Discover Discourses by Qualities
A
Adventurousness ☁️ dark
7
Synonyms:
audacious, bold, wild, unrestrained, untamed, with wanderlust, Supported by:{non-restraint}, Leads to:{discontentment}, Opposite:{tame}
Context:
A restless, thrill-seeking bent of mind that delights in novelty and roaming rather than in restraint. When untrained, it pulls one outward to stimulation and risk, making it hard to settle, listen, or practice steadily.
Pāli term:
adanta
Affection ☀️ bright
6
Synonyms:
fondness, love, tender regard, Supported by:{loving-kindness}, Leads to:{compassion, dearness}, Opposite:{aversion}
Context:
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'.
Pāli term:
pema
Aggressiveness ☁️ dark
9
Synonyms:
hostility, antagonism, belligerence, combativeness, pugnacity, violence, injury causing behavior, Supported by:{anger, argumentativeness}, Leads to:{harm}
Context:
A pushing, forceful mental stance that seeks to overpower, threaten, or injure—physically or verbally. It often rides on anger and the urge to win, destroying safety and trust for oneself and others.
Pāli term:
sārambha, caṇḍa
Anger ☁️ dark
27
Synonyms:
rage, wrath, fury, indignation, Supported by:{irritability, resentment}, Leads to:{aggressiveness}, Opposite:{loving-kindness}
Context:
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.
Pāli term:
kodha, kopa
Anxiety ☁️ dark
31
Synonyms:
agitation, confusion about what is right and wrong, distress, fickleness, fidgetiness, edginess, restlessness, wavering, worry, Supported by:{perturbation}, Leads to:{ignorance}
Context:
A fluttering, unsettled state of mind, worried about past or future and unsure what is right to do. It keeps the mind circling around concerns without resolution, weakening confidence and obscuring calm discernment.
Pāli term:
kukkucca, uddhacca, darathaja
Related
Qualities:
Appreciative joy ☀️ bright
10
Synonyms:
mudita, appreciation, rejoicing in the happiness of others, delight in the success of others, Supported by:{contentment, compassion}, Leads to:{politeness, equanimity}, Opposite:{jealousy}
Context:
A mental quality of rejoicing in the success and happiness of others, which counters envy and leads to the abandoning of discontentment from the mind.
Pāli term:
muditā
Argumentativeness ☁️ dark
11
Synonyms:
bickering, contentiousness, contrariness, quarrelsomeness, Supported by:{boastfulness, clinging to rules and observances, jealousy}, Lead to:{aggressiveness, feuding}
Context:
Disposition or tendency to argue, disagree or engage in contention, often motivated by conceit or attachment to views. It obstructs harmony and feeds quarrels, rivalry, and feuding.
Pāli term:
kalaha, viggaha, vivāda
Attachment ☁️ dark
63
Synonyms:
acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine, Supported by:{craving, merit}, Leads to:{dearness, lamentation, sorrow}
Context:
A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.
Pāli term:
upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
Aversion ☁️ dark
70
Synonyms:
animosity, hate, hostility, fault-finding mindset, upset, Supported by:{ignorance, perceiving gratification}, Leads to:{contempt, displeasure, fear, harm, ill will, impatience, irritability, lack of discernment}, Opposite:{patience}
Context:
A rejecting mental quality rooted in perception, where one instinctively turns away from or resists unpleasant experiences or objects; it manifests as a tendency to push away discomfort, obstructing patience and acceptance.
Pāli term:
dosa, paṭighasaññā, vera
B
Bad friendship ☁️ dark
5
Synonyms:
friendship with unwholesome persons, Supported by:{immaturity, lack of discernment}, Leads to:{consuming intoxicants, moral recklessness, shamelessness, wrong effort}
Context:
Association with those who are unprincipled, faithless, or unwise. Such companionship leads one away from the Dhamma, fostering negligence and wrong view.
Pāli term:
pāpamittatā
Related
Qualities:
Bad habits ☁️ dark
2
Synonyms:
practice of unbeneficial actions, pursuing unskillful actions, Supported by:{laziness}, Leads to:{harm}
Context:
The repeated indulgence in unskillful actions. Habitual engagement with the unwholesome strengthens defilements, making them harder to abandon and leading to decline.
Pāli term:
anuyoga + akusala
Boastfulness ☁️ dark
5
Synonyms:
braggart, exalting oneself, overbearing, self-promotion, self-praising, Supported by:{conceit, personal existence}, Leads to:{argumentativeness}, Opposite:{unassuming}
Context:
A puffed-up self-display that advertises one's virtues, attainments, or status to win admiration. It springs from conceit and the craving for recognition, crowding out humility and genuine connection.
Pāli term:
attukkaṁsaka
Brashness ☁️ dark
1
Synonyms:
cockiness, forwardness, impudence, shameless assertiveness, Supported by:{moral recklessness, shamelessness, unprincipled conduct}, Leads to:{argumentativeness, stealing, sexual misconduct, wrong speech}
Context:
Overstepping of bounds in speech and conduct, marked by pushiness, arrogance, and disregard for restraint; contrasted with humility and modesty.
Pāli term:
pāgabbhiya
C
20
Synonyms:
attachment to rites and rituals, attachment to precepts, attachment to practices, attachment to customs, attachment to conventions, attachment to traditions, attachment to ceremonies, attachment to rules, attachment to regulations, attachment to laws, Supported by:{wrong view}, Leads to:{stubbornness}
Context:
A grasping at external forms of practice—rituals, customs, or rules—as ends in themselves, believing they alone lead to purification. It mistakes the letter for the spirit, binding the mind to outward observance while missing the inner transformation they are meant to support.
Pāli term:
sīlabbataparāmāsa
Collectedness ☀️ bright
94
Synonyms:
mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness, Supported by:{contentment, full awareness, happiness, mindfulness}, Leads to:{equanimity, flexible, imperturbable, psychic power, vision}, Opposite:{wrong collectedness}
Context:
A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.
Pāli term:
jhāna, samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
Companionship 💠 neutral
11
Synonyms:
friendship, fellowship, camaraderie, Supported by:{desire}
Context:
The state of associating with others, which shapes the mind according to the qualities of one's companions. Companionship itself is neutral—its fruit depends on whether one's associates incline toward wholesome or unwholesome conduct.
Pāli term:
sahāyatā
Related
Qualities:
Compassion ☀️ bright
16
Synonyms:
benevolence, concern, sympathy, kindness towards those who are suffering, Supported by:{affection, merit, non-harm}, Leads to:{appreciative joy, equanimity}
Context:
A mental quality of wise empathy in response to suffering, which counters qualities of harm or cruelty.
Pāli term:
karuṇā, anukampa
Complete comprehension ☀️ bright
47
Synonyms:
full understanding, knowing full well, seeing things as they are, Supported by:{wisdom, insight, direct knowledge}, Leads to:{ending}
Context:
The thorough understanding of phenomena as they truly are—fully knowing their arising, passing, and the unsatisfactoriness inherent in them while they persist.
Pāli term:
pariññāya, sammadaññā, sampajañña, saṅkhāya
Conceit ☁️ dark
76
Synonyms:
arrogance, egotism, pride, self-importance, tendency of self-comparison, Supported by:{ignorance}, Leads to:{argumentativeness, boastfulness, feuding, mental proliferation, personal existence, recognition of diversity, stubbornness, vanity}, Opposite:{humility, non-identification, non-proliferation}
Context:
Self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification and fuels rebirth
Pāli term:
māna, atimāna, unnaḷa
Conscience ☀️ bright
23
Synonyms:
with sense of right and wrong, sense of shame, modesty, (comm) originating from inside, Supported by:{respect, truth}, Leads to:{ethical conduct}, Opposite:{shamelessness}
Context:
An inner moral sensitivity that shrinks from wrongdoing out of self-respect and personal integrity. It is the voice within that knows what is beneath one's dignity, guarding conduct through an inward standard of honor.
Pāli term:
hirī
Related
Qualities:
Consuming intoxicants ☁️ dark
2
Synonyms:
drinking liquor and wine, drinking alcohol, taking intoxicating substances, Supported by:{wrong view, bad friendship}, Leads to:{harm, negligence}
Context:
The use of substances that cloud the mind and impair clear awareness, leading to a loss of self-control and moral recklessness. Such consumption undermines mindfulness and ethical conduct, paving the way for further unwholesome actions.
