an3.133:3 And how is a mendicant a marksman? It’s when a mendicant truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. That’s how a mendicant is a marksman.

an3.133:4 And how does a mendicant shatter large objects? It’s when a mendicant shatters the great mass of ignorance. That’s how a mendicant shatters large objects. A mendicant with these three qualities is worthy of offerings made for God’s sake, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of respectful greeting, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.”

14. A Warrior

Assemblies

an3.134:1 “Mendicants, there are these three assemblies. What three? An assembly educated in fancy talk, an assembly educated in questioning, and an assembly educated to the fullest extent. These are the three assemblies.”

14. A Warrior

A Friend

an3.135:1 “Mendicants, you should associate with a friend who has three factors. What three? They give what is hard to give, they do what is hard to do, and they endure what is hard to endure. You should associate with a friend who has these three factors.”

14. A Warrior

Arising

an3.136:1 “Mendicants, whether Realized Ones arise or not, this law of nature persists, this regularity of natural principles, this surety of natural principles: all conditions are impermanent. A Realized One awakens to this and comprehends it, then he explains, teaches, asserts, establishes, clarifies, analyzes, and discloses it: ‘All conditions are impermanent.’ Whether Realized Ones arise or not, this law of nature persists, this regularity of natural principles, this surety of natural principles: all conditions are suffering. A Realized One awakens to this and comprehends it, then he explains, teaches, asserts, establishes, clarifies, analyzes, and discloses it: ‘All conditions are suffering.’ Whether Realized Ones arise or not, this law of nature persists, this regularity of natural principles, this surety of natural principles: all things are not-self. A Realized One awakens to this and comprehends it, then he explains, teaches, asserts, establishes, clarifies, analyzes, and discloses it: ‘All things are not-self.’”

14. A Warrior

A Hair Blanket

an3.137:1 “Mendicants, a hair blanket is said to be the worst kind of woven cloth. It’s cold in the cold, hot in the heat, ugly, smelly, and unpleasant to touch. In the same way, the teaching of the bamboo-staffed ascetic is said to be the worst of all the doctrines of the various ascetics and brahmins.

an3.137:2 The bamboo-staffed ascetic, that futile man, has this doctrine and view: ‘There is no power in deeds, action, or energy.’ Those who were perfected ones, fully awakened Buddhas in the past also taught the efficacy of deeds, action, and energy. But the bamboo-staffed ascetic opposes them by saying: ‘There is no power in deeds, action, or energy.’ Those who will be perfected ones, fully awakened Buddhas in the future will also teach the efficacy of deeds, action, and energy. But the bamboo-staffed ascetic opposes them by saying: ‘There is no power in deeds, action, or energy.’ I too, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha in the present, teach the efficacy of deeds, action, and energy. But the bamboo-staffed ascetic opposes me by saying: ‘There is no power in deeds, action, or energy.’

an3.137:3 It’s like a trap set at the mouth of a river, which would bring harm, suffering, calamity, and disaster for many fish. In the same way that futile man the bamboo-staffed ascetic is a trap for humans, it seems to me. He has come into the world for the harm, suffering, calamity, and disaster of many beings.”

14. A Warrior

Accomplishment

an3.138:1 “Mendicants, there are three accomplishments. What three? Accomplishment in faith, ethics, and wisdom. These are the three accomplishments.”

14. A Warrior

Growth

an3.139:1 “Mendicants, there are three kinds of growth. What three? Growth in faith, ethics, and wisdom. These are the three kinds of growth.”

14. A Warrior

A Wild Colt

an3.140:1 “Mendicants, I will teach you about three wild colts and three wild people. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

an3.140:2 “What are the three wild colts? One wild colt is fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned. Another wild colt is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned. While another wild colt is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned. These are the three wild colts.

an3.140:3 And what are the three wild people? One wild person is fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned. Another wild person is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned. While another wild person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

an3.140:4 And how is a wild person fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned? It’s when a mendicant truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. This is how they’re fast, I say. But when asked a question about the teaching or training, they falter without answering. This is how they’re not beautiful, I say. And they don’t receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. This is how they’re not well proportioned, I say. This is how a wild person is fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned.

an3.140:5 And how is a wild person fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned? It’s when a mendicant truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. This is how they’re fast, I say. When asked a question about the teaching or training, they answer without faltering. This is how they’re beautiful, I say. But they don’t receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. This is how they’re not well proportioned, I say. This is how a wild person is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned.

an3.140:6 And how is a wild person fast, beautiful, and well proportioned? It’s when a mendicant truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. This is how they’re fast, I say. When asked a question about the teaching or training, they answer without faltering. This is how they’re beautiful, I say. They receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. This is how they’re well proportioned, I say. This is how a wild person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned. These are the three wild people.”

