Skip to reading
← Itivuttaka

Mortifying

Iti 30 · Tapanīyasutta

A mountain trail rising through grassy terraces.

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

“These two things, mendicants, are mortifying. What two? It’s when someone hasn’t done good and skillful things that keep them safe, but has done bad things, violence and sin. Thinking, ‘I haven’t done good things’, they’re mortified. Thinking, ‘I have done bad things’, they’re mortified. These are the two things that are mortifying.”

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

“Having done bad things by way of body, speech, and mind, and whatever else is corrupt;

not having done good deeds, and having done many bad, when their body breaks up, that witless person is reborn in hell.”

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

Connections

Collection & context

Books

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.