Pāli term:
surāmerayapāna
Contempt ☁️ dark
16
Synonyms:
ungratefulness, depreciation, denigration, disrespect, belittlement, disparagement, Supported by:{aversion, entitlement}, Leads to:{ill will}, Opposite:{respect}
Context:
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.
Pāli term:
makkha
Contentment ☀️ bright
45
Synonyms:
fewness of wishes, having few desires, satisfaction, sense of ease, Opposite:{discontentment}, Supported by:{sense restraint, self-control}, Leads to:{collectedness}
Context:
The quality of being satisfied with the requisites one has and with the present conditions, resulting in having few desires and being free from agitation.
Pāli term:
santutthi, appicchatā, tuṭṭha, tosana
Related
Qualities:
Continuous effort ☀️ bright
34
Synonyms:
unremitting effort, ardent, persistent, zealous, unflagging endeavor, Supported by:{diligence, rousing of energy}, Leads to:{vigour}, Opposite:{laziness}
Context:
The flame of effort. It is the application of diligence put into moment-to-moment continuity
Pāli term:
ātāpī, parakkamma
Craving ☁️ dark
64
Synonyms:
wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst, Supported by:{ignorance}, Leads to:{mental proliferation, passion, recognition of diversity, wrong mindfulness}
Context:
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.
Pāli term:
taṇha, abhijjhā
Related
Qualities:
Cruelty ☁️ dark
6
Synonyms:
abuse, hurting, fierceness, inhumanity, injuring, viciousness, Supported by:{aversion}, Leads to:{regret}
Context:
The wish to cause pain or the enjoyment of another’s suffering. Rooted in aversion and moral blindness, cruelty hardens the heart and erases compassion.
Pāli term:
vihiṁsā
Related
Qualities:
Cultivation ☀️ bright
70
Synonyms:
development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth, Supported by:{desire, diligence, right view}, Leads to:{good habits}, Opposite:{undeveloped}
Context:
The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.
Pāli term:
bhāvanā
D
Dearness ☁️ dark
4
Synonyms:
beloved, cherished, pleasing, Supported by:{affection, attachment}, Leads to:{jealousy, sorrow, lamentation}, Opposite: {aversion}
Context:
A mental quality of holding something or someone as 'dear' through attachment, which binds the mind with craving and possessiveness. It is the external fixation upon what the mind clings to, often giving rise to envy, quarrels, and sorrow.
Pāli term:
piya
Delusion ☁️ dark
34
Synonyms:
illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view, Supported by:{ignorance, perceiving gratification}, Leads to:{doubt, lack of discernment}, Opposite:{wisdom}
Context:
A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.
Pāli term:
moha, micchāñāṇa
Desire 💠 neutral
24
Synonyms:
having an objective, interest, aspiration, wish, intention, impulse, Supported by:{ignorance, wisdom}, Leads to:{self-making, companionship, cultivation, vigour}
Context:
A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.
Pāli term:
chanda
Diligence ☀️ bright
51
Synonyms:
alertness, carefulness, conscientiousness, heedfulness, Leads to:{continuous effort, cultivation, good habits, sense restraint}, Opposite:{negligence}
Context:
The protective quality of guarding the mind amidst sensory experience. By restraining the faculties with alert presence, the mind remains unsoiled by attraction.
Pāli term:
appamāda
Direct knowledge ☀️ bright
64
Synonyms:
experiential understanding, direct experience, Supported by:{flexible, tranquility}, Leads to:{complete comprehension}
Context:
A deep, firsthand realization or knowing that arises from personal experience, not from study or conceptual understanding; it is an immediate, unmediated apprehension of truth.
Pāli term:
abhiñña
Discernment ☀️ bright
68
Synonyms:
ability to make out distinctions, ability to discriminate, distinguish, clear seeing, penetrating internal vision, Supported by:{examination, full awareness}, Leads to:{perceiving drawback, perceiving escape, wisdom}
Context:
Clear seeing that distinguishes what is wholesome from unwholesome, true from false.
Pāli term:
viveka, vipassanā, nipaka, niccheyya
Discontentment ☁️ dark
19
Synonyms:
dissatisfaction, unsatisfactoriness, boredom, Opposite:{contentment}, Supported by:{craving}, Leads to:{having many desires}
Context:
A state of dissatisfaction with one's requisites or conditions. It fuels the search for more, disturbing peace and preventing the mind from settling into collectedness.
Pāli term:
asantuṭṭhitā, aratī, atitta
Disenchantment ☀️ bright
20
Synonyms:
de-illusionment, disinterest, Supported by:{perceiving drawback, vision}, Leads to:{dispassion}
Context:
The turning away from fascination with conditioned things through clear seeing of their impermanence and unsatisfactoriness.
Pāli term:
nibbidā
Dispassion ☀️ bright
58
Synonyms:
detachment, disinterest, fading of desire, disentanglement, Supported by:{disenchantment}, Leads to:{direct knowledge, giving up}, Opposite:{passion}
Context:
The fading of desire and attraction toward conditioned things. It arises through seeing the impermanent and unsatisfactory nature of experience. It is the natural fragrance of understanding and the forerunner of release.
Pāli term:
virāga, visaṃyutta
Displeasure ☁️ dark
3
Synonyms:
mental pain, mental distress, melancholy, sadness, Supported by:{aversion, laziness}, Leads to:{irritability, distraction}, Opposite:{joy}
Context:
A feeling of mental pain or a disagreeable feeling or unease born of mental contact.
Pāli term:
domanassa
Distraction ☁️ dark
13
Synonyms:
scattered attention, uncollected, not well-composed, with a wandering mind, with runaway thoughts, Supported by:{displeasure, perturbation}, Leads to:{perceiving gratification, muddle-mindedness}, Opposite:{collectedness}
Context:
A scattered, unfocused state of mind where attention flits from object to object without settling. A distracted mind lacks the composure needed for clear seeing and is easily pulled by whatever arises.
Pāli term:
asamāhita, asamādhi, amanasikāra
Doubt ☁️ dark
31
Synonyms:
confusion, indecisiveness, uncertainty, wavering, perplexity, Supported by:{delusion, speculation}, Leads to:{faithlessness, ignorance}
Context:
Paralyzing indecision about the path or practice. Doubt obstructs confidence and clarity.
Pāli term:
vicikiccha, kaṅkhā, vimati
Drowsiness ☁️ dark
20
Synonyms:
sleepiness, torpor, feeling lethargic, lit. stiffness (of mind/body due to tiredness), Supported by:{discontentment}, Leads to:{ignorance}
Context:
A heaviness or stiffness of the mind that leads to sleepiness. It shrouds clarity like a fog, making the mind unwieldy and prone to drifting away from its object.
Pāli term:
middha
Related
Qualities:
Dullness ☁️ dark
19
Synonyms:
lack of mental clarity or alertness, inertia, mental sluggishness, inattentiveness or lack of sharpness, Supported by:{discontentment}, Leads to:{ignorance}, Opposite:{wakefulness}
Context:
Mental stagnation and lack of driving power. It is an inertia where the mind feels thick and incapable of active engagement or investigation.
Pāli term:
thina
Related
Qualities:
E
Elation ☁️ dark
2
Synonyms:
exhilaration, joyous excitement, thrill, lit. jumping up
Context:
An excited, buoyant mental state that leaps up in response to pleasant circumstances. When ungrounded, it can tip into agitation or set the stage for disappointment when conditions change.
Pāli term:
hassatī, uppila
Ending ☀️ bright
75
Synonyms:
cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away, Supported by:{complete comprehension, free from attachment, perceiving escape}, Leads to:{liberation}
Context:
The complete exhaustion and cessation of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.
Pāli term:
khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
Entitlement ☁️ dark
2
Synonyms:
ungratefulness, thanklessness, Supported by:{conceit, personal existence}, Leads to:{contempt, resentment}, Opposite:{gratefulness}
Context:
A mindset of deservingness that expects special treatment or privileges without appreciation. It fosters resentment and dissatisfaction when expectations are unmet.
Pāli term:
akataññutā
Equanimity ☀️ bright
40
Synonyms:
mental poise, mental balance, equipose, non-reactivity, composure, Supported by:{collectedness, compassion, appreciative joy}, Guarded by:{patience}, Leads to:{imperturbable}
Context:
A state of mental poise and balance, characterized by non-reactivity and composure in the face of agreeable or disagreeable experiences.
