The Buddha teaches mendicants the unconditioned—defined as the ending of greed, hate, and delusion—and declares the path to be the path that leads to the unconditioned, urging them to practice absorption without negligence.

SN 43.11 The Path

“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo.

Iti kho, bhikkhave, desitaṁ vo mayā asaṅkhataṁ, desito asaṅkhatagāmimaggo. Yaṁ, bhikkhave, satthārā karaṇīyaṁ sāvakānaṁ hitesinā anukampakena anukampaṁ upādāya kataṁ vo taṁ mayā. Etāni, bhikkhave, rukkhamūlāni, etāni suññāgārāni. Jhāyatha, bhikkhave, pamādattha; pacchā vippaṭisārino ahuvattha. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.

Ekādasamaṁ.

Asaṅkhatasaṁyuttassa paṭhamo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Kāyo samatho savitakko,
suññato satipaṭṭhānā;
Sammappadhānā iddhipādā,
indriyabalabojjhaṅgā;
Maggena ekādasamaṁ,
Tassuddānaṁ pavuccati.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo?

“And what is the path that leads to the unconditioned?

Ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo.

The noble eightfold path.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo.

This is called the path that leads to the unconditioned.

Iti kho, bhikkhave, desitaṁ vo mayā asaṅkhataṁ, desito asaṅkhatagāmimaggo.

So, mendicants, I’ve taught you the unconditioned and the path that leads to the unconditioned.

Yaṁ, 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; pacchā vippaṭisārino 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.”

Ekādasamaṁ.

Asaṅkhatasaṁyuttassa paṭhamo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Kāyo samatho savitakko,

suññato satipaṭṭhānā;

Sammappadhānā iddhipādā,

indriyabalabojjhaṅgā;

Maggena ekādasamaṁ,

Tassuddānaṁ pavuccati.

Topics & Qualities:

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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Jhana

Jhana

An abiding with a steady, collected awareness that is attained through seclusion from the five hindrances and unwholesome mental states. When supported by right view, a jhāna can be a basis for the wearing away of taints and directing the mind toward the vision of Nibbāna.

Also known as: meditation, undistracted awareness, absorption, mental absorption
Pāli: jhāna, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Regret

Regret

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.

Also known as: compunction, guilt, to be burned, to be consumed, to suffer remorse
Pāli: tappati
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Last updated on July 27, 2026