268
“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for an individual accomplished in view to take any condition as permanent. That is not possible. But it is possible for an ordinary person to take some condition as permanent. That is possible.”
Chapter One
AN 1.268-277 · 21. Paṭhamavagga
Sections
269
“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for an individual accomplished in view to take any condition as pleasant. But it is possible for an ordinary person to take some condition as pleasant.”
270
“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for an individual accomplished in view to take anything as self. But it is possible for an ordinary person to take something as self.”
271
“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for an individual accomplished in view to murder their mother. But it is possible for an ordinary person to murder their mother.”
272
“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for an individual accomplished in view to murder their father. But it is possible for an ordinary person to murder their father.”
273
“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for an individual accomplished in view to murder a perfected one. But it is possible for an ordinary person to murder a perfected one.”
274
“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for an individual accomplished in view to injure a Realized One with malicious intent. But it is possible for an ordinary person to injure a Realized One with malicious intent.”
275
“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for an individual accomplished in view to cause a schism in the Saṅgha. But it is possible for an ordinary person to cause a schism in the Saṅgha.”
276
“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for an individual accomplished in view to dedicate themselves to another teacher. But it is possible for an ordinary person to dedicate themselves to another teacher.”
277
“It is impossible, mendicants, it cannot happen for two perfected ones, fully awakened Buddhas to arise in the same solar system at the same time. But it is possible for just one perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha, to arise in one solar system.”
Connections
Collection & context
- Aṅguttara NikāyaThe collection containing this text
- The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
- Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
- The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting
Books
- The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Aṅguttara NikāyaBhikkhu Bodhi; Bhikkhu Bodhi (translator) · Complete collection edition
About this edition
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0
This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.
Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader. This source combines a range of related numbered discourses.
The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.