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AN 10.76PTS AN 5.144Abhabba6 min read

Three Things

Tayodhammasutta

Without rebirth, old age, and death, there would be no teaching of Dhamma. The Buddha teaches a series of sets of three things leading to liberation.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Aṅguttara Nikāya 10.76Numbered Discourses 10.76
  • 0.28. Ākaṅkhavagga8. If You Want

0.3TayodhammasuttaThree Things

1.1“Tayome, bhikkhave, dhammā loke na saṁvijjeyyuṁ, na tathāgato loke uppajjeyya arahaṁ sammāsambuddho, na tathāgatappavedito dhammavinayo loke dibbeyya.“Mendicants, if three things were not found, the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha would not arise in the world, and the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One would not shine in the world.1.2Katame tayo?What three?1.3Jāti ca, jarā ca, maraṇañca—Rebirth, old age, and death.1.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhammā loke na saṁvijjeyyuṁ, na tathāgato loke uppajjeyya arahaṁ sammāsambuddho, na tathāgatappavedito dhammavinayo loke dibbeyya.If these three things were not found, the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha would not arise in the world, and the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One would not shine in the world.1.5Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, ime tayo dhammā loke saṁvijjanti tasmā tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho, tasmā tathāgatappavedito dhammavinayo loke dibbati.But since these three things are found, the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha arises in the world, and the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One shines in the world.

2.1Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme appahāya abhabbo jātiṁ pahātuṁ jaraṁ pahātuṁ maraṇaṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up three things you can’t give up rebirth, old age, and death.2.2Katame tayo?What three?2.3Rāgaṁ appahāya, dosaṁ appahāya, mohaṁ appahāya—Greed, hate, and delusion.2.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme appahāya abhabbo jātiṁ pahātuṁ jaraṁ pahātuṁ maraṇaṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up these three things you can’t give up rebirth, old age, and death.

3.1Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme appahāya abhabbo rāgaṁ pahātuṁ dosaṁ pahātuṁ mohaṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up three things you can’t give up greed, hate, and delusion.3.2Katame tayo?What three?3.3Sakkāyadiṭṭhiṁ appahāya, vicikicchaṁ appahāya, sīlabbataparāmāsaṁ appahāya—Substantialist view, doubt, and misapprehension of precepts and observances.3.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme appahāya abhabbo rāgaṁ pahātuṁ dosaṁ pahātuṁ mohaṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up these three things you can’t give up greed, hate, and delusion.

4.1PTS 5.145Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme appahāya abhabbo sakkāyadiṭṭhiṁ pahātuṁ vicikicchaṁ pahātuṁ sīlabbataparāmāsaṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up three things you can’t give up substantialist view, doubt, and misapprehension of precepts and observances.4.2Katame tayo?What three?4.3Ayonisomanasikāraṁ appahāya, kummaggasevanaṁ appahāya, cetaso līnattaṁ appahāya—Irrational application of mind, following a wrong path, and mental sluggishness.4.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme appahāya abhabbo sakkāyadiṭṭhiṁ pahātuṁ vicikicchaṁ pahātuṁ sīlabbataparāmāsaṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up these three things you can’t give up substantialist view, doubt, and misapprehension of precepts and observances.

5.1Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme appahāya abhabbo ayoniso manasikāraṁ pahātuṁ kummaggasevanaṁ pahātuṁ cetaso līnattaṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up three things you can’t give up irrational application of mind, following a wrong path, and mental sluggishness.5.2Katame tayo?What three?5.3Muṭṭhassaccaṁ appahāya, asampajaññaṁ appahāya, cetaso vikkhepaṁ appahāya—Unmindfulness, lack of situational awareness, and scattered mind.5.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme appahāya abhabbo ayonisomanasikāraṁ pahātuṁ kummaggasevanaṁ pahātuṁ cetaso līnattaṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up these three things you can’t give up irrational application of mind, following a wrong path, and mental sluggishness.

6.1Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme appahāya abhabbo muṭṭhassaccaṁ pahātuṁ asampajaññaṁ pahātuṁ cetaso vikkhepaṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up three things you can’t give up unmindfulness, lack of situational awareness, and scattered mind.6.2Katame tayo?What three?6.3Ariyānaṁ adassanakamyataṁ appahāya, ariyadhammassa asotukamyataṁ appahāya, upārambhacittataṁ appahāya—Not wanting to see the noble ones, not wanting to hear the teaching of the noble ones, and a fault-finding mind.6.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme appahāya abhabbo muṭṭhassaccaṁ pahātuṁ asampajaññaṁ pahātuṁ cetaso vikkhepaṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up these three things you can’t give up unmindfulness, lack of situational awareness, and scattered mind.