Pāli term:
upekkha
Ethical conduct ☀️ bright
84
Synonyms:
moral integrity, right action, virtue, Supported by:{conscience, fear of wrongdoing}, Leads to:{non-regret}, Opposite:{unprincipled conduct}
Context:
A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.
Pāli term:
sīla, sammākammanta
Examination ☀️ bright
48
Synonyms:
analysis, deliberation, discursive contemplation, investigation, probing, reflection, reviewing, scrutinization, lit. picking, Supported by:{inquisitiveness, mindfulness}, Leads to:{discernment, perceiving drawback, rousing of energy}, Opposite:{speculation}
Context:
Process of a careful inquiry of mental states, qualities, and phenomena, examining their arising, persisting, and ceasing in order to understand their true nature and support the cultivation of wisdom and awakening.
Pāli term:
vicaya, parikkhati, dhammavicaya, anupekkhita
F
Faith ☀️ bright
51
Synonyms:
confidence, trust, belief, conviction, Supported by:{suffering}, Leads to:{joy, recollection of the Buddha, recollection of the Dhamma, recollection of the Sangha, rousing of energy}
Context:
Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.
Pāli term:
saddha, pasanna
Faithlessness ☁️ dark
3
Synonyms:
lack of confidence, lack of conviction, disbelief, cynicism, Supported by:{doubt}, Leads to:{suffering}, Opposite:{faith}
Context:
An absence of confidence in the path and its fruits. The mind remains unconvinced, unable to commit energy or trust to practice. This inner hesitancy stalls progress and leaves one adrift without direction.
Pāli term:
assadha
Fear ☁️ dark
16
Synonyms:
feeling afraid, timid, dread, fright, horror, panic, terror, Supported by:{harm}, Leads to:{suffering}, Opposite:{without fear}
Context:
A constricting mental state that arises when the mind perceives threat or danger. It agitates and destabilizes, driving the mind toward avoidance, paralysis, or desperate action.
Pāli term:
bhaya, dara
Fear of wrongdoing ☀️ bright
18
Synonyms:
conscientious, moral dread, respect for others, (comm) originating from outside, Supported by:{respect}, Leads to:{ethical conduct}, Opposite:{moral recklessness}
Context:
A wholesome dread of misconduct that considers consequences and the censure of the wise. It looks outward—aware of blame, loss of reputation, and the suffering that follows unskillful action—and holds the mind back from crossing ethical boundaries.
Pāli term:
ottappa
Related
Qualities:
Feuding ☁️ dark
10
Synonyms:
competitiveness, contentiousness, quarreling, rivalry, opposition, struggle, conflict, Supported by:{argumentativeness, stubbornness}, Leads to:{harm, perturbation}
Context:
An entrenched pattern of opposition and rivalry where parties seek to prevail over one another. It sustains hostility, disturbs peace, and obstructs harmony in community.
Pāli term:
paḷāsa
Flexible ☀️ bright
5
Synonyms:
pliable, workable, malleable, yielding, ready, suitable for use, Supported by:{collectedness}, Leads to:{direct knowledge, tame}
Context:
A quality of the cultivated mind—malleable, workable, and free from rigidity and resistance. Akin to refined gold, a flexible mind is suitable for cultivation of direct knowledge.
Pāli term:
mudu, kammañña
Formless ☀️ bright
15
Synonyms:
immaterial, surpassing forms, Supported by:{imperturbable, perceiving escape}, Leads to:{non-proliferation}, Opposite:{recognition of diversity}
Context:
A meditative domain that transcends all perception of material form, progressing through the bases of infinite space, infinite consciousness, nothingness, and neither-perception-nor-non-perception. These states represent refined levels of collectedness beyond attachment to physical phenomena.
Pāli term:
arūpa
Free from attachment ☀️ bright
30
Synonyms:
free from grasping, not appropriating, not taking as mine, without acquisitions, not clinging, not grasping, not holding onto, Supported by:{giving up}, Leads to:{ending}, Opposite:{attachment}
Context:
Release from grasping, not taking anything as “me” or “mine,” ceasing to appropriate or identify with people, things, views, or experiences.
Pāli term:
nirūpadhi, nānupādāya, asita, anuggaha
Full awareness ☀️ bright
41
Synonyms:
clear awareness, clear comprehension, being intentional, deliberate, purposeful, Supported by:{mindfulness}, Leads to:{collectedness}, Opposite:{distraction}
Context:
Clear comprehension that accompanies mindfulness, knowing what one is doing and why. Full awareness keeps the mind steady, intentional, and free from distraction.
Pāli term:
sampajañña, sampajāna
G
Giving ☀️ bright
43
Synonyms:
generosity, charity, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with, Supported by:{truth, gratefulness}, Leads to:{merit, spiritual life}, Opposite:{stinginess}
Context:
The wholesome act of relinquishing possessions, time, or energy for the benefit of others. Giving opens the hand and heart, loosening the grip of attachment and cultivating a spirit inclined toward renunciation and the welfare of all beings.
Pāli term:
dāna
Giving up ☀️ bright
70
Synonyms:
renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment, Supported by:{perceiving escape, spiritual life}, Leads to:{free from attachment}, Opposite:{sensual desire}
Context:
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.
Pāli term:
nekkhamma
Good friendship ☀️ bright
9
Synonyms:
friendship with wholesome persons, Supported by:{wisdom, diligence}, Leads to:{right view}
Context:
Association with those who are virtuous and wise, who encourage faith, ethical conduct, and discernment. Good friendship is the chief support for progress on the path, guiding one toward right view and wholesome living.
Pāli term:
kalyāṇamittatā
Related
Qualities:
Good habits ☀️ bright
2
Synonyms:
practice of beneficial actions, pursuing skillful actions, Supported by:{wisdom, diligence}, Leads to:{vigour}
Context:
The repeated practice and pursuit of skillful qualities. By frequently cultivating what is wholesome, the mind inclines naturally toward the good, making the path easier to tread.
Pāli term:
anuyoga + kusala
Gratefulness ☀️ bright
3
Synonyms:
thankfulness, appreciation, recognition of kindness received, Supported by:{wisdom}, Leads to:{humility, giving}, Opposite:{entitlement}
Context:
A warm acknowledgment of the kindness and support one has received from others. It opens the heart, fostering humility and connection, while countering feelings of entitlement or disdain.
Pāli term:
kataññutā
Greed ☁️ dark
45
Synonyms:
acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness, Supported by:{mental proliferation}, Leads to:{having many desires, stinginess}
Context:
A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment
Pāli term:
lobha, gedha
Related
Qualities:
H
Happiness ☀️ bright
16
Synonyms:
pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease, Supported by:{tranquility}, Leads to:{collectedness}
Context:
Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.
Pāli term:
sukha
Related
Qualities:
Harm ☁️ dark
34
Synonyms:
injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil, Supported by:{aggressiveness, bad habits, bad friendship, feuding, non-restraint, treachery, wrong speech}, Leads to:{fear, regret}, Opposite:{non-harm}
Context:
Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.
Pāli term:
pāpaka
Related
Qualities:
Having many desires ☁️ dark
6
Synonyms:
greediness, Related to:{sensual desire}, Supported by:{greed, discontentment}, Leads to:{hypocrisy}
Context:
An excessive wanting for possessions, pleasure, or recognition that keeps the mind unsatisfied. It grows from craving and discontentment and feeds restlessness. The many-desiring mind cannot find ease, for it multiplies its own needs endlessly.
Pāli term:
mahicchatā
Humility ☀️ bright
12
Synonyms:
accepting of correction, modesty, unpretentiousness, humbleness, freedom from self-importance, recognition of limits, staying teachable, Supported by:{gratefulness, respect, sincerity}, Leads to:{politeness, unassuming}, Opposite:{conceit}, Opposite:{conceit}
Context:
An honest, even-toned self-appraisal that stays open to feedback, honors others, and neither inflates nor denies one’s real abilities; it supports learning, concord, and restraint.
Pāli term:
anatimāna
Hypocrisy ☁️ dark
15
Synonyms:
pretense, insincerity, deceitfulness, putting on a false front, fraudulent, Supported by:{having many desires, shamelessness}, Leads to:{treachery}, Opposite:{sincerity}
Context:
A counterfeit display of virtue or attainment—concealing faults and projecting qualities one lacks—often to secure material support, status, or admiration; it thrives on craving for recognition and collapses with honesty, modesty, and accountability.