14. A Warrior

Excellent Horses

an3.141:1 “Mendicants, I will teach you the three excellent horses and the three excellent people. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

an3.141:2 “What are the three excellent horses? One excellent horse is fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned. Another excellent horse is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned. While another excellent horse is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned. These are the three excellent horses.

an3.141:3 What are the three excellent people? One excellent person is fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned. Another excellent person is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned. While another excellent person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

an3.141:4 And how is an excellent person fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned? It’s when a mendicant, with the ending of the five lower fetters, attains salvation. They are not liable to fall back. This is how they’re fast, I say. But when asked a question about the teaching or training, they falter without answering. This is how they’re not beautiful, I say. And they don’t receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. This is how they’re not well proportioned, I say. This is how an excellent person is fast, but not beautiful or well proportioned.

an3.141:5 And how is an excellent person fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned? It’s when a mendicant, with the ending of the five lower fetters, attains salvation. They are not liable to fall back. This is how they’re fast, I say. When asked a question about the teaching or training, they answer without faltering. This is how they’re beautiful, I say. But they don’t receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. This is how they’re not well proportioned, I say. This is how an excellent person is fast and beautiful, but not well proportioned.

an3.141:6 And how is an excellent person fast, beautiful, and well proportioned? It’s when a mendicant, with the ending of the five lower fetters, attains salvation. They are not liable to fall back. This is how they’re fast, I say. When asked a question about the teaching or training, they answer without faltering. This is how they’re beautiful, I say. They receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. This is how they’re well proportioned, I say. This is how an excellent person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned. These are the three excellent people.”

14. A Warrior

The Thoroughbred

an3.142:1 “Mendicants, I will teach you the three fine thoroughbred horses, and the three fine thoroughbred people. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

an3.142:2 “What are the three fine thoroughbred horses? One fine thoroughbred horse … is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned. These are the three fine thoroughbred horses.

an3.142:3 And what are the three fine thoroughbred people? One fine thoroughbred person … is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned.

an3.142:4 And how is a fine thoroughbred person … fast, beautiful, and well proportioned? It’s when a mendicant realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements. This is how they’re fast, I say. When asked a question about the teaching or training, they answer without faltering. This is how they’re beautiful, I say. They receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. This is how they’re well proportioned, I say. This is how a fine thoroughbred person is fast, beautiful, and well proportioned. These are the three fine thoroughbred people.”

14. A Warrior

At the Peacocks’ Feeding Ground (1st)

an3.143:1 At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, at the monastery for the wanderers in the peacocks’ feeding ground. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

an3.143:2 “Mendicants, a mendicant with three qualities has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal. They are best among humankind. What three? The entire spectrum of an adept’s ethics, immersion, and wisdom. A mendicant with these three qualities has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal. They are best among humankind.”

14. A Warrior

At the Peacocks’ Feeding Ground (2nd)

an3.144:1 “Mendicants, a mendicant with three qualities has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal. They are best among humankind. What three? A demonstration of psychic power, a demonstration of revealing, and a demonstration of instruction. A mendicant with these three qualities has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal. They are best among humankind.”

14. A Warrior

At the Peacocks’ Feeding Ground (3rd)

an3.145:1 “Mendicants, a mendicant with three qualities has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal. They are best among humankind. What three? Right view, right knowledge, and right freedom. A mendicant with these three qualities has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal. They are best among humankind.”

15. Good Fortune

Unskillful

an3.146:1 “Someone with three qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What three? Unskillful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. Someone with these three qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

an3.146:2 Someone with three qualities is placed in the Garden as if delivered there. What three? Skillful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. Someone with these three qualities is placed in the Garden as if delivered there.”

15. Good Fortune

Blameworthy

an3.147:1 “Someone with three qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What three? Blameworthy deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. Someone with these three qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

an3.147:2 Someone with three qualities is placed in the Garden as if delivered there. What three? Blameless deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. Someone with these three qualities is placed in the Garden as if delivered there.”

