The Buddha teaches on families, presenting a ninefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 9.17 Families

“Navahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgataṁ kulaṁ anupagantvā nālaṁ upagantuṁ, upagantvā nālaṁ nisīdituṁ. Katamehi navahi? Na manāpena paccuṭṭhenti, na manāpena abhivādenti, na manāpena āsanaṁ denti, santamassa pariguhanti, bahukampi thokaṁ denti, paṇītampi lūkhaṁ denti, asakkaccaṁ denti no sakkaccaṁ, na upanisīdanti dhammassavanāya, bhāsitamassa na sussūsanti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, navahaṅgehi samannāgataṁ kulaṁ anupagantvā nālaṁ upagantuṁ upagantvā nālaṁ nisīdituṁ.

Navahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgataṁ kulaṁ anupagantvā alaṁ upagantuṁ, upagantvā alaṁ nisīdituṁ. Katamehi navahi? Manāpena paccuṭṭhenti, manāpena abhivādenti, manāpena āsanaṁ denti, santamassa na pariguhanti, bahukampi bahukaṁ denti, paṇītampi paṇītaṁ denti, sakkaccaṁ denti no asakkaccaṁ, upanisīdanti dhammassavanāya, bhāsitamassa sussūsanti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, navahaṅgehi samannāgataṁ kulaṁ anupagantvā alaṁ upagantuṁ, upagantvā alaṁ nisīditun”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Navahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgataṁ kulaṁ anupagantvā nālaṁ upagantuṁ, upagantvā nālaṁ nisīdituṁ.

“Mendicants, visiting a family with nine factors is not worthwhile, or if you’ve already arrived, sitting down is not worthwhile.

Katamehi navahi?

What nine?

Na manāpena paccuṭṭhenti, na manāpena abhivādenti, na manāpena āsanaṁ denti, santamassa pariguhanti, bahukampi thokaṁ denti, paṇītampi lūkhaṁ denti, asakkaccaṁ denti no sakkaccaṁ, na upanisīdanti dhammassavanāya, bhāsitamassa na sussūsanti.

They don’t politely rise, bow, or offer a seat. They hide what they have. Even when they have much they give little. Even when they have fine things they give coarse things. They give carelessly, not carefully. They don’t sit nearby to listen to the teachings. When you’re speaking, they don’t listen well.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, navahaṅgehi samannāgataṁ kulaṁ anupagantvā nālaṁ upagantuṁ upagantvā nālaṁ nisīdituṁ.

Visiting a family with these nine factors is not worthwhile, or if you’ve already arrived, sitting down is not worthwhile.

Navahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgataṁ kulaṁ anupagantvā alaṁ upagantuṁ, upagantvā alaṁ nisīdituṁ.

Visiting a family with nine factors is worthwhile, or if you’ve already arrived, sitting down is worthwhile.

Katamehi navahi?

What nine?

Manāpena paccuṭṭhenti, manāpena abhivādenti, manāpena āsanaṁ denti, santamassa na pariguhanti, bahukampi bahukaṁ denti, paṇītampi paṇītaṁ denti, sakkaccaṁ denti no asakkaccaṁ, upanisīdanti dhammassavanāya, bhāsitamassa sussūsanti.

They politely rise, bow, and offer a seat. They don’t hide what they have. When they have much they give much. When they have refined things they give refined things. They give carefully, not carelessly. They sit nearby to listen to the teachings. When you’re speaking, they listen well.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, navahaṅgehi samannāgataṁ kulaṁ anupagantvā alaṁ upagantuṁ, upagantvā alaṁ nisīditun”ti.

Visiting a family with these nine factors is worthwhile, or if you’ve already arrived, sitting down is worthwhile.”

Sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

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