The Buddha teaches that eight things should be developed for insight into and the complete ending of greed, hate, delusion, and other unwholesome qualities.

AN 8.119 Untitled Discourse on Greed (2nd)

“Rāgassa, bhikkhave, abhiññāya aṭṭha dhammā bhāvetabbā. Katame aṭṭha? Ajjhattaṁ rūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati parittāni suvaṇṇadubbaṇṇāni, tāni abhibhuyya ‘jānāmi passāmī’ti evaṁsaññī hoti. Ajjhattaṁ rūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati appamāṇāni suvaṇṇadubbaṇṇāni, tāni abhibhuyya ‘jānāmi passāmī’ti evaṁsaññī hoti. Ajjhattaṁ arūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati parittāni suvaṇṇadubbaṇṇāni, tāni abhibhuyya ‘jānāmi passāmī’ti evaṁsaññī hoti. Ajjhattaṁ arūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati appamāṇāni suvaṇṇadubbaṇṇāni, tāni abhibhuyya ‘jānāmi passāmī’ti evaṁsaññī hoti. Ajjhattaṁ arūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati nīlāni nīlavaṇṇāni nīlanidassanāni nīlanibhāsāni pītāni pītavaṇṇāni …pe… lohitakāni lohitakavaṇṇāni …pe… odātāni odātavaṇṇāni …pe… odātanibhāsāni, tāni abhibhuyya ‘jānāmi passāmī’ti evaṁsaññī hoti rāgassa, bhikkhave, abhiññāya ime aṭṭha dhammā bhāvetabbā”.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Rāgassa, bhikkhave, abhiññāya aṭṭha dhammā bhāvetabbā.

“For insight into greed, eight things should be developed.

Katame aṭṭha?

What eight?

Ajjhattaṁ rūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati parittāni suvaṇṇadubbaṇṇāni,

Perceiving form internally, they see forms externally, limited, both pretty and ugly.

tāni abhibhuyya ‘jānāmi passāmī’ti evaṁsaññī hoti.

Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’

Ajjhattaṁ rūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati appamāṇāni suvaṇṇadubbaṇṇāni, tāni abhibhuyya ‘jānāmi passāmī’ti evaṁsaññī hoti.

Perceiving form internally, they see forms externally, limitless, both pretty and ugly. …

Ajjhattaṁ arūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati parittāni suvaṇṇadubbaṇṇāni, tāni abhibhuyya ‘jānāmi passāmī’ti evaṁsaññī hoti.

Not perceiving form internally, they see forms externally, limited, both pretty and ugly. …

Ajjhattaṁ arūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati appamāṇāni suvaṇṇadubbaṇṇāni, tāni abhibhuyya ‘jānāmi passāmī’ti evaṁsaññī hoti.

Not perceiving form internally, they see forms externally, limitless, both pretty and ugly. …

Ajjhattaṁ arūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati nīlāni nīlavaṇṇāni nīlanidassanāni nīlanibhāsāni

Not perceiving form internally, they see forms externally, blue, with blue color and blue appearance. …

pītāni pītavaṇṇāni …pe…

yellow …

lohitakāni lohitakavaṇṇāni …pe…

red …

odātāni odātavaṇṇāni …pe… odātanibhāsāni,

Not perceiving form internally, they see forms externally, white, with white color and white appearance.

tāni abhibhuyya ‘jānāmi passāmī’ti evaṁsaññī hoti

Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’

rāgassa, bhikkhave, abhiññāya ime aṭṭha dhammā bhāvetabbā”.

For insight into greed, these eight things should be developed.”

Qualities:

Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
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Insight

Insight

Insight is deep, intuitive realization that transforms understanding and guides practice.

Also known as: having insight, with understanding, right knowledge
Pāli: ñāṇa, sammāñāṇa
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Last updated on July 27, 2026