Pāli term:
māyāvī
I
Ignorance ☁️ dark
40
Synonyms:
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, Supported by:{anxiety, doubt, drowsiness, dullness, ill will, sensual desire}, Leads to:{aversion, conceit, craving, desire, delusion, immaturity, moral recklessness, passion, shamelessness, unwise attention, wrong view}
Context:
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.
Pāli term:
avijjā
Ill will ☁️ dark
15
Synonyms:
actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, thought of malevolence towards another, hostile reflections towards another, Supported by:{aversion, contempt, wrong view}, Leads to:{resentment, ignorance}, Opposite:{loving-kindness}
Context:
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.
Pāli term:
byāpāda
Related
Qualities:
Immaturity ☁️ dark
23
Synonyms:
lacking in discernment, lacking in good sense, child-like in understanding, lack of wisdom, lack of experience, foolishness, Supported by:{ignorance}, Leads to:{bad friendship}, Opposite:{wisdom}
Context:
A childish lack of discernment that fails to see the results of actions clearly. It delights in surface pleasure and ignores consequence. Immaturity leads to poor choices and association with unwise companions.
Pāli term:
bāla
Impartiality ☀️ bright
4
Synonyms:
suchness, equipose, unaffectedness, Supported by:{quenching}
Context:
Represents the nature of an awakened being - steady, incorruptible, not favoring or rejecting based on personal bias.
Pāli term:
tādibhāva
Related
Qualities:
Impatience ☁️ dark
3
Synonyms:
eagerness for results, impulsiveness, lack of tolerance, unable to endure, Supported by:{aversion, wrong intention}, Leads to:{irritability}, Opposite:{patience}
Context:
The inability to endure hardship, delay, or disagreement. It manifests as agitation and a rush for results, undermining the steady effort required for cultivation.
Pāli term:
akkhama
Related
Qualities:
Imperturbable ☀️ bright
32
Synonyms:
unagitated, unmoved, unruffled, unshaken, untroubled, unwavering, without mental unease, Supported by:{collectedness, equanimity}, Leads to:{formless}, Opposite:{perturbation}
Context:
A stable clarity of mind that does not react strongly to changing circumstances, remaining even and composed in both pleasant and difficult conditions.
Pāli term:
aparitassa, anigha, aneja, avihaññamāna
Inquisitiveness ☀️ bright
6
Synonyms:
considering, curiosity, inquiring, testing, Leads to:{learned, examination}, Supported by:{inspiration}
Context:
The faculty of investigation that probes into phenomena, testing what is wholesome and unwholesome. It examines the teachings and one's own experience to discern truth from falsity.
Pāli term:
vīmaṃsā
Insanity ☁️ dark
1
Synonyms:
craziness, mental derangement, lunacy, loss of reason, madness, Supported by:{unwise attention, wrong view}, Leads to:{suffering}
Context:
A disturbed and unstable mental condition in which the mind is scattered, erratic, or deranged. It can range from temporary disorientation and agitation to severe forms of insanity, obstructing clarity and discernment.
Pāli term:
ummattaka, cittakkhepa
Insight ☀️ bright
12
Synonyms:
having insight, with understanding, right knowledge, Supported by:{wisdom}, Leads to:{direct knowledge, recognition of impermanence, recognition of unsatisfactoriness, recognition of not-self, recognition of unattractiveness}
Context:
Insight is the deep, intuitive realization, a penetrative seeing into the true nature of things that transforms understanding
Pāli term:
ñāṇa, sammāñāṇa
Related
Qualities:
Inspiration ☀️ bright
5
Synonyms:
eloquence, intuition, ingenuity, wit, creativity, Supported by:{truth}, Leads to:{inquisitiveness}, Opposite:{mental proliferation}
Context:
A mental quality characterized by a sudden burst of creative insight or understanding, often leading to innovative ideas or solutions.
Pāli term:
paṭibhāna
Irritability ☁️ dark
7
Synonyms:
crankiness, moodiness, being prone to annoyance, being prone to anger, Supported by:{displeasure, impatience}, Leads to:{anger, wrong speech}
Context:
A prickly restlessness of mind easily stirred by small discomforts or disagreement. It weakens patience and readies the ground for anger and harsh reaction.
Pāli term:
kodhana
Related
Qualities:
J
Jealousy ☁️ dark
9
Synonyms:
covetousness, envy, possessiveness, protective of, unwilling to part with, Supported by:{dearness}, Leads to:{argumentativeness}, Opposite:{appreciative joy}
Context:
A painful mental state that arises when seeing the good fortune or qualities of others. It begrudges what others have and resents their happiness, closing the heart to appreciative joy.
Pāli term:
issā
Related
Qualities:
Joy ☀️ bright
3
Synonyms:
cheerfulness, gladness, wellbeing, Supported by:{non-regret}, Leads to:{uplifting joy}, Opposite: {displeasure}
Context:
A fresh and mild happiness arising from a sense of spiritual well-being and a clear conscience
Pāli term:
pāmojja, somanassa
Related
Qualities:
L
Lack of discernment ☁️ dark
18
Synonyms:
lack of clear comprehension, lack of wisdom, child-like in understanding, Supported by:{passion, aversion, delusion, unwise attention}, Leads to:{immaturity, bad friendship}, Opposite:{wisdom}
Context:
Failure to understand cause and effect or to recognize wholesome from unwholesome. It clouds judgment and makes the mind easily led by craving and aversion.
Pāli term:
asampajañña, bāla, duppañña
Lamentation ☁️ dark
6
Synonyms:
crying, wailing, mourning, Supported by:{attachment, dearness}, Leads to:{sorrow}
Context:
The verbal and bodily expression of grief—crying, wailing, and mourning—that arises from loss or separation from what is held dear. It gives voice to sorrow and can deepen the mind's entanglement with pain.
Pāli term:
parideva
Laziness ☁️ dark
23
Synonyms:
indolence, idleness, inactivity, sluggishness, Supported by:{weak in effort}, Leads to:{bad habits, displeasure}, Opposite:{continuous effort, rousing of energy}
Context:
A mental quality characterized by unwillingness, aversion, or lack of motivation to exert effort in wholesome activities. It reflects an inner resistance to energy and discipline, the seed from which idleness arises. It leads to stagnation, missed opportunities for growth, and failure to cultivate beneficial states.
Pāli term:
ālasya, kosajja, kusīta, tandī
Learned ☀️ bright
20
Synonyms:
having knowledge, well studied, Supported by:{truth}, Leads to:{inquisitiveness}
Context:
One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.
Pāli term:
bahussuta, suta
Related
Qualities:
Liberation ☀️ bright
65
Synonyms:
freedom, release, deliverance, emancipation, Supported by:{ending}, Leads to:{quenching}
Context:
Liberation can imply a temporary release of the mind, i.e. liberated from certain unwholesome mental qualities or complete liberation from all unwholesome qualities of the mind, i.e. Nibbāna
Pāli term:
vimutti, nibbāna
Loving-kindness ☀️ bright
45
Synonyms:
goodwill, benevolence, kindness, friendliness, Supported by:{right view}, Leads to:{affection}, Opposite:{ill will}
Context:
A mental quality of universal goodwill and non-harming toward all beings, which counters qualities of ill will and hatred.
Pāli term:
metta, abyāpāda, abyāpajja
Related
Qualities:
M
Mental proliferation ☁️ dark
14
Synonyms:
conceptual proliferation, conceptualization, forming various opinions, Supported by:{conceit, craving, recognition of diversity, speculation}, Leads to:{greed, self-making}, Opposite:{inspiration, non-proliferation}
Context:
Mind's tendency to spin out elaborate stories, interpretations, and emotional reactions from simple experiences.
Pāli term:
papañca
Merit ☀️ bright
21
Synonyms:
good deeds, spiritual wealth, Supported by:{giving}, Leads to:{attachment, compassion}
Context:
Wholesome result of good conduct, generosity, and right intention. Merit brightens the mind and supports happiness and favorable conditions for practice.
Pāli term:
puñña, kalyāṇa
Mindfulness ☀️ bright
105
Synonyms:
recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness, Supported by:{right view, right effort, wakefulness}, Leads to:{examination, full awareness}, Opposite:{muddle-mindedness, wrong mindfulness}
Context:
Remembering to be present with continuous effort, observing the body, feelings, mind, and mental qualities in and of themselves.