15. Good Fortune

Unethical

an3.148:1 “Someone with three qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. … Unethical deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. …

an3.148:2 Someone with three qualities is placed in the Garden as if delivered there. … Ethical deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. …”

15. Good Fortune

Impure

an3.149:1 “Someone with three qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. … Impure deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. …

an3.149:2 Someone with three qualities is placed in the Garden as if delivered there. … Pure deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. …”

15. Good Fortune

Broken (1st)

an3.150:1 “When a foolish, incompetent untrue person has three qualities they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and reproved by sensible people, and they brim with much wickedness. What three? Unskillful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. …

an3.150:2 When an astute, competent true person has three qualities they keep themselves healthy and whole. They don’t deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much merit. What three? Skillful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. …”

15. Good Fortune

Broken (2nd)

an3.151:1 “When a foolish, incompetent untrue person has three qualities they keep themselves broken and damaged. … Blameworthy deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. …

an3.151:2 When an astute, competent true person has three qualities they keep themselves intact and unscathed. … Blameless deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. …”

15. Good Fortune

Broken (3rd)

an3.152:1 “When a foolish, incompetent untrue person has three qualities they keep themselves broken and damaged. … Unethical deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. …

an3.152:2 When an astute, competent true person has three qualities they keep themselves intact and unscathed. … Ethical deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. …”

15. Good Fortune

Broken (4th)

an3.153:1 “When a foolish, incompetent untrue person has three qualities they keep themselves broken and damaged. … Impure deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. …

an3.153:2 When an astute, competent true person has three qualities they keep themselves intact and unscathed. … Pure deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. …”

15. Good Fortune

Homage

an3.154:1 “Mendicants, there are three kinds of homage. What three? By way of body, speech, and mind. These are the three kinds of homage.”

15. Good Fortune

Morning

an3.155:1 “Mendicants, those sentient beings who do good things in the morning by way of body, speech, and mind have a good morning.

an3.155:2 Those sentient beings who do good things at midday by way of body, speech, and mind have a good midday.

an3.155:3 Those sentient beings who do good things in the evening by way of body, speech, and mind have a good evening.

an3.155:4 A good star, a good fortune, a good sunup, a good rising, a good moment, a good hour, good gifts to spiritual practitioners.

an3.155:5 Auspicious deeds of body, verbal auspicious deeds, auspicious deeds of mind, auspicious resolutions: when your deeds have been auspicious, you get auspicious benefits.

an3.155:6 Those happy with these benefits flourish in the Buddha’s teaching. May you and all your relatives be healthy and happy!”

The Chapter on Practices

Untitled Discourses on Three Practices

an3.156:1 “Mendicants, there are three practices. What three? The addicted practice, the scorching practice, and the middle practice. And what’s the addicted practice? It’s when someone has this doctrine and view: ‘There’s nothing wrong with sensual pleasures’; so they throw themselves into sensual pleasures. This is called the addicted practice.

an3.156:2 And what’s the scorching practice? It’s when someone goes naked, ignoring conventions. They lick their hands, and don’t come or wait when called. They don’t consent to food brought to them, or food prepared on their behalf, or an invitation for a meal. They don’t receive anything from a pot or bowl; or from someone who keeps sheep, or who has a weapon or a shovel in their home; or where a couple is eating; or where there is a woman who is pregnant, breastfeeding, or who lives with a man; or where there’s a hound waiting or flies buzzing. They accept no fish or meat or beer or wine, and drink no fermented gruel. They go to just one house for alms, taking just one mouthful, or two houses and two mouthfuls, up to seven houses and seven mouthfuls. They feed on one saucer a day, two saucers a day, up to seven saucers a day. They eat once a day, once every second day, up to once a week, and so on, even up to once a fortnight. They live pursuing the practice of eating food at set intervals.

an3.156:3 They eat herbs, millet, wild rice, poor rice, water lettuce, rice bran, scum from boiling rice, sesame flour, grass, or cow dung. They survive on forest roots and fruits, or eating fallen fruit.

an3.156:4 They wear robes of sunn hemp, mixed hemp, corpse-wrapping cloth, rags, lodh tree bark, antelope hide (whole or in strips), kusa grass, bark, wood-chips, human hair, horse-tail hair, or owls’ wings. They tear out their hair and beard, committed to this practice. They constantly stand, turning down seats. They squat, committed to the endeavor of squatting. They lie on a mat of thorns, making a mat of thorns their bed. They’re devoted to ritual bathing three times a day, including at dusk. And so they live pursuing these various ways of mortifying and tormenting the body. This is called the scorching practice.

