A Pure Mind

Iti 21 · Pasannacittasutta

An earthen path through a sheltered grove in warm afternoon light.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, when I’ve comprehended the mind of an individual whose mind is pure, I understand: ‘If this individual were to die right now, they would be placed in heaven as if delivered there.’ Why is that? Because their mind is pure. Purity of mind is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.”

The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“Knowing an individual’s pure mind, the Buddha explained this matter in the mendicants’ presence.
If that individual were to die at this time, they’d be reborn in heaven, for their mind is pure.
That sort is raised up as surely as if they’d been carried and put there. For purity of mind is the reason sentient beings go to a good place.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

Connections

Collection & context

ItivuttakaThe 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

Handful of Leaves: an Anthology from the Sutta PiṭakaEarly Buddhist discourses; Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (translator and compiler) · Included in anthology

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.

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