7.1Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme appahāya abhabbo ariyānaṁ adassanakamyataṁ pahātuṁ ariyadhammassa asotukamyataṁ pahātuṁ upārambhacittataṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up three things you can’t give up not wanting to see the noble ones, not wanting to hear the teaching of the noble ones, and a fault-finding mind.7.2Katame tayo?What three?7.3Uddhaccaṁ appahāya, asaṁvaraṁ appahāya, dussilyaṁ appahāya—Restlessness, lack of restraint, and unethical conduct.7.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme appahāya abhabbo ariyānaṁ adassanakamyataṁ pahātuṁ ariyadhammassa asotukamyataṁ pahātuṁ upārambhacittataṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up these three things you can’t give up not wanting to see the noble ones, not wanting to hear the teaching of the noble ones, and a fault-finding mind.

8.1PTS 5.146Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme appahāya abhabbo uddhaccaṁ pahātuṁ asaṁvaraṁ pahātuṁ dussilyaṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up three things you can’t give up restlessness, lack of restraint, and unethical conduct.8.2Katame tayo?What three?8.3Assaddhiyaṁ appahāya, avadaññutaṁ appahāya, kosajjaṁ appahāya—Faithlessness, uncharitableness, and laziness.8.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme appahāya abhabbo uddhaccaṁ pahātuṁ asaṁvaraṁ pahātuṁ dussilyaṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up these three things you can’t give up restlessness, lack of restraint, and unethical conduct.

9.1Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme appahāya abhabbo assaddhiyaṁ pahātuṁ avadaññutaṁ pahātuṁ kosajjaṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up three things you can’t give up faithlessness, uncharitableness, and laziness.9.2Katame tayo?What three?9.3Anādariyaṁ appahāya, dovacassataṁ appahāya, pāpamittataṁ appahāya—Disregard, being hard to admonish, and having bad friends.9.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme appahāya abhabbo assaddhiyaṁ pahātuṁ avadaññutaṁ pahātuṁ kosajjaṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up these three things you can’t give up faithlessness, uncharitableness, and laziness.

10.1Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme appahāya abhabbo anādariyaṁ pahātuṁ dovacassataṁ pahātuṁ pāpamittataṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up three things you can’t give up disregard, being hard to admonish, and having bad friends.10.2Katame tayo?What three?10.3Ahirikaṁ appahāya, anottappaṁ appahāya, pamādaṁ appahāya—Lack of conscience, imprudence, and negligence.10.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme appahāya abhabbo anādariyaṁ pahātuṁ dovacassataṁ pahātuṁ pāpamittataṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up these three things you can’t give up disregard, being hard to admonish, and having bad friends.

11.1PTS 5.147Ahirikoyaṁ, bhikkhave, anottāpī pamatto hoti.Mendicants, someone who lacks conscience and prudence is negligent.11.2So pamatto samāno abhabbo anādariyaṁ pahātuṁ dovacassataṁ pahātuṁ pāpamittataṁ pahātuṁ.When you’re negligent you can’t give up disregard, being hard to admonish, and having bad friends.11.3So pāpamitto samāno abhabbo assaddhiyaṁ pahātuṁ avadaññutaṁ pahātuṁ kosajjaṁ pahātuṁ.When you’ve got bad friends you can’t give up faithlessness, uncharitableness, and laziness.11.4So kusīto samāno abhabbo uddhaccaṁ pahātuṁ asaṁvaraṁ pahātuṁ dussilyaṁ pahātuṁ.When you’re lazy you can’t give up restlessness, lack of restraint, and unethical conduct.11.5So dussīlo samāno abhabbo ariyānaṁ adassanakamyataṁ pahātuṁ ariyadhammassa asotukamyataṁ pahātuṁ upārambhacittataṁ pahātuṁ.When you’re unethical you can’t give up not wanting to see the noble ones, not wanting to hear the teaching of the noble ones, and a fault-finding mind.11.6So upārambhacitto samāno abhabbo muṭṭhassaccaṁ pahātuṁ asampajaññaṁ pahātuṁ cetaso vikkhepaṁ pahātuṁ.When you’ve got a fault-finding mind you can’t give up unmindfulness, lack of situational awareness, and a scattered mind.11.7So vikkhittacitto samāno abhabbo ayonisomanasikāraṁ pahātuṁ kummaggasevanaṁ pahātuṁ cetaso līnattaṁ pahātuṁ.When your mind is scattered you can’t give up irrational application of mind, following a wrong path, and mental sluggishness.11.8So līnacitto samāno abhabbo sakkāyadiṭṭhiṁ pahātuṁ vicikicchaṁ pahātuṁ sīlabbataparāmāsaṁ pahātuṁ.When your mind is sluggish you can’t give up substantialist view, doubt, and misapprehension of precepts and observances.11.9So vicikiccho samāno abhabbo rāgaṁ pahātuṁ dosaṁ pahātuṁ mohaṁ pahātuṁ.When you have doubts you can’t give up greed, hate, and delusion.11.10So rāgaṁ appahāya dosaṁ appahāya mohaṁ appahāya abhabbo jātiṁ pahātuṁ jaraṁ pahātuṁ maraṇaṁ pahātuṁ.Without giving up greed, hate, and delusion you can’t give up rebirth, old age, and death.

