Ven. Sāriputta answers the question of what is difficult to do in the teaching and discipline, and what is difficult for one who has gone forth.

SN 38.16 Dukkarapañhā sutta - Questions on What is Difficult to Do

“Kiṁ nu kho, āvuso sāriputta, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye dukkaran”ti?

“What, friend Sāriputta, is difficult to do in this |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| and |Vinaya::code of monastic discipline rules, training [vinaya]|?”

“Pabbajjā kho, āvuso, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye dukkarā”ti.

“|Going forth::becoming a monastic, novice ordination, renunciation [pabbajjā]|, friend, is difficult to do in this Dhamma and Vinaya.”

“Pabbajitena panāvuso, kiṁ dukkaran”ti?

“And, friend, what is difficult to do for one who has gone forth?”

“Pabbajitena kho, āvuso, abhirati dukkarā”ti.

“For one who has gone forth, friend, finding |delight::pleasure, happiness [abhirati]| is difficult to to.”

“Abhiratena panāvuso, kiṁ dukkaran”ti?

“And, friend, for one who has found delight, what is difficult to do?”

“Abhiratena kho, āvuso, dhammānudhammappaṭipatti dukkarā”ti.

“For one who has found delight, friend, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma is difficult to do.”

“Kīvaciraṁ panāvuso, dhammānudhammappaṭipanno bhikkhu arahaṁ assā”ti?

“And, friend, how long would it take for a bhikkhu practicing in accordance with the Dhamma to become an |Arahant::a worthy one, a fully awakened being, epithet of the Buddha [arahant]|?”

“Naciraṁ, āvuso”ti.

“Not long, friend.”

Qualities:

Inquisitiveness

Inquisitiveness

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.

Also known as: considering, curiosity, inquiring, testing
Pāli: vīmaṃsā
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Last updated on July 11, 2026