A collection of 80 inspired utterances of the Buddha, often arising spontaneously in response to profound moments, expressing deep insight and realization.
Udāna - Inspired Utterances
The Buddha contemplates dependent co-arising in forward order just after his awakening.
The Buddha contemplates dependent co-arising in reverse order just after his awakening.
The Buddha contemplates dependent co-arising in forward and reverse order just after his awakening.
The Buddha expresses an inspired utterance on the qualities that make one a true Brāhmaṇ.
The Buddha defines a sage, a Brāhmaṇ not by birth, but as one who has cast off harmful qualities and is always mindful.
An awakened person has transcended fear through going beyond their own attachments.
One is not purified by water or fire offerings, but through truth and Dhamma.
Bāhiya of the Bark Cloth realizes the Dhamma and attains final Nibbāna immediately after receiving a concise teaching from the Buddha.
After the serpent king Mucalinda stands guard over the Buddha during a rainstorm, the Buddha utters a verse on the happiness found in seclusion, harmlessness toward living beings, the transcendence of sensual desire, and the relinquishment of the conceit ‘I am.’
When the Buddha learned that the bhikkhus had been discussing the worldly affairs of two kings, he reminded them that for those who have gone forth in faith, only two modes of gathering are proper - either engaging in a Dhamma discussion or maintaining noble silence.
He who, while seeking his own happiness, harms with a stick beings who desire happiness, will not find happiness after passing away.
The Buddha explains how to deal with insult and abuse without arising resentment.
The Buddha expresses an inspired utterance contrasting one who has comprehended the nature of reality with one who is with possessions.
A wanderer tries to acquire oil for his wife by drinking it and intending to regurgitate it later. This causes him terrible pain. The Buddha uses this to teach that attachment to possessions leads to suffering, while true happiness belongs to those who are free from such entanglements.
Inspired utterance on practicing diligently to leave behind what seems pleasant.
The Buddha expresses an inspired utterance to Visākhā on how all under another’s control brings suffering.
Monks mistake venerable Bhaddiya’s exclamation of “bliss” for nostalgia of his royal past. Bhaddiya explains to the Buddha that kingship was fearful, while his current monastic life is true bliss because it is fearless. The Buddha then praises the profound happiness found in being free from inner turmoil.
A bhikkhu endures sharp, severe, and painful bodily sensations caused by the results of past actions, while remaining mindful and fully aware, untroubled by the experience.
Venerable Sāriputta is sitting in meditation posture, aligning his body upright, having set up mindfulness at the fore. The Blessed One sees this and expresses an inspired utterance.
Venerable Mahāmoggallāna is sitting in meditation posture, aligning his body upright, and having set up mindfulness immersed in the body. The Blessed One sees this and expresses an inspired utterance.
The Buddha explains why Venerable Pilindavaccha addresses the bhikkhus with the term ‘outcaste’.
The Buddha expresses an inspired utterance about the qualities of a person who falls under the sway of Māra and of one who overcomes all bad destinations.
King Pasenadi of Kosala and Queen Mallikā discuss who is dearer to them.
If suffering is displeasing to you, do not commit evil deeds, whether openly or in secret.
The Buddha sits silently among the Saṅgha of bhikkhus on an Uposatha night when the assembly wasn’t pure. Afterwards, the Buddha explains the eight wonderful and marvelous qualities of the Dhamma and Vinaya, likening them to similarly wonderful qualities of the great ocean.
The Blessed One sees a group of young brāhmaṇas passing by, appearing to be mocking.
The Buddha explains to King Pasenadi of Kosala how to recognize the character of another person.
The Buddha reviews the multitude of harmful and unwholesome mental qualities he has abandoned, and the multitude of wholesome mental qualities he has developed to completion.
Venerable Subhūti is sitting in meditation posture, aligning his body upright, having entered collectedness free of thinking. The Blessed One sees this and expresses an inspired utterance.
On hearing about two factions infatuated with a courtesan, the Buddha expresses an inspired utterance on the extremes - one of taking rules and observances as the essence and the other of seeing no fault in sensual pleasures.
The Buddha observes moths drawn to the light of oil lamps, and reflects on the nature of attachment.
On seeing the people of Sāvatthi excessively clinging to sensual pleasures, the Buddha expresses an inspired utterance on the bondage that ensues from sensual desire.
On seeing the people of Sāvatthi clinging to sensual pleasures, the Buddha expresses an inspired utterance on harm that comes from sensual desire.
The Buddha expresses an inspired utterance after reflecting on his giving up of the perceptions and notions [born of] mental proliferation.
The Blessed One instructs the bhikkhus on the base where there is no coming, going, staying, no passing away, and no arising.
The Blessed One instructs the bhikkhus on the unborn, unbecome, unmade, unconditioned.
The Blessed One teaches Visākhā on the nature of attachment and suffering.