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← Aṅguttara Nikāya

Things That Can’t Be Done (2nd)

AN 6.93 · Dutiyaabhabbaṭṭhānasutta

An imagined Tibetan landscape inspired by Mount Kailash.

“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.”

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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.