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AN 4.77PTS AN 2.801 min read

Unthinkable

Acinteyyasutta

If you try to think about these things you will go mad or get frustrated.

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

  • 0.1Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.77Numbered Discourses 4.77
  • 0.28. Apaṇṇakavagga8. Sure Bet

0.3AcinteyyasuttaUnthinkable

1.1“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, acinteyyāni, na cintetabbāni; yāni cintento ummādassa vighātassa bhāgī assa.“Mendicants, these four things are unthinkable. They should not be thought about, and anyone who tries to think about them will go mad or get frustrated.1.2Katamāni cattāri?What four?

1.3Buddhānaṁ, bhikkhave, buddhavisayo acinteyyo, na cintetabbo;The domain of the Buddhas …1.4yaṁ cintento ummādassa vighātassa bhāgī assa.

1.5Jhāyissa, bhikkhave, jhānavisayo acinteyyo, na cintetabbo;The domain of one in absorption …1.6yaṁ cintento ummādassa vighātassa bhāgī assa.

1.7Kammavipāko, bhikkhave, acinteyyo, na cintetabbo;The results of deeds …1.8yaṁ cintento ummādassa vighātassa bhāgī assa.

1.9Lokacintā, bhikkhave, acinteyyā, na cintetabbā;Speculation about the world …1.10yaṁ cintento ummādassa vighātassa bhāgī assa.

1.11Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri acinteyyāni, na cintetabbāni; yāni cintento ummādassa vighātassa bhāgī assā”ti.These are the four unthinkable things. They should not be thought about, and anyone who tries to think about them will go mad or get frustrated.”

1.12Sattamaṁ.