The Buddha teaches a repeated formula on the four noble truths—suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice leading to its cessation—regarding mutilation, etc. in this grouped discourse.

SN 56.96-101 Mutilation, Etc.

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye chedanavadhabandhanaviparāmosaālopasahasākārā paṭiviratā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye chedanavadhabandhanaviparāmosaālopasahasākārā appaṭiviratā. Taṁ kissa hetu? Adiṭṭhattā bhikkhave, catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ. Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ? Dukkhassa ariyasaccassa …pe… dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya ariyasaccassa.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti.

Ekādasamaṁ.

Catutthaāmakadhaññapeyyālavaggo dasamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Khettaṁ kāyaṁ dūteyyañca,
tulākūṭaṁ ukkoṭanaṁ;
Chedanaṁ vadhabandhanaṁ,
viparālopaṁ sāhasanti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye chedanavadhabandhanaviparāmosaālopasahasākārā paṭiviratā; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye chedanavadhabandhanaviparāmosaālopasahasākārā appaṭiviratā.

“… the sentient beings who refrain from mutilation, murder, abduction, banditry, plunder, and violence are few, while those who don’t refrain are many.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Adiṭṭhattā bhikkhave, catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ.

It’s because they haven’t seen the four noble truths.

Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ?

What four?

Dukkhassa ariyasaccassa …pe… dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya ariyasaccassa.

The noble truths of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti.

That’s why you should practice meditation …”

Ekādasamaṁ.

Catutthaāmakadhaññapeyyālavaggo dasamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Khettaṁ kāyaṁ dūteyyañca,

tulākūṭaṁ ukkoṭanaṁ;

Chedanaṁ vadhabandhanaṁ,

viparālopaṁ sāhasanti.

Topics & Qualities:

Aggressiveness

Aggressiveness

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.

Also known as: hostility, antagonism, belligerence, combativeness, pugnacity, violence, injury causing behavior
Pāli: sārambha, caṇḍa
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Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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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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Harm

Harm

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.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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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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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026