Pāli term:
sati, anupassanā
Moral recklessness ☁️ dark
4
Synonyms:
fearlessness of wrongdoing, without concern for others, lack of prudence, Supported by:{ignorance, bad friendship}, Leads to:{brashness, harm, slaughtering, unprincipled conduct}, Opposite: {fear of wrongdoing}
Context:
Acting without moral concern for how one's behavior affects others. The mind sees no reason to hold back from wrongdoing, treating ethical boundaries as irrelevant.
Pāli term:
anottappa
Related
Qualities:
Muddle-mindedness ☁️ dark
10
Synonyms:
forgetfulness, not mindful, Supported by:{distraction, wrong mindfulness}, Leads to:{displeasure, distraction}, Opposite:{mindfulness}
Context:
Forgetful, scattered awareness where mindfulness is absent or lost. The mind drifts through distraction or dullness, unable to stay with its object or purpose.
Pāli term:
muṭṭhassatī
Related
Qualities:
N
Negligence ☁️ dark
28
Synonyms:
carelessness, heedlessness, inattentiveness, Supported by:{consuming intoxicants, sensual desire, wrong view}, Leads to:{non-restraint, weak in effort}, Opposite:{diligence}
Context:
Dwelling with unrestrained faculties, soiled by sensory attraction. Negligence is the failure to guard the mind and to arouse heedfulness, blocking the arising of wholesome states.
Pāli term:
pamāda
Non-harm ☀️ bright
34
Synonyms:
non-violence, non-injury, harmlessness, non-killing, non-hurting, Supported by:{right view, right intention, right speech}, Guarded by:{right effort, mindfulness, patience}, Leads to:{right livelihood, without fear}, Opposite:{harm}
Context:
The intention of harmlessness, rooted in the understanding that all beings tremble at violence and fear death.
Pāli term:
avihiṃsā, ahiṁsa
Non-identification ☀️ bright
4
Synonyms:
principle of non-identification, (comm) no craving, lit. not made of that state, Supported by:{equanimity, non-proliferation}, Leads to:{complete comprehension}, Opposite:{conceit}
Context:
A quality of mind that does not construct or fabricate a sense of self in relation to experience. It is the absence of the 'I am this' identification—neither claiming ownership nor defining oneself through any state, object, or attainment.
Pāli term:
atammayatā
Non-proliferation ☀️ bright
7
Synonyms:
not forming various opinions, Supported by:{formless}, Leads to:{non-identification}, Opposite:{mental proliferation}
Context:
The cessation of the mind's tendency to spin out elaborate stories, interpretations, and conceptual elaborations. In non-proliferation, experience is met simply and directly without the overlay of mental commentary, preferences, and self-referential thinking.
Pāli term:
nippapañca
Non-regret ☀️ bright
2
Synonyms:
non-remorse, lit. not remembering back negatively, Supported by:{ethical conduct}, Leads to:{joy}, Opposite:{regret}
Context:
A mental quality of not regretting past actions, characterized by a clear conscience and absence of remorse; it arises from accomplishment in ethical conduct
Pāli term:
avippaṭisāra
Non-restraint ☁️ dark
13
Synonyms:
unguarded in sense faculties, not watching the sense doors, grasping at prominent features or details of sense objects, Supported by:{negligence}, Leads to:{adventurousness, discontentment}
Context:
Failure to guard the sense doors. It occurs when attention chases after the signs and features of sense objects, allowing craving and aversion to invade the mind.
Pāli term:
asaṁvara, asaṁyama
Not taking what is not given ☀️ bright
5
Synonyms:
not stealing, trustworthiness, honesty regarding possessions, accepting what is offered, Supported by:{right intention}, Leads to:{right livelihood}, Opposite:{stealing}
Context:
The ethical restraint of accepting only what is freely given. It respects boundaries of ownership, restraining from taking what belongs to another.
Pāli term:
adinnādāna veramaṇī
P
Passion ☁️ dark
76
Synonyms:
burning fever, intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust, Supported by:{craving, ignorance, perceiving gratification}, Leads to:{perceiving gratification, lack of discernment}, Opposite:{dispassion}
Context:
Intense desire or lust that dyes the mind. It fixates on the features of objects, coloring perception with infatuation and making it difficult to see things as they truly are.
Pāli term:
rāga
Related
Qualities:
Patience ☀️ bright
12
Synonyms:
endurance, tolerance, forbearance, Supported by:{wisdom, tame}, Leads to:{self-control}, Opposite:{impatience}
Context:
A quality of calm endurance that bears hardship, delay, and harshness without resentment. It is the strength to remain composed and gentle under provocation, grounded in wisdom and compassion.
Pāli term:
khanti, khama
Perceiving drawback ☀️ bright
15
Synonyms:
observing the disadvantage, contemplating the unsatisfactoriness, Supported by:{examination}, Leads to:{disenchantment, recognition of impermanence, recognition of not-self, recognition of unattractiveness, recognition of unsatisfactoriness, perceiving escape}, Opposite:{perceiving gratification}
Context:
The contemplative perception that discerns the danger, inadequacy, and unsatisfactoriness of conditioned pleasures, leading the mind to turn away from clinging.
Pāli term:
ādīnavānupassī
Perceiving escape ☀️ bright
7
Synonyms:
observing the release, seeing the way out, contemplating the remedy, recognizing the way leading beyond suffering, Supported by:{perceiving drawback, discernment}, Leads to:{giving up, formless, ending}, Opposite:{perceiving gratification}
Context:
The contemplative perception that recognizes the way out of bondage after understanding gratification and danger, seeing cessation of a dissatisfactory experience as its true escape.
Pāli term:
nissaraṇānupassī, nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti
Perceiving gratification ☁️ dark
15
Synonyms:
following pleasure, seeing enjoyment, sign of beautiful, Supported by:{passion, distraction}, Leads to:{sensual desire}, Opposite:{perceiving drawback, perceiving escape}
Context:
The contemplative perception that focuses on the attractive or pleasurable aspect of experience, fueling delight and attachment to sense pleasures.
Pāli term:
assādānupassī
Personal existence ☁️ dark
23
Synonyms:
identity view, self-view, self-identification, embodied being, egoism, Supported by:{self-making, self-erasure}, Leads to:{boastfulness, entitlement, vanity}
Context:
The view that there is a real self within or a substantial reality outside. This mistaken grasp of self and world sustains attachment, conceit, and the cycle of suffering.
Pāli term:
sakkāya-diṭṭhi
Perturbation ☁️ dark
16
Synonyms:
agitation, disturbance, excitement, being stirred up, lit. shaking, Supported by:{feuding}, Leads to:{anxiety, distraction}, Opposite:{imperturbable}
Context:
The shaking or agitation of the mind caused by defilements. It is the loss of stillness when the mind is stirred by gain or loss, praise or blame, pleasure or pain.
Pāli term:
kopa, uddhacca, āvila, paritassati
Politeness ☀️ bright
7
Synonyms:
courtesy, being considerate, being well-mannered, friendliness, Supported by:{appreciative joy, humility}, Leads to:{non-regret}, Guarded by:{patience}
Context:
A relational quality of being considerate, timely, and gentle in conduct—especially in speech—that gives ease to others, attends to social cues, and avoids harshness; it supports concord in community.
Pāli term:
paṭisanthāra, saṇha, sorata, sappatissa
Related
Qualities:
Psychic power ☀️ bright
6
Synonyms:
supernormal abilities, psychic ability, spiritual power, Supported by:{collectedness}, Leads to:{faith, vigour}
Context:
Supernormal capacities resulting from a practice of collectedness rooted in aspiration, determination, purification of mind, and investigation of phenomena.
Pāli term:
iddhi, iddhimant
Related
Qualities:
Q
Quenching ☀️ bright
25
Synonyms:
being cooled, desirelessness, free from hope, fulfilled, fully satiated, having attained emancipation, Supported by:{liberation}, Leads to:{impartiality, safety, sorrow-free, without fear, with nothing}
Context:
An experiential state of being “cooled,” where the burning fever of craving has subsided and the mind dwells in a peace free from the anxiety of needing to become something else.
Pāli term:
nibbuta, nirāsa
R
Recognition of diversity ☁️ dark
2
Synonyms:
concept of variety, perception of diversity, perception of multiplicity, Supported by:{conceit, craving}, Leads to:{mental proliferation, speculation}, Opposite:{formless}
Context:
The perception of multiplicity and variety in experience—seeing distinct forms, beings, and phenomena as separate entities. While natural to ordinary cognition, when fueled by craving and conceit it proliferates into endless distinctions and preferences, binding the mind to the world of differentiation.
