an6.75:2 When a mendicant has six qualities they live happily in this very life—without distress, anguish, or fever—and when the body breaks up, after death, they can expect a good outcome. What six? Thoughts of renunciation, good will, and harmlessness. And perceptions of renunciation, good will, and harmlessness. When a mendicant possesses these six qualities they live happily in this very life—without distress, anguish, or fever—and when the body breaks up, after death, they can expect a good outcome.”

8. Perfection

Perfection

an6.76:1 “Mendicants, without giving up six things you can’t realize perfection. What six? Conceit, inferiority complex, superiority complex, overestimation, obstinacy, and groveling. Without giving up these six qualities you can’t realize perfection.

an6.76:2 After giving up six things you can realize perfection. What six? Conceit, inferiority complex, superiority complex, overestimation, obstinacy, and groveling. After giving up these six things you can realize perfection.”

8. Perfection

Superhuman States

an6.77:1 “Mendicants, without giving up six qualities you can’t realize a superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones. What six? Lack of mindfulness and situational awareness, not guarding the sense doors, eating too much, fawning, and flattery. Without giving up these six qualities you can’t realize a superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones.

an6.77:2 But after giving up six qualities you can realize a superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones. What six? Lack of mindfulness and situational awareness, not guarding the sense doors, eating too much, fawning, and flattery. After giving up these six qualities you can realize a superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones.”

8. Perfection

Joy and Happiness

an6.78:1 “Mendicants, when a mendicant has six things they’re full of joy and happiness in this very life, and they have laid the groundwork for ending the defilements. What six? It’s when a mendicant enjoys the teaching, meditation, giving up, seclusion, kindness, and non-proliferation. When a mendicant possesses these six things they’re full of joy and happiness in this very life, and they have laid the groundwork for ending the defilements.”

8. Perfection

Achievement

an6.79:1 “Mendicants, a mendicant who has six qualities is unable to acquire more skillful qualities or to increase the skillful qualities they’ve already acquired. What six? It’s when a mendicant is not skilled in progress, skilled in regress, or skilled in means. They don’t generate enthusiasm to achieve skillful qualities not yet achieved. They don’t protect skillful qualities they have achieved. And they don’t try to persist in the task. A mendicant who possesses these six qualities is unable to acquire more skillful qualities or to increase the skillful qualities they’ve already acquired.

an6.79:2 A mendicant who has six qualities is able to acquire more skillful qualities or to increase the skillful qualities they’ve already acquired. What six? It’s when a mendicant is skilled in progress, skilled in regress, and skilled in means. They generate enthusiasm to achieve skillful qualities not yet achieved. They protect skillful qualities they have achieved. And they try to persist in the task. A mendicant who possesses these six qualities is able to acquire more skillful qualities or to increase the skillful qualities they’ve already acquired.”

8. Perfection

Greatness

an6.80:1 “Mendicants, a mendicant with six qualities soon acquires great and abundant good qualities. What six? It’s when a mendicant is full of light, full of practice, full of inspiration, and full of eagerness. They don’t slack off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. They reach further. A mendicant who possesses these six qualities soon acquires great and abundant good qualities.”

8. Perfection

Hell (1st)

an6.81:1 “Mendicants, someone with six qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What six? They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, and lie. And they have corrupt wishes and wrong view. Someone with these six qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

an6.81:2 Someone with six qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there. What six? They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, or lie. And they have few desires and right view. Someone with these six qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

8. Perfection

Hell (2nd)

an6.82:1 “Mendicants, someone with six qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What six? They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, and lie. And they’re greedy and rude. Someone with these six qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

an6.82:2 Someone with six qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there. What six? They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, or lie. And they’re not greedy or rude. Someone with these six qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

8. Perfection

The Best Thing

an6.83:1 “Mendicants, a mendicant with six qualities can’t realize the best thing, perfection. What six? It’s when a mendicant is faithless, shameless, imprudent, lazy, and witless. And they’re concerned with their body and their life. A mendicant with these six qualities can’t realize the best thing, perfection.

an6.83:2 A mendicant with six qualities can realize the best thing, perfection. What six? It’s when a mendicant is faithful, conscientious, prudent, energetic, and wise. And they have no concern for their body and their life. A mendicant with these six qualities can realize the best thing, perfection.”

8. Perfection

Day and Night

an6.84:1 “Mendicants, a mendicant with six qualities can expect decline, not growth, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night. What six? It’s when a mendicant has many desires—they’re frustrated and not content with any kind of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And they’re faithless, unethical, unmindful, and witless. A mendicant with these six qualities can expect decline, not growth, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.

an6.84:2 A mendicant with six qualities can expect growth, not decline, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night. What six? It’s when a mendicant doesn’t have many desires—they’re not frustrated but content with any kind of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And they’re faithful, ethical, mindful, and wise. A mendicant with these six qualities can expect growth, not decline, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.”

