The Buddha teaches on giving up, presenting a sevenfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 7.9 Giving Up

“Sattannaṁ, bhikkhave, saṁyojanānaṁ pahānāya samucchedāya brahmacariyaṁ vussati. Katamesaṁ sattannaṁ? Anunayasaṁyojanassa pahānāya samucchedāya brahmacariyaṁ vussati, paṭighasaṁyojanassa …pe… diṭṭhisaṁyojanassavicikicchāsaṁyojanassamānasaṁyojanassabhavarāgasaṁyojanassaavijjāsaṁyojanassa pahānāya samucchedāya brahmacariyaṁ vussati. Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sattannaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ pahānāya samucchedāya brahmacariyaṁ vussati. Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno anunayasaṁyojanaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ. Paṭighasaṁyojanaṁ …pe… diṭṭhisaṁyojanaṁvicikicchāsaṁyojanaṁmānasaṁyojanaṁbhavarāgasaṁyojanaṁavijjāsaṁyojanaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu acchecchi taṇhaṁ, vivattayi saṁyojanaṁ, sammā mānābhisamayā antamakāsi dukkhassā”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Sattannaṁ, bhikkhave, saṁyojanānaṁ pahānāya samucchedāya brahmacariyaṁ vussati.

“Mendicants, the spiritual life is lived to give up and cut out these seven fetters.

Katamesaṁ sattannaṁ?

What seven?

Anunayasaṁyojanassa pahānāya samucchedāya brahmacariyaṁ vussati, paṭighasaṁyojanassa …pe…

The fetters of attraction, aversion, views, doubt, conceit, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.

diṭṭhisaṁyojanassa

vicikicchāsaṁyojanassa

mānasaṁyojanassa

bhavarāgasaṁyojanassa

avijjāsaṁyojanassa pahānāya samucchedāya brahmacariyaṁ vussati.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sattannaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ pahānāya samucchedāya brahmacariyaṁ vussati.

The spiritual life is lived to give up and cut out these seven fetters.

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno anunayasaṁyojanaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ.

When a mendicant has given up the fetters of attraction, repulsion, views, doubt, conceit, desire to be reborn, and ignorance—cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them, so they are unable to arise in the future—

Paṭighasaṁyojanaṁ …pe…

diṭṭhisaṁyojanaṁ

vicikicchāsaṁyojanaṁ

mānasaṁyojanaṁ

bhavarāgasaṁyojanaṁ

avijjāsaṁyojanaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu acchecchi taṇhaṁ, vivattayi saṁyojanaṁ, sammā mānābhisamayā antamakāsi dukkhassā”ti.

they’re called a mendicant who has cut off craving, cast off the fetters, and by rightly comprehending conceit has made an end of suffering.”

Navamaṁ.

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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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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Doubt

Doubt

Paralyzing indecision about the path or practice. Doubt obstructs confidence and clarity.

Also known as: confusion, indecisiveness, uncertainty, wavering, perplexity
Pāli: vicikiccha, kaṅkhā, vimati
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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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Ignorance

Ignorance

A fundamental blindness to the true nature of reality. It is not merely a lack of information, but an active misperception that views the transient as permanent and the unsatisfactory as a source of happiness, thereby fueling the cycle of suffering.

Also known as: illusion of knowing, fundamental unawareness of the true nature of reality, misunderstanding of how things have come to be, not knowing the four noble truths
Pāli: avijjā
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Spiritual life

Spiritual life

A life of celibacy, contemplation, and ethical discipline lived for the sake of liberation; oriented toward inner development rather than sensual pleasures

Also known as: abstinence, celibacy, chastity, holy life, sexual restraint
Pāli: brahmacariya
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Last updated on July 27, 2026