Pāli term:
nānattasaññā
Recognition of impermanence ☀️ bright
38
Synonyms:
perception of impermanence, perception of instability, realization of transience, Supported by:{insight, perceiving drawback}, Leads to:{vision}
Context:
Perceiving all conditioned things as unstable and transient. This recognition weakens attachment by revealing the continual arising and ceasing of phenomena, turning the mind toward wisdom and release.
Pāli term:
aniccasaññā
Recognition of not-self ☀️ bright
20
Synonyms:
perception of not being suitable to identify with, realization of being subject to change, recognition of alteration and changing nature, Supported by:{insight, perceiving drawback}, Leads to:{vision}
Context:
Seeing that no phenomenon can rightly be taken as “I” or “mine.” It reveals the impersonal, dependently arisen nature of all experience, undermining conceit and attachment to identity.
Pāli term:
anattasaññā
Recognition of unattractiveness ☀️ bright
11
Synonyms:
perception of unattractiveness, recognition of the drawbacks, Supported by:{insight, perceiving drawback}, Leads to:{vision}
Context:
Contemplation that perceives the body as composed of impure and impermanent parts, countering the delusion of beauty and sensual infatuation. This perception cools passion, fosters dispassion, and restores clear seeing of the body’s true nature as conditioned and transient.
Pāli term:
asubhasaññā
Recognition of unsatisfactoriness ☀️ bright
16
Synonyms:
perception of unsatisfactoriness, recognition of discontentment, Supported by:{insight, perceiving drawback}, Leads to:{vision}
Context:
Perceiving the inherent inadequacy and unreliability of conditioned existence. This recognition loosens craving and the pursuit of lasting satisfaction in what cannot endure.
Pāli term:
dukkhasaññā
Recollection of death ☀️ bright
12
Synonyms:
mindfulness of death, Supported by:{mindfulness, truth}, Leads to:{vision}
Context:
Keeping in view the certainty and nearness of death. Recollection of death ignites wholesome desire for awakening and sustains uphill vigour against habitual tendencies.
Pāli term:
maraṇassati
Recollection of the Buddha ☀️ bright
27
Synonyms:
recollection of Buddha, mindfulness of the Buddha, reflection on the qualities of the Buddha, Supported by:{faith}, Leads to:{joy}
Context:
A mental quality of reflecting on the qualities of the Buddha, which counters doubt and strengthens faith.
Pāli term:
buddhānussati, buddhānusmṛti
Recollection of the Dhamma ☀️ bright
19
Synonyms:
recollection of Dhamma, mindfulness of the Dhamma, reflection on the qualities of the Dhamma, Supported by:{faith}, Leads to:{joy}
Context:
A mental quality of reflecting on the qualities of the Dhamma, which counters doubt and strengthens faith.
Pāli term:
dhammānussati, dhammānusmṛti
Recollection of the Sangha ☀️ bright
13
Synonyms:
recollection of Saṅgha, mindfulness of the Saṅgha, reflection on the qualities of the Saṅgha, Supported by:{faith}, Leads to:{joy}
Context:
A mental quality of reflecting on the qualities of the Saṅgha, which counters doubt and strengthens faith.
Pāli term:
saṅghānussati, saṅghānusmṛti
Regret ☁️ dark
7
Synonyms:
to be burned, to be consumed, to suffer remorse, Supported by:{cruelty, harm, sexual misconduct, slaughtering, stealing, unprincipled conduct}, Leads to:{suffering}, Opposite:{non-regret}
Context:
A remorseful stirring of the mind that recalls what was done or left undone, weighing heavily and disturbing inner calm. It binds awareness to the past and obscures clarity.
Pāli term:
tappati
Resentment ☁️ dark
8
Synonyms:
bearing a grudge, harboring enmity, Supported by:{ill will}, Leads to:{anger}, Opposite:{loving-kindness}
Context:
Holding a grudge and keeping anger alive in memory. Unlike a sudden flash of anger, resentment ties a knot of hostility, holding onto past grievances and refusing to forgive.
Pāli term:
upanāha
Related
Qualities:
Respect ☀️ bright
23
Synonyms:
reverence, veneration, regard, admiration, appreciation, deference, honour, attentiveness, Supported by:{truth}, Leads to:{fear of wrongdoing, humility}, Opposite:{contempt}
Context:
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.
Pāli term:
gārava, sakkāra
Right effort ☀️ bright
24
Synonyms:
right endeavor, right striving, Supported by:{right livelihood, vigour}, Leads to:{mindfulness}, Guarded by:{right view, mindfulness}, Opposite:{weak in effort, wrong effort}
Context:
Energy and resolve directed toward preventing unwholesome states from arising, abandoning arisen unwholesome states, cultivating wholesome states, and maintaining arisen wholesome states; persistent application of the mind aligned with the path.
Pāli term:
sammāvāyāma
Right intention ☀️ bright
12
Synonyms:
correct resolve, wholesome thought, skillful aspiration, right volition, Supported by:{right view}, Guarded by:{right view, right effort, mindfulness}, Leads to:{right speech, non-harm}
Context:
Intention of renunciation, goodwill, or harmlessness; the resolve to let go of craving, ill will, and cruelty, cultivating thoughts that lead to peace and liberation.
Pāli term:
sammāsaṅkappa
Right livelihood ☀️ bright
7
Synonyms:
correct livelihood, right mode of earning a living, Supported by:{non-harm, not taking what is not given}, Guarded by:{right view, right effort, mindfulness}, Leads to:{right effort}
Context:
Means of living that does not cause harm to others or oneself; earning a living ethically without deceit, exploitation, or violence.
Pāli term:
sammāājīva
Right speech ☀️ bright
29
Synonyms:
truthful speech, honest speech, kind speech, beneficial speech, harmonious speech, articulate words, eloquent communication, Supported by:{right intention}, Guarded by:{right view, right effort, mindfulness}, Leads to:{non-harm}
Context:
Speech that is purified by abstaining from falsehood, divisive talk, harsh words, and idle chatter.
Pāli term:
sammāvācā
Right view ☀️ bright
36
Synonyms:
right understanding, right belief, view that is inline with the Dhamma, Supported by:{wise attention}, Guarded by:{right effort, mindfulness}, Leads to:{cultivation, loving-kindness, non-harm}
Context:
View that is in line with the Dhamma — teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth.
Pāli term:
sammādiṭṭhi
Rousing of energy ☀️ bright
46
Synonyms:
determination, being energetic, taking initiative, making a mental decision to act, Supported by:{faith, examination}, Leads to:{continuous effort}, Opposite:{weak in effort}
Context:
The arousing of effort and determination in body and mind. It begins with confidence and reflection on purpose, stirring energy for wholesome action.
Pāli term:
vīriyārambha, āraddhavīriya, uṭṭhānavant, atandita, pahitatta
Related
Qualities:
S
Safety ☀️ bright
7
Synonyms:
sanctuary, security, at peace, rest, Supported by:{quenching}, Leads to:{without fear}
Context:
A state of complete security and refuge where there is no threat from defilements or the turbulence of becoming. It is the peace of one who has found shelter from the storms of craving and has nothing left to lose or fear.
Pāli term:
khema
Self-control ☀️ bright
19
Synonyms:
self-restraint, self-mastery, Supported by:{patience}, Leads to:{contentment}
Context:
A quality of mastering one’s impulses and responses through restraint.
Pāli term:
saṃvara, saññata, saṃvuta
Related
Qualities:
Self-erasure ☁️ dark
3
Synonyms:
non-being craving, identity deletion, urge to vanish, self-negation, annihilation drive, Supported by:{wrong view}, Leads to:{personal existence}
Context:
A craving to end suffering through erasure of current experience or identity, e.g. “This self is unbearable; I want out.”
Pāli term:
vibhavataṇhā
Self-making ☁️ dark
16
Synonyms:
an aspiration for identity, drive for status or attainment, craving to be, romanticizing some better self or future state, Supported by:{mental proliferation}, Leads to:{personal existence}
Context:
Spiritual or worldly striving to “be someone,” the “I must become something” energy
Pāli term:
bhavataṇhā, bhavesanā
Sense restraint ☀️ bright
29
Synonyms:
guarding the sense faculties, watching the sense doors, not grasping at the prominent features or details of sense objects, moderation in eating, Supported by:{diligence}, Leads to:{contentment, wakefulness}, Opposite:{non-restraint}
Context:
A practice of guarding the sense doors by not grasping at the general features or details of sense objects when seeing, hearing, sensing, and cognizing.