9. Coolness

Coolness

an6.85:1 “Mendicants, a mendicant with six qualities can’t realize supreme coolness. What six? It’s when a mendicant doesn’t keep their mind in check when they should. They don’t exert their mind when they should. They don’t encourage the mind when they should. They don’t watch over the mind with equanimity when they should. They have inferior convictions. They delight in substantial reality. A mendicant with these six qualities can’t realize supreme coolness.

an6.85:2 A mendicant with six qualities can realize supreme coolness. What six? It’s when a mendicant keeps their mind in check when they should. They exert their mind when they should. They encourage the mind when they should. They watch over the mind with equanimity when they should. They have excellent convictions. They delight in extinguishment. A mendicant with these six qualities can realize supreme coolness.”

9. Coolness

Obstacles

an6.86:1 “Mendicants, someone with six qualities is unable to step into the sure path with regard to skillful qualities even when listening to the true teaching. What six? They’re obstructed by deeds, defilements, or results. And they’re faithless, unenthusiastic, and witless. Someone with these six qualities is unable to step into the sure path with regard to skillful qualities, even when listening to the true teaching.

an6.86:2 Someone with six qualities is able to step into the sure path with regard to skillful qualities when listening to the true teaching. What six? They’re not obstructed by deeds, defilements, or results. And they’re faithful, enthusiastic, and wise. Someone with these six qualities is able to step into the sure path with regard to skillful qualities when listening to the true teaching.”

9. Coolness

A Murderer

an6.87:1 “Mendicants, someone with six qualities is unable to step into the sure path with regard to skillful qualities even when listening to the true teaching. What six? They murder their mother or father or a perfected one. They maliciously shed the blood of a Realized One. They cause a schism in the Saṅgha. They’re witless, dull, and idiotic. Someone with these six qualities is unable to step into the sure path with regard to skillful qualities, even when listening to the true teaching.

an6.87:2 Someone with six qualities is able to step into the sure path with regard to skillful qualities when listening to the true teaching. What six? They don’t murder their mother or father or a perfected one. They don’t maliciously shed the blood of a Realized One. They don’t cause a schism in the Saṅgha. They’re wise, bright, and clever. Someone with these six qualities is able to step into the sure path with regard to skillful qualities when listening to the true teaching.”

9. Coolness

Wanting to Listen

an6.88:1 “Mendicants, someone with six qualities is unable to step into the sure path with regard to skillful qualities even when listening to the true teaching. What six? When the teaching and practice proclaimed by the Realized One is being taught they don’t want to listen. They don’t actively listen or try to understand. They learn the incorrect meaning and neglect the correct meaning. They accept views that contradict the teaching. Someone with these six qualities is unable to step into the sure path with regard to skillful qualities, even when listening to the true teaching.

an6.88:2 Someone with six qualities is able to step into the sure path with regard to skillful qualities when listening to the true teaching. What six? When the teaching and practice proclaimed by the Realized One is being taught they want to listen. They actively listen and try to understand. They learn the correct meaning and neglect the incorrect meaning. They accept views that conform with the teaching. Someone with these six qualities is able to step into the sure path with regard to skillful qualities when listening to the true teaching.”

9. Coolness

Not Giving Up

an6.89:1 “Mendicants, without giving up six things you can’t become accomplished in view. What six? Substantialist view, doubt, misapprehension of precepts and observances, and forms of greed, hate, and delusion that lead to places of loss. Without giving up these six things you can’t become accomplished in view.

an6.89:2 After giving up six things you can become accomplished in view. What six? Substantialist view, doubt, misapprehension of precepts and observances, and forms of greed, hate, and delusion that lead to places of loss. After giving up these six things you can become accomplished in view.”

9. Coolness

Given Up

an6.90:1 “Mendicants, an individual accomplished in view has given up these six things. What six? Substantialist view, doubt, misapprehension of precepts and observances, and forms of greed, hate, and delusion that lead to places of loss. An individual accomplished in view has given up these six things.”

9. Coolness

Can’t Give Rise

an6.91:1 “Mendicants, an individual accomplished in view can’t give rise to six things. What six? Substantialist view, doubt, misapprehension of precepts and observances, and forms of greed, hate, and delusion that lead to places of loss. An individual accomplished in view can’t give rise to these six things.”

