The Buddha teaches on about sunetta, presenting a sevenfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 7.73 About Sunetta

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sunetto nāma satthā ahosi titthakaro kāmesu vītarāgo. Sunettassa kho pana, bhikkhave, satthuno anekāni sāvakasatāni ahesuṁ. Sunetto satthā sāvakānaṁ brahmalokasahabyatāya dhammaṁ desesi. Ye kho pana, bhikkhave, sunettassa satthuno brahmalokasahabyatāya dhammaṁ desentassa cittāni nappasādesuṁ te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjiṁsu. Ye kho pana, bhikkhave, sunettassa satthuno brahmalokasahabyatāya dhammaṁ desentassa cittāni pasādesuṁ te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjiṁsu.

Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, mūgapakkho nāma satthā ahosi …pe… aranemi nāma satthā ahosi …pe… kuddālako nāma satthā ahosi …pe… hatthipālo nāma satthā ahosi …pe… jotipālo nāma satthā ahosi …pe… arako nāma satthā ahosi titthakaro kāmesu vītarāgo. Arakassa kho pana, bhikkhave, satthuno anekāni sāvakasatāni ahesuṁ. Arako nāma satthā sāvakānaṁ brahmalokasahabyatāya dhammaṁ desesi. Ye kho pana, bhikkhave, arakassa satthuno brahmalokasahabyatāya dhammaṁ desentassa cittāni nappasādesuṁ, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjiṁsu. Ye kho pana, bhikkhave, arakassa satthuno brahmalokasahabyatāya dhammaṁ desentassa cittāni pasādesuṁ, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjiṁsu.

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, yo ime satta satthāre titthakare kāmesu vītarāge anekasataparivāre sasāvakasaṅghe paduṭṭhacitto akkoseyya paribhāseyya, bahuṁ so apuññaṁ pasaveyyā”ti?

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Yo, bhikkhave, ime satta satthāre titthakare kāmesu vītarāge anekasataparivāre sasāvakasaṅghe paduṭṭhacitto akkoseyya paribhāseyya, bahuṁ so apuññaṁ pasaveyya. Yo ekaṁ diṭṭhisampannaṁ puggalaṁ paduṭṭhacitto akkosati paribhāsati, ayaṁ tato bahutaraṁ apuññaṁ pasavati. Taṁ kissa hetu? Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, ito bahiddhā evarūpiṁ khantiṁ vadāmi yathāmaṁ sabrahmacārīsu.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘na no sabrahmacārīsu cittāni paduṭṭhāni bhavissantī’ti. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sunetto nāma satthā ahosi titthakaro kāmesu vītarāgo.

“Once upon a time, mendicants, there was a Teacher named Sunetta. He was a religious founder and was free of desire for sensual pleasures.

Sunettassa kho pana, bhikkhave, satthuno anekāni sāvakasatāni ahesuṁ.

He had many hundreds of disciples.

Sunetto satthā sāvakānaṁ brahmalokasahabyatāya dhammaṁ desesi.

He taught them the path to rebirth in the company of Divinity.

Ye kho pana, bhikkhave, sunettassa satthuno brahmalokasahabyatāya dhammaṁ desentassa cittāni nappasādesuṁ te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjiṁsu.

Those lacking confidence in Sunetta were—when their body broke up, after death—reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.

Ye kho pana, bhikkhave, sunettassa satthuno brahmalokasahabyatāya dhammaṁ desentassa cittāni pasādesuṁ te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjiṁsu.

Those full of confidence in Sunetta were—when their body broke up, after death—reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, mūgapakkho nāma satthā ahosi …pe…

Once upon a time there was a teacher named Mūgapakkha …

aranemi nāma satthā ahosi …pe…

Aranemi …

kuddālako nāma satthā ahosi …pe…

Kuddālaka …

hatthipālo nāma satthā ahosi …pe…

Hatthipāla …

jotipālo nāma satthā ahosi …pe…

Jotipāla …

arako nāma satthā ahosi titthakaro kāmesu vītarāgo.

Araka. He was a religious founder and was free of desire for sensual pleasures.

Arakassa kho pana, bhikkhave, satthuno anekāni sāvakasatāni ahesuṁ.

He had many hundreds of disciples.

Arako nāma satthā sāvakānaṁ brahmalokasahabyatāya dhammaṁ desesi.

He taught them the way to rebirth in the company of Divinity.

Ye kho pana, bhikkhave, arakassa satthuno brahmalokasahabyatāya dhammaṁ desentassa cittāni nappasādesuṁ, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjiṁsu.

Those lacking confidence in Araka were—when their body broke up, after death—reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.

Ye kho pana, bhikkhave, arakassa satthuno brahmalokasahabyatāya dhammaṁ desentassa cittāni pasādesuṁ, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjiṁsu.

Those full of confidence in Araka were—when their body broke up, after death—reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,

What do you think, mendicants?

yo ime satta satthāre titthakare kāmesu vītarāge anekasataparivāre sasāvakasaṅghe paduṭṭhacitto akkoseyya paribhāseyya, bahuṁ so apuññaṁ pasaveyyā”ti?

If someone with malicious intent were to abuse and insult these seven teachers with their hundreds of followers, would they not brim with much wickedness?”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Yes, sir.”

“Yo, bhikkhave, ime satta satthāre titthakare kāmesu vītarāge anekasataparivāre sasāvakasaṅghe paduṭṭhacitto akkoseyya paribhāseyya, bahuṁ so apuññaṁ pasaveyya.

“They would indeed.

Yo ekaṁ diṭṭhisampannaṁ puggalaṁ paduṭṭhacitto akkosati paribhāsati, ayaṁ tato bahutaraṁ apuññaṁ pasavati.

But someone who abuses and insults a single individual accomplished in view with malicious intent brims even more with wickedness.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, ito bahiddhā evarūpiṁ khantiṁ vadāmi yathāmaṁ sabrahmacārīsu.

I say that any injury done by those outside of the Buddhist community does not compare with what is done to one’s own spiritual companions.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:

So you should train like this:

‘na no sabrahmacārīsu cittāni paduṭṭhāni bhavissantī’ti.

‘We will have no malicious intent for our spiritual companions.’

Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

That’s how you should train.”

Navamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Cruelty

Cruelty

The wish to cause pain or the enjoyment of another’s suffering. Rooted in aversion and moral blindness, cruelty hardens the heart and erases compassion.

Also known as: abuse, hurting, fierceness, inhumanity, injuring, viciousness
Pāli: vihiṁsā
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Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Sensual desire

Sensual desire

A mental quality of desiring sensory gratification. It pulls the mind’s attention toward sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches in a search for satisfaction.

Also known as: craving for sensuality, passion for sensual pleasures, lust, pull toward enticing sense objects
Pāli: kāmacchanda
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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