Pāli term:
indriya saṁvara
Related
Qualities:
Sensual desire ☁️ dark
87
Synonyms:
passion for sensual pleasures, lust, craving for pleasure, pull toward enticing sense objects, Supported by:{perceiving gratification, stinginess, wrong intention}, Leads to:{ignorance, negligence}, Opposite:{giving up}
Context:
A mental quality of desiring sensory gratification. It pulls the mind’s attention toward sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches in a search for satisfaction.
Pāli term:
kāmacchanda
Related
Qualities:
Sexual misconduct ☁️ dark
9
Synonyms:
crossing boundaries, infidelity, inappropriate sexual behavior, unfaithfulness to one's partner, Supported by:{brashness, wrong intention, wrong speech}, Leads to:{regret, wrong livelihood}
Context:
Transgression of boundaries in intimate relations—acting on desire in ways that betray trust, cause harm, or violate the commitments of oneself or others.
Pāli term:
kāmesumicchācāra
Shamelessness ☁️ dark
5
Synonyms:
act without thinking about what is right, fair, or appropriate, disregarding one's moral sense of right and wrong, unconscientiousness, Supported by:{ignorance, bad friendship}, Leads to:{brashness, hypocrisy, sexual misconduct, stealing, unprincipled conduct}, Opposite: {conscience}
Context:
A lack of inner concern or self-respect that allows a person to do what they understand as wrong without discomfort or restraint.
Pāli term:
ahirika
Related
Qualities:
Sincerity ☀️ bright
5
Synonyms:
genuineness, honesty, straightforwardness, openness, non-deception, Supported by:{conscience, truth}, Guarded by:{fear of wrongdoing}, Leads to:{humility}, Opposite:{hypocrisy}
Context:
Inner alignment of intention and speech with what is true—nothing hidden or embellished; willing to admit faults or uncertainty and to keep one’s word without manipulating appearances.
Pāli term:
amāyā
Related
Qualities:
Slaughtering ☁️ dark
14
Synonyms:
killing, murdering, taking life, Supported by:{moral recklessness, wrong intention, wrong speech}, Leads to:{regret, wrong livelihood}
Context:
The deliberate killing of a living being, carried out with the intention of ending its life while disregarding its natural drive to continue living.
Pāli term:
pāṇātipāta
Related
Qualities:
Solitude ☀️ bright
37
Synonyms:
seclusion, privacy, aloofness, non-association, Leads to:{wholesome}
Context:
Physical seclusion from crowds and mental seclusion from unwholesome states. It provides the quietude necessary for the mind to settle, detach from worldly entanglements, and develop deep collectedness.
Pāli term:
viveka, asaṃsaṭṭha
Sorrow ☁️ dark
11
Synonyms:
grief, Supported by:{attachment, dearness, lamentation}, Leads to:{suffering}, Opposite:{sorrow-free}
Context:
Grief or sadness that follows loss or disappointment, dimming the mind’s natural brightness. It clouds clear perception.
Pāli term:
soka, socati
Sorrow-free ☀️ bright
17
Synonyms:
free from sadness, without grief, Supported by:{quenching}, Opposite:{sorrow}
Context:
A serene balance of mind that is untroubled by loss or change. It allows the mind’s natural clarity to surface when freed from clinging.
Pāli term:
asoka, visoka
Related
Qualities:
Speculation ☁️ dark
11
Synonyms:
analytical thinking disconnected from direct experience, conjecture, discursive reasoning, theorizing, hypothesis-making, reasoned reflection, Supported by:{unwise attention, recognition of diversity}, Leads to:{mental proliferation, doubt}, Opposite:{examination}
Context:
A form of discursive thought that wanders into conjecture and theorizing, disconnected from direct experience. It involves moving from one idea to another through logic and argument, and is often rooted in unwise attention. Speculation can further proliferate into views and opinions.
Pāli term:
takka, kappa
Spiritual life ☀️ bright
21
Synonyms:
abstinence, celibacy, chastity, holy life, sexual restraint, Supported by:{giving, wisdom}, Leads to:{giving up}
Context:
A life of celibacy, contemplation, and ethical discipline lived for the sake of liberation; oriented toward inner development rather than sensual pleasures
Pāli term:
brahmacariya
Stealing ☁️ dark
11
Synonyms:
theft, taking what is not given, taking what is not offerred, dishonesty regarding possessions, Supported by:{brashness, shamelessness, wrong intention, wrong speech}, Leads to:{regret, wrong livelihood}, Opposite:{not taking what is not given}
Pāli term:
adinnādānā
Stinginess ☁️ dark
17
Synonyms:
miserliness, meanness, tight-fistedness, Leads to:{sensual desire}, Opposite:{giving}
Context:
A contracted, possessive refusal to share what one has—whether material goods, knowledge, or status. It clings tightly to what is “mine,” fearing loss and closing the hand against generosity.
Pāli term:
macchariya
Related
Qualities:
Stubbornness ☁️ dark
8
Synonyms:
bullheadedness, obstinacy, inflexibility, pigheadedness, Supported by:{clinging to rules and observances, conceit}, Leads to:{feuding}
Context:
A rigid, unyielding stance that refuses to bend or reconsider. Rooted in conceit and attachment to views, it hardens the mind against correction, prevents learning from others, and breeds conflict.
Pāli term:
thambha, thaddha, patiṭṭhīyati
Suffering ☁️ dark
86
Synonyms:
discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction, Supported by:{faithlessness, fear, regret, insanity, unwholesome}, Leads to:{faith}
Context:
Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.
Pāli term:
dukkha
T
Tame ☀️ bright
12
Synonyms:
trained, mastered, subdued, Supported by:{flexible}, Leads to:{patience}, Opposite:{adventurousness}
Context:
The quality of a mind that has been trained and disciplined, no longer wild or controlled by passions. Like a tamed thoroughbred, it is pliable, responsive, and fit for work.
Pāli term:
danta
Related
Qualities:
Tranquility ☀️ bright
64
Synonyms:
calmness, peacefulness, serenity, Supported by:{uplifting joy, unification}, Leads to:{happiness}
Context:
A mental quality of calm and stillness that arises when the body and mind are unburdened by agitation.
Pāli term:
passaddhi, santi, upasama, upasanta
Treachery ☁️ dark
3
Synonyms:
deviousness, scamming, betrayal, Supported by:{hypocrisy, unprincipled conduct}, Leads to:{harm, wrong livelihood}
Context:
Deliberate deception that exploits another's trust for personal gain. It wears a mask of friendliness while secretly working against the other's welfare.
Pāli term:
sāṭheyya
Truth ☀️ bright
13
Synonyms:
accuracy, reliability, verifiability, Leads to:{conscience, giving, inspiration, learned, respect}
Context:
The quality of what is real and dependable; speech and conduct aligned with reality, honesty, and integrity.
Pāli term:
sacca
U
Unassuming ☀️ bright
7
Synonyms:
courteous, low-key, respectful, not impudent, self-effacing, unpretentious, Supported by:{humility, contentment}, Leads to:{non-regret}, Opposite:{boastfulness}
Context:
A gentle, low-profile way of speaking and acting that avoids drawing attention to oneself; restrained in self-display, giving space to others, and simple in manner.
Pāli term:
appagabbha, sorata
Related
Qualities:
Undeveloped ☁️ dark
2
Synonyms:
not cultivated, Supported by:{wrong view}, Leads to:{passion}, Opposite:{cultivation}
Context:
The untrained condition of mind before cultivation, dull and unsteady. Without development, discernment and stability remain immature.
Pāli term:
abhāvita
Unification ☀️ bright
24
Synonyms:
unification of mind, being collected, integration, oneness, singleness of mind, Supported by:{uplifting joy}, Leads to:{tranquility}
Context:
Mind becoming single and integrated with the settling down of reflection and examination.