9. Coolness

Things That Can’t Be Done (1st)

an6.92:1 “Mendicants, these six things can’t be done. What six? An individual accomplished in view can’t live disrespectful and irreverent toward the Teacher, the teaching, the community, or the training. They can’t establish their belief on unreliable grounds. And they can’t fall back more than seven times. These are the six things that can’t be done.”

9. Coolness

Things That Can’t Be Done (2nd)

an6.93:1 “Mendicants, these six things can’t be done. What six? An individual accomplished in view can’t take conditions to be permanent. They cannot take conditions to be happiness. They cannot take anything to be the self. They can’t do deeds with fixed result in the next life. They can’t fall back on purification through boisterous, superstitious rites. They can’t seek outside of the Buddhist community for those worthy of religious donations. These are the six things that can’t be done.”

9. Coolness

Things That Can’t Be Done (3rd)

an6.94:1 “Mendicants, these six things can’t be done. What six? An individual accomplished in view can’t murder their mother or father or a perfected one. They can’t maliciously shed the blood of the Realized One. They can’t cause a schism in the Saṅgha. They can’t dedicate themselves to another teacher. These are the six things that can’t be done.”

9. Coolness

Things That Can’t Be Done (4th)

an6.95:1 “Mendicants, these six things can’t be done. What six? An individual accomplished in view can’t fall back on the idea that pleasure and pain are made by oneself, or that they’re made by another, or that they’re made by both. Nor can they fall back on the idea that pleasure and pain arise anomalously, not made by oneself, by another, or by both. Why is that? It is because an individual accomplished in view has clearly seen causes and the phenomena that arise from causes. These are the six things that can’t be done.”

10. Benefit

Appearance

an6.96:1 “Mendicants, the appearance of six things is rare in the world. What six? A teacher, a perfected one, a fully awakened messenger. A teacher of the teaching and training proclaimed by the messenger. Birth in a civilized region. Unimpaired sense faculties. Being bright and clever. Enthusiasm for skillful qualities. The appearance of these six things is rare in the world.”

10. Benefit

Benefit

an6.97:1 “Mendicants, these are the six benefits of realizing the fruit of stream-entry. What six? You’re bound for the true teaching. You’re not liable to decline. You suffer only for a limited period. You have distinct knowledge. You’ve clearly seen causes and the phenomena that arise from causes. These are the six benefits of realizing the fruit of stream-entry.”

10. Benefit

Impermanence

an6.98:1 “Mendicants, it is quite impossible for a mendicant who regards any condition as permanent to accept views that conform with the teaching. Without accepting views that conform with the teaching, it’s impossible to step into the sure path. Without stepping into the sure path, it’s impossible to realize the fruit of stream-entry, once-return, non-return, or perfection.

an6.98:2 It’s quite possible for a mendicant who regards all conditions as impermanent to accept views that conform with the teaching. Having accepted views that conform with the teaching, it’s possible to step into the sure path. Having stepped into the sure path, it’s possible to realize the fruit of stream-entry, once-return, non-return, or perfection.”

10. Benefit

Suffering

an6.99:1 “Mendicants, it is quite impossible for a mendicant who regards any condition as pleasurable to accept views that agree with the teaching. … It’s quite possible for a mendicant who regards all conditions as suffering to accept views that agree with the teaching. …”

10. Benefit

Not-Self

an6.100:1 “Mendicants, it is quite impossible for a mendicant who regards any thing as self to accept views that agree with the teaching. … It’s quite possible for a mendicant who regards all things as not-self to accept views that agree with the teaching. …”

10. Benefit

Extinguished

an6.101:1 “Mendicants, it is quite impossible for a mendicant who regards extinguishment as suffering to accept views that conform with the teaching. …

an6.101:2 It’s quite possible for a mendicant who regards extinguishment as pleasurable to accept views that conform with the teaching. …”

10. Benefit

Transience

an6.102:1 “Mendicants, seeing six benefits is quite enough to establish the perception of impermanence in all conditions without qualification. What six? ‘All conditions will appear to me as transient.’ ‘My mind will not delight anywhere in the world.’ ‘My mind will rise above the whole world.’ ‘My heart will incline to extinguishment.’ ‘My fetters will be given up.’ ‘I will achieve the ultimate goal of the ascetic life.’ Seeing these six benefits is quite enough to establish the perception of impermanence in all conditions without qualification.”

10. Benefit

With a Drawn Sword

an6.103:1 “Mendicants, seeing six benefits is quite enough to establish the perception of suffering in all conditions without qualification. What six? ‘Perception of disillusionment will be established in me for all conditions, like a killer with a drawn sword.’ ‘My mind will rise above the whole world.’ ‘I will see extinguishment as peaceful.’ ‘My underlying tendencies will be uprooted.’ ‘I will fulfill my duty.’ ‘I will have served my Teacher with love.’ Seeing these six benefits is quite enough to establish the perception of suffering in all conditions without qualification.”

