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← Aṅguttara Nikāya

A Trainee

AN 3.85 · Sekkhasutta

Soft light passing through leaves in a quiet woodland.

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Sir, they speak of the one called ‘a trainee’. How is a trainee defined?”

“They train, mendicant, that’s why they’re called ‘a trainee’. What is their training? They train in the higher ethics, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom. They train, that’s why they’re called ‘a trainee’.

As a trainee trains, following the straight road, first they know about ending; enlightenment follows in the same lifetime.

Then the knowledge comes such a one, freed through enlightenment, with the end of the fetters of continued existence: ‘My freedom is unshakable.’”

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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.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.