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← Aṅguttara Nikāya

Things That Can’t Be Done (4th)

AN 6.95 · Catutthaabhabbaṭṭhānasutta

Clear woodland water flowing around stones and fern fronds.

“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.”

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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.