10. Benefit

Not Determined by Anything

an6.104:1 “Mendicants, seeing six benefits is quite enough to establish the perception of not-self in all things without qualification. What six? ‘I will not be determined by anything in the world.’ ‘My I-making will stop.’ ‘My mine-making will stop.’ ‘I will have distinct knowledge.’ ‘I will clearly see causes and the phenomena that arise from causes.’ Seeing these six benefits is quite enough to establish the perception of not-self in all things without qualification.”

10. Benefit

States of Existence

an6.105:1 “Mendicants, you should give up these three states of existence. And you should train in three trainings. What are the three states of attachment you should give up? Attachment to the sensual realm, to the realm of luminous form, and to the formless realm. These are the three states of attachment you should give up. What are the three trainings you should train in? The training in the higher ethics, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom. These are the three trainings you should train in. When a mendicant has given up these three states of existence and has trained in these three trainings they’re called a mendicant who has cut off craving, cast off the fetters, and by rightly comprehending conceit has made an end of suffering.”

10. Benefit

Craving

an6.106:1 “Mendicants, you should give up these three cravings and three conceits. What three cravings should you give up? Craving for sensual pleasures, craving for continued existence, and craving for nonexistence. These are the three cravings you should give up. What three conceits should you give up? Conceit, inferiority complex, and superiority complex. These are the three conceits you should give up. When a mendicant has given up these three cravings and these three conceits they’re called a mendicant who has cut off craving, cast off the fetters, and by rightly comprehending conceit has made an end of suffering.”

11. Triads

Greed

an6.107:1 “Mendicants, there are these three things. What three? Greed, hate, and delusion. These are the three things. To give up these three things you should develop three things. What three? You should develop the perception of ugliness to give up greed, love to give up hate, and wisdom to give up delusion. These are the three things you should develop to give up those three things.”

11. Triads

Bad Conduct

an6.108:1 “Mendicants, there are these three things. What three? Bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. These are the three things. To give up these three things you should develop three things. What three? You should develop good bodily conduct to give up bad bodily conduct, good verbal conduct to give up bad verbal conduct, and good mental conduct to give up bad mental conduct. These are the three things you should develop to give up those three things.”

11. Triads

Thoughts

an6.109:1 “Mendicants, there are these three things. What three? Sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts. These are the three things. To give up these three things you should develop three things. What three? You should develop thoughts of renunciation to give up sensual thoughts, thoughts of good will to give up malicious thoughts, and thoughts of harmlessness to give up cruel thoughts. These are the three things you should develop to give up those three things.”

11. Triads

Perceptions

an6.110:1 “Mendicants, there are these three things. What three? Sensual, malicious, and cruel perceptions. These are the three things. To give up these three things you should develop three things. What three? You should develop perceptions of renunciation to give up sensual perceptions, perceptions of good will to give up malicious perceptions, and perceptions of harmlessness to give up cruel perceptions. These are the three things you should develop to give up those three things.”

11. Triads

Elements

an6.111:1 “Mendicants, there are these three things. What three? The elements of sensuality, malice, and cruelty. These are the three things. To give up these three things you should develop three things. What three? You should develop the element of renunciation to give up the element of sensuality, the element of good will to give up the element of malice, and the element of harmlessness to give up the element of cruelty. These are the three things you should develop to give up those three things.”

11. Triads

Gratification

an6.112:1 “Mendicants, there are these three things. What three? The view that things are gratifying, the theory of self, and wrong view. These are the three things. To give up these three things you should develop three things. What three? You should develop the perception of impermanence to give up the view that things are gratifying; the perception of not-self to give up the theory of self; and right view to give up wrong view. These are the three things you should develop to give up those three things.”

11. Triads

Discontent

an6.113:1 “Mendicants, there are these three things. What three? Discontent, cruelty, and unprincipled conduct. These are the three things. To give up these three things you should develop three things. What three? You should develop rejoicing to give up discontent, harmlessness to give up cruelty, and principled conduct to give up unprincipled conduct. These are the three things you should develop to give up those three things.”

11. Triads

Contentment

an6.114:1 “Mendicants, there are these three things. What three? Lack of contentment, lack of situational awareness, and having many wishes. These are the three things. To give up these three things you should develop three things. What three? You should develop contentment to give up lack of contentment, situational awareness to give up lack of situational awareness, and having few wishes to give up having many wishes. These are the three things you should develop to give up those three things.”