12.1Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme pahāya bhabbo jātiṁ pahātuṁ jaraṁ pahātuṁ maraṇaṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up three things you can give up rebirth, old age, and death.12.2Katame tayo?What three?12.3Rāgaṁ pahāya, dosaṁ pahāya, mohaṁ pahāya—Greed, hate, and delusion.12.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme pahāya bhabbo jātiṁ pahātuṁ jaraṁ pahātuṁ maraṇaṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up these three things you can give up rebirth, old age, and death.

13.1Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme pahāya bhabbo rāgaṁ pahātuṁ dosaṁ pahātuṁ mohaṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up three things you can give up greed, hate, and delusion.13.2Katame tayo?What three?13.3Sakkāyadiṭṭhiṁ pahāya, vicikicchaṁ pahāya, sīlabbataparāmāsaṁ pahāya—Substantialist view, doubt, and misapprehension of precepts and observances.13.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme pahāya bhabbo rāgaṁ pahātuṁ dosaṁ pahātuṁ mohaṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up these three things you can give up greed, hate, and delusion.

14.1Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme pahāya bhabbo sakkāyadiṭṭhiṁ pahātuṁ vicikicchaṁ pahātuṁ sīlabbataparāmāsaṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up three things you can give up substantialist view, doubt, and misapprehension of precepts and observances.14.2Katame tayo?What three?14.3Ayonisomanasikāraṁ pahāya, kummaggasevanaṁ pahāya, cetaso līnattaṁ pahāya—Irrational application of mind, following a wrong path, and mental sluggishness.14.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme pahāya bhabbo sakkāyadiṭṭhiṁ pahātuṁ vicikicchaṁ pahātuṁ sīlabbataparāmāsaṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up these three things you can give up substantialist view, doubt, and misapprehension of precepts and observances.

15.1Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme pahāya bhabbo ayonisomanasikāraṁ pahātuṁ kummaggasevanaṁ pahātuṁ cetaso līnattaṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up three things you can give up irrational application of mind, following a wrong path, and mental sluggishness.15.2Katame tayo?What three?15.3Muṭṭhassaccaṁ pahāya, asampajaññaṁ pahāya, cetaso vikkhepaṁ pahāya—Unmindfulness, lack of situational awareness, and a scattered mind.15.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme pahāya bhabbo ayonisomanasikāraṁ pahātuṁ kummaggasevanaṁ pahātuṁ cetaso līnattaṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up these three things you can give up irrational application of mind, following a wrong path, and mental sluggishness.

16.1PTS 5.148Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme pahāya bhabbo muṭṭhassaccaṁ pahātuṁ asampajaññaṁ pahātuṁ cetaso vikkhepaṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up three things you can give up unmindfulness, lack of situational awareness, and scattered mind.16.2Katame tayo?What three?16.3Ariyānaṁ adassanakamyataṁ pahāya, ariyadhammassa asotukamyataṁ pahāya, upārambhacittataṁ pahāya—Not wanting to see the noble ones, not wanting to hear the teaching of the noble ones, and a fault-finding mind.16.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme pahāya bhabbo muṭṭhassaccaṁ pahātuṁ asampajaññaṁ pahātuṁ cetaso vikkhepaṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up these three things you can give up unmindfulness, lack of situational awareness, and scattered mind.

17.1Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme pahāya bhabbo ariyānaṁ adassanakamyataṁ pahātuṁ ariyadhammassa asotukamyataṁ pahātuṁ upārambhacittataṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up three things you can give up not wanting to see the noble ones, not wanting to hear the teaching of the noble ones, and a fault-finding mind.17.2Katame tayo?What three?17.3Uddhaccaṁ pahāya, asaṁvaraṁ pahāya, dussilyaṁ pahāya—Restlessness, lack of restraint, and unethical conduct.17.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme pahāya bhabbo ariyānaṁ adassanakamyataṁ pahātuṁ ariyadhammassa asotukamyataṁ pahātuṁ upārambhacittataṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up these three things you can give up not wanting to see the noble ones, not wanting to hear the teaching of the noble ones, and a fault-finding mind.