an3.156:5 And what’s the middle practice? It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … They meditate observing an aspect of the mind … They meditate observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. This is called the middle practice. These are the three practices.

an3.157:1 Mendicants, there are three practices. What three? The addicted practice, the scorching practice, the middle practice. And what’s the addicted practice? … This is called the addicted practice.

an3.157:2 And what is the scorching practice? … This is called the scorching practice.

an3.157:3 And what’s the middle practice? It’s when a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen are given up. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities arise. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fully developed. …

an3.158:1 They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort. They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy, and active effort. They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to mental development, and active effort. They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to inquiry, and active effort. …

an3.159:1 They develop the faculty of faith … energy … mindfulness … immersion … wisdom …

an3.160:1 They develop the power of faith … energy … mindfulness … immersion … wisdom …

an3.161:1 They develop the awakening factor of mindfulness … investigation of principles … energy … rapture … tranquility … immersion … equanimity …

an3.162:1 They develop right view … right purpose … right speech … right action … right livelihood … right effort … right mindfulness … right immersion … This is called the middle practice. These are the three practices.”

The Chapter on Ways of Performing Deeds

Untitled Discourses on Three Qualities

an3.163:1 “Someone with three qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What three? They themselves kill living creatures. They encourage others to kill living creatures. And they approve of killing living creatures. Someone with these three qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

an3.164:1 Someone with three qualities is placed in the Garden as if delivered there. What three? They don’t themselves kill living creatures. They encourage others to not kill living creatures. And they approve of not killing living creatures. …

an3.165:1 They themselves steal. They encourage others to steal. And they approve of stealing. …

an3.166:1 They don’t themselves steal. They encourage others to not steal. And they approve of not stealing. …

an3.167:1 They themselves commit sexual misconduct. They encourage others to commit sexual misconduct. And they approve of sexual misconduct. …

an3.168:1 They don’t themselves commit sexual misconduct. They encourage others to not commit sexual misconduct. And they approve of refraining from sexual misconduct. …

an3.169:1 They themselves lie. They encourage others to lie. And they approve of lying. …

an3.170:1 They don’t themselves lie. They encourage others to not lie. And they approve of not lying. …

an3.171:1 They themselves backbite. They encourage others to backbite. And they approve of backbiting. …

an3.172:1 They don’t themselves backbite. They encourage others to not backbite. And they approve of not backbiting. …

an3.173:1 They themselves speak harshly. They encourage others to speak harshly. And they approve of speaking harshly. …

an3.174:1 They don’t themselves speak harshly. They encourage others to not speak harshly. And they approve of not speaking harshly. …

an3.175:1 They themselves talk nonsense. They encourage others to talk nonsense. And they approve of talking nonsense. …

an3.176:1 They don’t themselves talk nonsense. They encourage others to not talk nonsense. And they approve of not talking nonsense. …

an3.177:1 They themselves are covetous. They encourage others to be covetous. And they approve of covetousness. …

an3.178:1 They themselves are content. They encourage others to be contented. And they approve of being contented. …

an3.179:1 They themselves have ill will. They encourage others to have ill will. And they approve of having ill will. …

an3.180:1 They themselves are kind-hearted. They encourage others to have good will. And they approve of good will. …

an3.181:1 They themselves have wrong view. They encourage others to have wrong view. And they approve of wrong view. …

an3.182:1 They themselves have right view. They encourage others to have right view. And they approve of right view. Someone with these three qualities is placed in the Garden as if delivered there.”

The Chapter on Abbreviated Texts Beginning with Greed

Untitled Discourses on Greed, Etc.

an3.183-352:1 “For insight into greed, three things should be developed. What three? Emptiness immersion; signless immersion; and undirected immersion. For insight into greed, these three things should be developed.

an3.183-352:2 For the complete understanding of greed … complete ending … giving up … ending … vanishing … fading away … cessation … giving away … letting go …

an3.183-352:3 hate … delusion … anger … acrimony … disdain … contempt … jealousy … stinginess … deceitfulness … deviousness … obstinacy … aggression … conceit … arrogance … vanity … negligence … insight … complete understanding … complete ending … giving up … ending … vanishing … fading away … cessation … giving away … For the letting go of negligence, these three things should be developed.”

an3.183-352:4 That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.

an3.183-352:8 The Book of the Threes is finished.