.

With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished with extra effort.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā vipule tiṇapuñje kaṭṭhapuñje nipateyya.

Suppose you struck an iron pot that had been heated all day. Any spark that flew off and floated away would fall on a large heap of grass or twigs.

tattha aggimpi janeyya, dhūmampi janeyya, aggimpi janetvā dhūmampi janetvā tameva vipulaṁ tiṇapuñjaṁ kaṭṭhapuñjaṁ pariyādiyitvā anāhārā nibbāyeyya.

There it would ignite a fire and produce smoke. But the fire would consume the grass or twigs and become extinguished due to not being fed.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti:

In the same way, a mendicant who practices like this …

‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe…

‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’

so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti.

With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished with extra effort.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti:

Take a mendicant who practices like this:

‘no cassa no ca me siyā, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaṁ bhūtaṁ taṁ pajahāmī’ti upekkhaṁ paṭilabhati.

‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. It will not be, and it will not be mine. I am giving up what exists, what has come to be.’ They gain equanimity.

So bhave na rajjati, sambhave na rajjati, atthuttari padaṁ santaṁ sammappaññāya passati.

They’re not attached to life, or to creating a new life. And they see with right wisdom that there is a peaceful state beyond.

Tañca khvassa padaṁ na sabbena sabbaṁ sacchikataṁ hoti, tassa na sabbena sabbaṁ mānānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ bhavarāgānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ avijjānusayo pahīno hoti.

But they haven’t totally realized that state. They haven’t completely given up the underlying tendencies of conceit, desire for continued existence, and ignorance.

So pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā uddhaṁsoto hoti akaniṭṭhagāmī.

With the ending of the five lower fetters they head upstream, going to the Akaniṭṭha realm.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā mahante tiṇapuñje kaṭṭhapuñje nipateyya.

Suppose you struck an iron pot that had been heated all day. Any spark that flew off and floated away would fall on a huge heap of grass or twigs.

tattha aggimpi janeyya, dhūmampi janeyya, aggimpi janetvā dhūmampi janetvā tameva mahantaṁ tiṇapuñjaṁ kaṭṭhapuñjaṁ pariyādiyitvā gacchampi daheyya, dāyampi daheyya, gacchampi dahitvā dāyampi dahitvā haritantaṁ pathantaṁ selantaṁ udakantaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ bhūmibhāgaṁ āgamma anāhārā nibbāyeyya.

There it would ignite a fire and produce smoke. And after consuming the grass and twigs, the fire would burn up plants and trees until it reached a green field, a roadside, a cliff’s edge, a body of water, or cleared parkland, where it would be extinguished due to not being fed.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti:

In the same way, a mendicant who practices like this …

‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe…

‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’

so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā uddhaṁsoto hoti akaniṭṭhagāmī.

With the ending of the five lower fetters they head upstream, going to the Akaniṭṭha realm.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, satta purisagatiyo.

These are the seven places people are reborn.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, anupādāparinibbānaṁ?

And what is complete extinguishment with no fuel for grasping?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti:

Take a mendicant who practices like this:

‘no cassa no ca me siyā, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaṁ bhūtaṁ taṁ pajahāmī’ti upekkhaṁ paṭilabhati.

‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. It will not be, and it will not be mine. I am giving up what exists, what has come to be.’ They gain equanimity.

So bhave na rajjati, sambhave na rajjati, atthuttari padaṁ santaṁ sammappaññāya passati.

They’re not attached to life, or to creating a new life. And they see with right wisdom that there is a peaceful state beyond.

Tañca khvassa padaṁ sabbena sabbaṁ sacchikataṁ hoti, tassa sabbena sabbaṁ mānānusayo pahīno hoti, sabbena sabbaṁ bhavarāgānusayo pahīno hoti, sabbena sabbaṁ avijjānusayo pahīno hoti.

And they have totally realized that state. They’ve completely given up the underlying tendencies of conceit, desire for continued existence, and ignorance.

So āsavānaṁ khayā …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.

They’ve realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, anupādāparinibbānaṁ.

This is called complete extinguishment with no fuel for grasping.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, satta purisagatiyo anupādā ca parinibbānan”ti.

These are the seven places people are reborn, and extinguishment by not grasping.”

Dutiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Conceit

Conceit

Self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification and fuels rebirth

Also known as: arrogance, egotism, pride, self-importance, tendency of self-comparison
Pāli: māna, atimāna, unnaḷa
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Equanimity

Equanimity

A state of mental poise and balance, characterized by non-reactivity and composure in the face of agreeable or disagreeable experiences.

Also known as: mental poise, mental balance, equipose, non-reactivity, composure
Pāli: upekkha
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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
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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
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026