The Buddha teaches on the sabbath with nine factors, presenting a ninefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 9.18 The Sabbath with Nine Factors

“Navahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato uposatho upavuttho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro. Kathaṁ upavuttho ca, bhikkhave, navahaṅgehi samannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro?

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yāvajīvaṁ arahanto pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā nihitadaṇḍā nihitasatthā lajjī dayāpannā sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampino viharanti; ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭivirato nihitadaṇḍo nihitasattho lajjī dayāpanno sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampī viharāmi. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi; uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā paṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti …pe….

‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭiviratā nīcaseyyaṁ kappentimañcake tiṇasanthārake vā; ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭivirato nīcaseyyaṁ kappemimañcake tiṇasanthārake vā. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi; uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā aṭṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

Mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ tathā tatiyaṁ tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati. Iminā navamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

Evaṁ upavuttho kho, bhikkhave, navahaṅgehi samannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Navahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato uposatho upavuttho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro.

“Mendicants, the observance of the sabbath with its nine factors is very fruitful and beneficial and dazzling and bountiful.

Kathaṁ upavuttho ca, bhikkhave, navahaṅgehi samannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro?

And how should it be observed?

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati:

It’s when a noble disciple reflects:

‘yāvajīvaṁ arahanto pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā nihitadaṇḍā nihitasatthā lajjī dayāpannā sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampino viharanti;

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. They are scrupulous and kind, and live full of sympathy for all living beings.

ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭivirato nihitadaṇḍo nihitasattho lajjī dayāpanno sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampī viharāmi.

I, too, for this day and night will give up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. I’ll be scrupulous and kind, and live full of sympathy for all living beings.

Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi; uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti.

I will observe the sabbath by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’

Iminā paṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti …pe….

This is its first factor. …

‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭiviratā nīcaseyyaṁ kappentimañcake tiṇasanthārake vā;

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up high and luxurious beds. They sleep in a low place, either a cot or a grass mat.

ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭivirato nīcaseyyaṁ kappemimañcake tiṇasanthārake vā.

I, too, for this day and night will give up high and luxurious beds. I’ll sleep in a low place, either a cot or a grass mat.

Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi; uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti.

I will observe the sabbath by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’

Iminā aṭṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

This is its eighth factor.

Mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ tathā tatiyaṁ tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati.

They meditate spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

Iminā navamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

This is its ninth factor.

Evaṁ upavuttho kho, bhikkhave, navahaṅgehi samannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro”ti.

The observance of the sabbath with its nine factors in this way is very fruitful and beneficial and dazzling and bountiful.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Affection

Affection

A mental quality of tender affection and fond regard, often wholesome when rooted in kindness, which inclines the mind toward warmth and care. When unguarded, it may turn toward fixation upon what is 'dear,' leading the mind to attachment and the grief that follows separation from what has been clung to as 'dear'.

Also known as: fondness, love, tender regard
Pāli: pema
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Compassion

Compassion

A mental quality of wise empathy in response to suffering, which counters qualities of harm or cruelty.

Also known as: benevolence, concern, sympathy, kindness towards those who are suffering
Pāli: karuṇā, anukampa
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Ill will

Ill will

A mental quality of actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, manifesting as deliberate thoughts or intentions that oppose kindness and compassion; it fuels conflict and obstructs goodwill.

Also known as: actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, thought of malevolence towards another, hostile reflections towards another
Pāli: byāpāda
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Respect

Respect

A mental attitude of reverent attentiveness that values goodness and wisdom in oneself and others. It steadies conduct and opens the mind to learning and humility.

Also known as: reverence, veneration, regard, admiration, appreciation, deference, honour, attentiveness
Pāli: gārava, pūjā, sakkāra
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Slaughtering

Slaughtering

The deliberate killing of a living being, carried out with the intention of ending its life while disregarding its natural drive to continue living.

Also known as: killing, murdering, taking life
Pāli: pāṇātipāta
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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