11. Triads

Hard to Admonish

an6.115:1 “Mendicants, there are these three things. What three? Being hard to admonish, bad friendship, and a scattered mind. These are the three things. To give up these three things you should develop three things. What three? You should develop being easy to admonish to give up being hard to admonish, good friendship to give up bad friendship, and mindfulness of breathing to give up a scattered mind. These are the three things you should develop to give up those three things.”

11. Triads

Restlessness

an6.116:1 “Mendicants, there are these three things. What three? Restlessness, lack of restraint, and negligence. These are the three things. To give up these three things you should develop three things. What three? You should develop serenity to give up restlessness, restraint to give up lack of restraint, and diligence to give up negligence. These are the three things you should develop to give up those three things.”

12. The Ascetic Life

Observing the Body

an6.117:1 “Mendicants, without giving up these six qualities you can’t meditate observing an aspect of the body. What six? Relishing work, talk, sleep, and company, not guarding the sense doors, and eating too much. Without giving up these six qualities you can’t meditate observing an aspect of the body.

an6.117:2 But after giving up these six qualities you can meditate observing an aspect of the body. What six? Relishing work, talk, sleep, and company, not guarding the sense doors, and eating too much. After giving up these six qualities you can meditate observing an aspect of the body.”

12. The Ascetic Life

Observing Principles, Etc.

an6.118:1 “Mendicants, without giving up six things you can’t meditate observing an aspect of the body internally … body externally … body internally and externally … feelings internally … feelings externally … feelings internally and externally … mind internally … mind externally … mind internally and externally … principles internally … principles externally … principles internally and externally. What six? Relishing work, talk, sleep, and company, not guarding the sense doors, and eating too much. After giving up these six qualities you can meditate observing an aspect of principles internally and externally.”

12. The Ascetic Life

About Tapussa

an6.119:1 “Mendicants, having six qualities the householder Tapussa is certain about the Realized One, sees freedom from death and lives having realized freedom from death. What six? Experiential confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and noble ethics, knowledge, and freedom. Having these six qualities the householder Tapussa is certain about the Realized One, sees freedom from death and lives having realized freedom from death.”

12. The Ascetic Life

About Bhallika, Etc.

an6.120-139:1 “Mendicants, having six qualities the householders Bhallika … Sudatta Anāthapiṇḍika … Citta of Macchikāsaṇḍa … Hatthaka of Āḷavī … Mahānāma the Sakyan … Ugga of Vesālī … Uggata … Sūrambaṭṭha … Jīvaka Komārabhacca … Nakula’s father … Tavakaṇṇika … Pūraṇa … Isidatta … Sandhāna … Vijaya … Vijayamāhita … Meṇḍaka … the lay followers Vāseṭṭha … Ariṭṭha … and Sāragga are certain about the Realized One, see freedom from death and live having realized freedom from death. What six? Experiential confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and noble ethics, knowledge, and freedom. Having these six qualities the lay follower Sāragga is certain about the Realized One, sees freedom from death and lives having realized freedom from death.”

13. Abbreviated Texts Beginning with Greed

Untitled Discourse on Greed (1st)

an6.140:1 “For insight into greed, six things should be developed. What six? The unsurpassable seeing, listening, acquisition, training, service, and recollection. For insight into greed, these six things should be developed.”

13. Abbreviated Texts Beginning with Greed

Untitled Discourse on Greed (2nd)

an6.141:1 “For insight into greed, six things should be developed. What six? The recollection of the teacher, the teaching, the community, ethics, generosity, and God's angels. For insight into greed, these six things should be developed.”

13. Abbreviated Texts Beginning with Greed

Untitled Discourse on Greed (3rd)

an6.142:1 “For insight into greed, six things should be developed. What six? The perception of impermanence, the perception of suffering in impermanence, the perception of not-self in suffering, the perception of giving up, the perception of fading away, and the perception of cessation. For insight into greed, these six things should be developed.”

13. Abbreviated Texts Beginning with Greed

Untitled Discourses on Greed, Etc.

an6.143-169:1 “For the complete understanding of greed … complete ending … giving up … ending … vanishing … fading away … cessation … giving away … letting go of greed these six things should be developed.”

13. Abbreviated Texts Beginning with Greed

Untitled Discourses on Hate, Etc.

an6.170-649:1 “For insight into hate … delusion … anger … acrimony … disdain … contempt … jealousy … stinginess … deceitfulness … deviousness … obstinacy … aggression … conceit … arrogance … vanity … For insight into negligence … complete understanding … complete ending … giving up … ending … vanishing … fading away … cessation … giving away … For the letting go of negligence these six things should be developed.” That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said. The Book of the Sixes is finished.