The Buddha teaches on the six sense bases regarding the cessation of deeds, guiding disciples toward discernment of sense experience and release from clinging.

SN 35.146 The Cessation of Deeds

“Navapurāṇāni, bhikkhave, kammāni desessāmi kammanirodhaṁ kammanirodhagāminiñca paṭipadaṁ. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmīti.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, purāṇakammaṁ?

Cakkhu, bhikkhave, purāṇakammaṁ abhisaṅkhataṁ abhisañcetayitaṁ vedaniyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ …pe…

jivhā purāṇakammā abhisaṅkhatā abhisañcetayitā vedaniyā daṭṭhabbā …pe… mano purāṇakammo abhisaṅkhato abhisañcetayito vedaniyo daṭṭhabbo.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, purāṇakammaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, navakammaṁ?

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, etarahi kammaṁ karoti kāyena vācāya manasā,

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, navakammaṁ.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, kammanirodho?

Yo kho, bhikkhave, kāyakammavacīkammamanokammassa nirodhā vimuttiṁ phusati,

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammanirodho.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā?

Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ sammādiṭṭhi, sammāsaṅkappo, sammāvācā, sammākammanto, sammāājīvo, sammāvāyāmo, sammāsati, sammāsamādhi

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā.

Iti kho, bhikkhave, desitaṁ mayā purāṇakammaṁ, desitaṁ navakammaṁ, desito kammanirodho, desitā kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, satthārā karaṇīyaṁ sāvakānaṁ hitesinā anukampakena anukampaṁ upādāya, kataṁ vo taṁ mayā. Etāni, bhikkhave, rukkhamūlāni, etāni suññāgārāni. Jhāyatha, bhikkhave, pamādattha; pacchāvippaṭisārino ahuvattha. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Navapurāṇāni, bhikkhave, kammāni desessāmi kammanirodhaṁ kammanirodhagāminiñca paṭipadaṁ.

“Mendicants, I will teach you old deeds, new deeds, the cessation of deeds, and the practice that leads to the cessation of deeds.

Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmīti.

Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak. …

Katamañca, bhikkhave, purāṇakammaṁ?

And what is old deeds?

Cakkhu, bhikkhave, purāṇakammaṁ abhisaṅkhataṁ abhisañcetayitaṁ vedaniyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ …pe…

The eye is old deeds. It should be seen as produced by choices and intentions, as something to be felt.

jivhā purāṇakammā abhisaṅkhatā abhisañcetayitā vedaniyā daṭṭhabbā …pe…

The ear … nose … tongue … body …

mano purāṇakammo abhisaṅkhato abhisañcetayito vedaniyo daṭṭhabbo.

mind is old deeds. It should be seen as produced by choices and intentions, as something to be felt.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, purāṇakammaṁ.

This is called old deeds.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, navakammaṁ?

And what is new deeds?

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, etarahi kammaṁ karoti kāyena vācāya manasā,

The deeds you currently perform by way of body, speech, and mind.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, navakammaṁ.

These are called new deeds.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, kammanirodho?

And what is the cessation of deeds?

Yo kho, bhikkhave, kāyakammavacīkammamanokammassa nirodhā vimuttiṁ phusati,

When you experience freedom due to the cessation of deeds by body, speech, and mind.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammanirodho.

This is called the cessation of deeds.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā?

And what’s the practice that leads to the cessation of deeds?

Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ

It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:

sammādiṭṭhi, sammāsaṅkappo, sammāvācā, sammākammanto, sammāājīvo, sammāvāyāmo, sammāsati, sammāsamādhi

right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā.

This is called the practice that leads to the cessation of deeds.

Iti kho, bhikkhave, desitaṁ mayā purāṇakammaṁ, desitaṁ navakammaṁ, desito kammanirodho, desitā kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā.

So, mendicants, I’ve taught you old deeds, new deeds, the cessation of deeds, and the practice that leads to the cessation of deeds.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, satthārā karaṇīyaṁ sāvakānaṁ hitesinā anukampakena anukampaṁ upādāya, kataṁ vo taṁ mayā.

Out of sympathy, I’ve done what a teacher should do who wants what’s best for their disciples.

Etāni, bhikkhave, rukkhamūlāni, etāni suññāgārāni. Jhāyatha, bhikkhave, pamādattha; pacchāvippaṭisārino ahuvattha. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.

Here are these roots of trees, and here are these empty huts. Practice absorption, mendicants! Don’t be negligent! Don’t regret it later! This is my instruction to you.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending 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.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Right effort

Right effort

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.

Also known as: right endeavor, right striving
Pāli: sammāvāyāma, padhāna
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Right livelihood

Right livelihood

Means of living that does not cause harm to others or oneself; earning a living ethically without deceit, exploitation, or violence.

Also known as: correct livelihood, right mode of earning a living
Pāli: sammāājīva
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Right speech

Right speech

Speech that is purified by abstaining from falsehood, divisive talk, harsh words, and idle chatter.

Also known as: truthful speech, honest speech, kind speech, beneficial speech, harmonious speech, articulate words, eloquent communication
Pāli: sammāvācā
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Right view

Right view

View that is in line with the Dhamma — teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth.

Also known as: right understanding, right belief, view that is inline with the Dhamma
Pāli: sammādiṭṭhi
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Last updated on July 27, 2026