18.1Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme pahāya bhabbo uddhaccaṁ pahātuṁ asaṁvaraṁ pahātuṁ dussilyaṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up three things you can give up restlessness, lack of restraint, and unethical conduct.18.2Katame tayo?What three?18.3Assaddhiyaṁ pahāya, avadaññutaṁ pahāya, kosajjaṁ pahāya—Faithlessness, uncharitableness, and laziness.18.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme pahāya bhabbo uddhaccaṁ pahātuṁ asaṁvaraṁ pahātuṁ dussilyaṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up these three things you can give up restlessness, lack of restraint, and unethical conduct.

19.1Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme pahāya bhabbo assaddhiyaṁ pahātuṁ avadaññutaṁ pahātuṁ kosajjaṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up three things you can give up faithlessness, uncharitableness, and laziness.19.2Katame tayo?What three?19.3Anādariyaṁ pahāya, dovacassataṁ pahāya, pāpamittataṁ pahāya—Disregard, being hard to admonish, and having bad friends.19.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme pahāya bhabbo assaddhiyaṁ pahātuṁ avadaññutaṁ pahātuṁ kosajjaṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up these three things you can give up faithlessness, uncharitableness, and laziness.

20.1Tayome, bhikkhave, dhamme pahāya bhabbo anādariyaṁ pahātuṁ dovacassataṁ pahātuṁ pāpamittataṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up three things you can give up disregard, being hard to admonish, and having bad friends.20.2Katame tayo?What three?20.3Ahirikaṁ pahāya, anottappaṁ pahāya, pamādaṁ pahāya—Lack of conscience, imprudence, and negligence.20.4ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo dhamme pahāya bhabbo anādariyaṁ pahātuṁ dovacassataṁ pahātuṁ pāpamittataṁ pahātuṁ.After giving up these three things you can give up disregard, being hard to admonish, and having bad friends.

21.1PTS 5.149Hirīmāyaṁ, bhikkhave, ottāpī appamatto hoti.Mendicants, someone who has conscience and prudence is diligent.21.2So appamatto samāno bhabbo anādariyaṁ pahātuṁ dovacassataṁ pahātuṁ pāpamittataṁ pahātuṁ.When you’re diligent you can give up disregard, being hard to admonish, and having bad friends.21.3So kalyāṇamitto samāno bhabbo assaddhiyaṁ pahātuṁ avadaññutaṁ pahātuṁ kosajjaṁ pahātuṁ.When you’ve got good friends you can give up faithlessness, uncharitableness, and laziness.21.4So āraddhavīriyo samāno bhabbo uddhaccaṁ pahātuṁ asaṁvaraṁ pahātuṁ dussilyaṁ pahātuṁ.When you’re energetic you can give up restlessness, lack of restraint, and unethical conduct.21.5So sīlavā samāno bhabbo ariyānaṁ adassanakamyataṁ pahātuṁ ariyadhammassa asotukamyataṁ pahātuṁ upārambhacittataṁ pahātuṁ.When you’re ethical you can give up not wanting to see the noble ones, not wanting to hear the teaching of the noble ones, and a fault-finding mind.21.6So anupārambhacitto samāno bhabbo muṭṭhassaccaṁ pahātuṁ asampajaññaṁ pahātuṁ cetaso vikkhepaṁ pahātuṁ.When you don’t have a fault-finding mind you can give up unmindfulness, lack of situational awareness, and a scattered mind.21.7So avikkhittacitto samāno bhabbo ayonisomanasikāraṁ pahātuṁ kummaggasevanaṁ pahātuṁ cetaso līnattaṁ pahātuṁ.When your mind isn’t scattered you can give up irrational application of mind, following a wrong path, and mental sluggishness.21.8So alīnacitto samāno bhabbo sakkāyadiṭṭhiṁ pahātuṁ vicikicchaṁ pahātuṁ sīlabbataparāmāsaṁ pahātuṁ.When your mind isn’t sluggish you can give up substantialist view, doubt, and misapprehension of precepts and observances.21.9So avicikiccho samāno bhabbo rāgaṁ pahātuṁ dosaṁ pahātuṁ mohaṁ pahātuṁ.When you have no doubts you can give up greed, hate, and delusion.21.10So rāgaṁ pahāya dosaṁ pahāya mohaṁ pahāya bhabbo jātiṁ pahātuṁ jaraṁ pahātuṁ maraṇaṁ pahātun”ti.After giving up greed, hate, and delusion you can give up rebirth, old age, and death.”

21.11Chaṭṭhaṁ.