The Buddha teaches that without giving up nine unwholesome qualities—greed, hate, delusion, anger, acrimony, disdain, contempt, jealousy, and stinginess—one cannot realize perfection.

AN 9.62 Impossible

“Nava, bhikkhave, dhamme appahāya abhabbo arahattaṁ sacchikātuṁ. Katame nava? Rāgaṁ, dosaṁ, mohaṁ, kodhaṁ, upanāhaṁ, makkhaṁ, paḷāsaṁ, issaṁ, macchariyaṁ ime kho, bhikkhave, nava dhamme appahāya abhabbo arahattaṁ sacchikātuṁ.

Nava, bhikkhave, dhamme pahāya bhabbo arahattaṁ sacchikātuṁ. Katame nava? Rāgaṁ, dosaṁ, mohaṁ, kodhaṁ, upanāhaṁ, makkhaṁ, paḷāsaṁ, issaṁ, macchariyaṁ ime kho, bhikkhave, nava dhamme pahāya bhabbo arahattaṁ sacchikātun”ti.

Ekādasamaṁ.

Khemavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Khemo ca amatañceva,
Abhayaṁ passaddhiyena ca;
Nirodho anupubbo ca,
Dhammaṁ pahāya bhabbena cāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Nava, bhikkhave, dhamme appahāya abhabbo arahattaṁ sacchikātuṁ.

“Mendicants, without giving up nine things you can’t realize perfection.

Katame nava?

What nine?

Rāgaṁ, dosaṁ, mohaṁ, kodhaṁ, upanāhaṁ, makkhaṁ, paḷāsaṁ, issaṁ, macchariyaṁ

Greed, hate, delusion, anger, acrimony, disdain, contempt, jealousy, and stinginess.

ime kho, bhikkhave, nava dhamme appahāya abhabbo arahattaṁ sacchikātuṁ.

Without giving up these nine things you can’t realize perfection.

Nava, bhikkhave, dhamme pahāya bhabbo arahattaṁ sacchikātuṁ.

After giving up nine things you can realize perfection.

Katame nava?

What nine?

Rāgaṁ, dosaṁ, mohaṁ, kodhaṁ, upanāhaṁ, makkhaṁ, paḷāsaṁ, issaṁ, macchariyaṁ

Greed, hate, delusion, anger, acrimony, disdain, contempt, jealousy, and stinginess.

ime kho, bhikkhave, nava dhamme pahāya bhabbo arahattaṁ sacchikātun”ti.

After giving up these nine things you can realize the fruit of perfection.”

Ekādasamaṁ.

Khemavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Khemo ca amatañceva,

Abhayaṁ passaddhiyena ca;

Nirodho anupubbo ca,

Dhammaṁ pahāya bhabbena cāti.

Topics & Qualities:

Anger

Anger

A burning surge of aversion that erupts against people or situations, scorching clarity and kindness. It distorts perception and drives speech and action toward harm.

Also known as: rage, wrath, fury, indignation
Pāli: kodha, kopa
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Contempt

Contempt

A dismissive or belittling attitude that refuses to acknowledge worth or goodness. It closes the heart, undermines gratitude, and prepares the ground for ill will.

Also known as: ungratefulness, depreciation, denigration, disrespect, belittlement, disparagement
Pāli: makkha, vambhaka
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Delusion

Delusion

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
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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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Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026