Pāli term:
ekagga, ekodibhāva
Related
Qualities:
Unprincipled conduct ☁️ dark
20
Synonyms:
lacking in moral principles, lacking in ethics, immoral, wrong action, Supported by:{moral recklessness, shamelessness, wrong intention}, Leads to:{brashness, treachery, regret}, Opposite:{ethical conduct}
Context:
Conduct that disregards moral restraint and ignores the consequences of harm done to oneself or others through body or speech. Such behavior clouds the mind and leads to regret and further decline.
Pāli term:
dussīlya, micchākammanta
Unwholesome ☁️ dark
23
Synonyms:
blameworthy, unhealthy, unskillful, unbeneficial, karmically unprofitable, Leads to:{suffering}, Opposite:{wholesome}
Context:
Conducive to or suggestive of poor health and mental well-being.
Pāli term:
akusala
Unwise attention ☁️ dark
6
Synonyms:
improper attention, imprudent use of the mind, unfocused attention, Supported by:{negligence, ignorance}, Leads to:{lack of discernment, speculation}, Opposite:{wise attention}
Context:
Attention that misses the point of contact, fixating on concepts or features. Disconnected from the source of experience, it then engages in reactions of craving, aversion, and delusion.
Pāli term:
ayonisomanasikāra
Uplifting joy ☀️ bright
28
Synonyms:
heartfelt joy, mental exhilaration, rapture, lit. refreshment, Supported by:{joy}, Leads to:{unification, tranquility}
Context:
An energetic mental quality that creates a sense of lift or thrill; it ranges from a gentle delight to overwhelming rapture
Pāli term:
pīti
Related
Qualities:
V
Vanity ☁️ dark
8
Synonyms:
drinking one's own cool-aid, excess, extravagance, indulgence, intoxication, being misguided, Supported by:{personal existence}, Leads to:{craving, negligence}
Context:
A swelling intoxication arising from youth, health, life, beauty, or possessions that blinds one to impermanence and breeds negligence. Like a soiled cloth, it stains the mind with conceit and craving, obstructing clear seeing.
Pāli term:
mada, mogha
Vigour ☀️ bright
19
Synonyms:
energy, effort, enthusiasm, zeal, application of will, persistence, Leads to:{right effort}, Supported by:{continuous effort, desire, good habits}
Context:
Energetic effort and resilience in practice. It is the refusal to shrink back, the 'uphill' force that initiates and sustains wholesome actions against the gravity of habit.
Pāli term:
vīriya
Related
Qualities:
Vision ☀️ bright
13
Synonyms:
seeing clearly, seeing things as they are, seeing the truth, seeing the dhamma, Supported by:{collectedness, recognition of impermanence, recognition of unsatisfactoriness, recognition of not-self, recognition of unattractiveness, recollection of death}, Leads to:{disenchantment}
Context:
The corrective clarity that clearly sees into the true nature of things as they actually are.
Pāli term:
dassana
W
Wakefulness ☀️ bright
12
Synonyms:
lucidity, alertness, vigilance, watchfulness, Supported by:{sense restraint}, Leads to:{mindfulness}, Opposite:{dullness}
Context:
A bright alertness of mind that remains clear and attentive, unclouded by dullness or drowsiness. It guards the senses and supports continuous mindfulness.
Pāli term:
jāgariyā
Weak in effort ☁️ dark
8
Synonyms:
low in energy, lacking in endurance, lax, loose, slack, unaspirated, indistinct, Supported by:{negligence}, Leads to:{laziness}, Opposite:{continuous effort, right effort, rousing of energy}
Context:
A slack, feeble application of energy. The mind shrinks from wholesome striving, dawdling in comfort and doubt. It can leave the path unattended and growth stalled.
Pāli term:
hīnavīriya, sithila
Related
Qualities:
Wholesome ☀️ bright
34
Synonyms:
blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining, Supported by:{solitude}, Leads to:{joy}, Opposite:{unwholesome}
Context:
Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.
Pāli term:
kusala
Wisdom ☀️ bright
119
Synonyms:
(of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths, Leads to:{good friendship, good habits, insight, patience}, Opposite:{delusion, immaturity, lack of discernment}
Context:
Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.
Pāli term:
paññā, vijjā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita
Wise attention ☀️ bright
17
Synonyms:
proper attention, prudent use of the mind, attention to the source, Supported by:{wisdom, perceiving drawback}, Leads to:{right view}, Opposite:{unwise attention}
Context:
Paying attention to the point of contact where experience originates. It discerns the specific cause of the present moment, preventing the mind from drifting into proliferation.
Pāli term:
yonisomanasikāra
With nothing ☀️ bright
10
Synonyms:
having no-thing, possession-less, epithet of an Arahant, Supported by:{quenching}
Context:
A quality of lightness and ownership-free existence, where the mind no longer claims anything as “me” or “mine.” It refers to the abandonment of all spiritual and material burdens, leaving the mind unencumbered by the anxiety of possession or the defense of a self-image.
Pāli term:
akiñcana
Without fear ☀️ bright
8
Synonyms:
fearlessness, free of distress, Supported by:{non-harm, quenching, safety}, Opposite:{fear}
Context:
A quality of complete security and freedom from distress that arises when one has abandoned all grounds for fear.
Pāli term:
niddara
Related
Qualities:
Wrong collectedness ☁️ dark
1
Synonyms:
wrong concentration, Supported by:{wrong mindfulness}, Leads to:{insanity}, Opposite:{collectedness}
Context:
A concentration that steadies the mind upon unwholesome aims—power, sensual pleasure, or self-exaltation. Though appearing calm, it is unpurified by right view or intention. Such collectedness deepens delusion instead of insight.
Pāli term:
micchāsamādhi
Wrong effort ☁️ dark
10
Synonyms:
incorrect endeavor, Supported by:{bad friendship, wrong livelihood}, Leads to:{wrong mindfulness, muddle-mindedness}, Opposite:{right effort}
Context:
Misapplied energy directed toward goals rooted in craving, aversion, or delusion. It manifests as striving for sensual pleasure, gain, fame, or domination, exhausting the mind and feeding defilements.
Pāli term:
micchāvāyāma
Related
Qualities:
Wrong intention ☁️ dark
8
Synonyms:
incorrect resolve, unwholesome thought, unskillful aspiration, wrong thought, harmful volition, Supported by:{wrong view}, Leads to:{irritability, sensual desire, wrong speech, unprincipled conduct}
Context:
Intention of sensuality, ill will, or harming. It inclines thought and action toward harm and exploitation, opposing the intentions of renunciation, goodwill, and harmlessness.
Pāli term:
micchāsaṅkappa
Wrong livelihood ☁️ dark
7
Synonyms:
unwholesome livelihood, wrong way of earning a living, Supported by:{greed, sexual misconduct, slaughtering, stealing, treachery}, Leads to:{wrong effort}
Context:
Sustaining oneself through deceit, exploitation, or manipulation for gain. It includes cheating, flattery, hinting for favors, belittling others, and pursuing gain by means of gain.
Pāli term:
micchāājīva
Wrong mindfulness ☁️ dark
3
Synonyms:
Supported by:{craving, aversion, wrong effort}, Leads to:{distraction, wrong collectedness}, Opposite:{mindfulness}
Context:
Remembering in the wrong way. It holds to the signs of craving and aversion, or attends carefully to what sustains delusion. Such mindfulness appears clear but lacks right view, turning awareness into a servant of defilement. It remembers what should be forgotten and forgets what should be remembered.
Pāli term:
micchāsati
Related
Qualities:
Wrong speech ☁️ dark
34
Synonyms:
false speech, lying, divisive, slanderous or defamatory or malicious speech, abusive or rude or unkind way of speaking, meaningless talk or idle chatter or gossip, Supported by:{wrong intention, irritability, brashness}, Leads to:{harm, sexual misconduct, slaughtering, stealing}
Context:
Speech that deceives, divides, wounds, or wastes. It includes lying, slander, harshness, and idle chatter. Such speech distorts truth, breaks trust, and stirs the mind toward harm and discord.
Pāli term:
musāvāda, pisuṇavācā, pharusāvācā, samphappalāpa
Wrong view ☁️ dark
36
Synonyms:
distorted or inverted perception, untrue view, false belief, Supported by:{unwise attention, ignorance}, Leads to:{undeveloped, wrong intention}
Context:
A distorted understanding that sees permanence in the impermanent, satisfaction in the unsatisfactory, or self in the not-self. Wrong view guides action by delusion, obscuring cause and effect, and closes the door to wisdom and release.
Pāli term:
micchādiṭṭhi