The Buddha teaches on two hopes that are difficult to abandon, two kinds of people who are rare in the world, two kinds of people who are difficult to satisfy, two causes for the arising of passion, aversion, wrong view, and right view, and two kinds of offenses.

AN 2.118-129  Āsāduppajaha vagga - The Chapter Beginning With The Difficult to Abandon

2.118

“Dvemā, bhikkhave, āsā duppajahā. Katamā dve? Lābhāsā ca jīvitāsā ca. Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve āsā duppajahā”ti.

“Bhikkhus, there are two hopes that are difficult to abandon. What are the two? The |hope for acquisitions::desire for gain, expectation of acquisition [lābhāsā]| and the |hope for long life::desire for long life, expectation of existence [jīvitāsā]|. These, bhikkhus, are the two hopes that are difficult to abandon.”

2.119

“Dveme, bhikkhave, puggalā dullabhā lokasmiṁ. Katame dve? Yo ca pubbakārī, yo ca kataññū katavedī. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve puggalā dullabhā lokasmin”ti.

“Bhikkhus, there are two kinds of people who are rare in the world. What are the two? The one who helps before being asked and the one who is grateful and appreciative of the help. These, bhikkhus, are the two kinds of people who are rare in the world.”

2.120

“Dveme, bhikkhave, puggalā dullabhā lokasmiṁ. Katame dve? Titto ca tappetā ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve puggalā dullabhā lokasmin”ti.

“Bhikkhus, there are two kinds of people who are rare in the world. What are the two? The one who is content and the one who makes others content. These, bhikkhus, are the two kinds of people who are rare in the world.”

2.121

“Dveme, bhikkhave, puggalā duttappayā. Katame dve? Yo ca laddhaṁ laddhaṁ nikkhipati, yo ca laddhaṁ laddhaṁ vissajjeti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve puggalā duttappayā”ti.

“Bhikkhus, there are two kinds of people who are difficult to satisfy. What are the two? The one who throws away whatever he gets and the one who gives away whatever he gets. These, bhikkhus, are the two kinds of people who are difficult to satisfy.”

2.122

“Dveme, bhikkhave, puggalā sutappayā. Katame dve? Yo ca laddhaṁ laddhaṁ na nikkhipati, yo ca laddhaṁ laddhaṁ na vissajjeti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve puggalā sutappayā”ti.

“Bhikkhus, there are two kinds of people who are easily satisfied. What are the two? The one who does not throw away whatever he gets and the one who does not give away whatever he gets. These, bhikkhus, are the two kinds of people who are easily satisfied.”

2.123

“Dveme, bhikkhave, paccayā rāgassa uppādāya. Katame dve? Subhanimittañca ayoniso ca manasikāro. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve paccayā rāgassa uppādāyā”ti.

“Bhikkhus, there are two causes for the arising of |passion::intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust [rāga]|. What are the two? |The sign of the beautiful::a beautiful mental image, an attractive object that is the basis for lust [subhanimitta]| and |unwise attention::improper attention, imprudent use of the mind [ayonisomanasikāra]|. These, bhikkhus, are the two causes for the arising of passion.”

2.124

“Dveme, bhikkhave, paccayā dosassa uppādāya. Katame dve? Paṭighanimittañca ayoniso ca manasikāro. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve paccayā dosassa uppādāyā”ti.

“Bhikkhus, there are two causes for the arising of |aversion::hatred, hostility, mental attitude of rejection, fault-finding, resentful disapproval [dosa]|. What are the two? An |aversive mental image::sign of resistance, mental image which agitates or disturbs one [paṭighanimitta]| and |unwise attention::improper attention, imprudent use of the mind [ayonisomanasikāra]|. These, bhikkhus, are the two causes for the arising of aversion.”

2.125

“Dveme, bhikkhave, paccayā micchādiṭṭhiyā uppādāya. Katame dve? Parato ca ghoso ayoniso ca manasikāro. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve paccayā micchādiṭṭhiyā uppādāyā”ti.

“Bhikkhus, there are two causes for the arising of |wrong view::a distorted perception, an untrue view, a false belief [micchādiṭṭhi]|. What are the two? The utterance of another and unwise attention. These, bhikkhus, are the two causes for the arising of wrong view.”

2.126

“Dveme, bhikkhave, paccayā sammādiṭṭhiyā uppādāya. Katame dve? Parato ca ghoso, yoniso ca manasikāro. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve paccayā sammādiṭṭhiyā uppādāyā”ti.

“Bhikkhus, there are two causes for the arising of |right view::view that is in line with the Dhamma - teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [sammādiṭṭhi]|. What are the two? The utterance of another and |wise attention::proper attention, prudent use of the mind, wise reflection, attention to the source [yoniso + manasikāra]|. These, bhikkhus, are the two causes for the arising of right view.”

2.127

“Dvemā, bhikkhave, āpattiyo. Katamā dve? Lahukā ca āpatti, garukā ca āpatti. Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve āpattiyo”ti.

“Bhikkhus, there are two kinds of |offenses::wrongdoing, transgression [āpattiyo]|. What are the two? |Light::trifling, unimportant, negligible [lahuka]| offenses and |grave::weighty, important [garuka]| offenses. These, bhikkhus, are the two kinds of offenses.”

2.128

“Dvemā, bhikkhave, āpattiyo. Katamā dve? Duṭṭhullā ca āpatti, aduṭṭhullā ca āpatti. Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve āpattiyo”ti.

“Bhikkhus, there are two kinds of offenses. What are the two? |Serious::heavy, bad, corrupt [duṭṭhulla]| offenses and non-serious offenses. These, bhikkhus, are the two kinds of offenses.”

2.129

“Dvemā, bhikkhave, āpattiyo. Katamā dve? Sāvasesā ca āpatti, anavasesā ca āpatti. Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve āpattiyo”ti.

“Bhikkhus, there are two kinds of offenses. What are the two? |Remediable::curable [sāvasesa]| offenses and |irremediable::incurable [anavasesa]| offenses. These, bhikkhus, are the two kinds of offenses.”

Qualities:

Contentment

Contentment

The quality of being satisfied with the requisites one has and with the present conditions, resulting in having few desires and being free from agitation.

Also known as: fewness of wishes, having few desires, satisfaction, sense of ease
Pāli: santutthi, appicchatā, tuṭṭha, tosana
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Respect

Respect

A mental attitude of reverent attentiveness that values goodness and wisdom in oneself and others. It steadies conduct and opens the mind to learning and humility.

Also known as: reverence, veneration, regard, admiration, appreciation, deference, honour, attentiveness
Pāli: gārava, sakkāra
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Right view

Right view

View that is in line with the Dhamma — teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth.

Also known as: right understanding, right belief, view that is inline with the Dhamma
Pāli: sammādiṭṭhi
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Wise attention

Wise attention

Paying attention to the point of contact where experience originates. It discerns the specific cause of the present moment, preventing the mind from drifting into proliferation.

Also known as: proper attention, prudent use of the mind, attention to the source
Pāli: yonisomanasikāra
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Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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Aversion

Aversion

A rejecting mental quality rooted in perception, where one instinctively turns away from or resists unpleasant experiences or objects; it manifests as a tendency to push away discomfort, obstructing patience and acceptance.

Also known as: animosity, hate, hostility, fault-finding mindset, upset
Pāli: dosa, paṭighasaññā, vera
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Passion

Passion

Intense desire or lust that dyes the mind. It fixates on the features of objects, coloring perception with infatuation and making it difficult to see things as they truly are.

Also known as: burning fever, intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust
Pāli: rāga
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Unwise attention

Unwise attention

Attention that misses the point of contact, fixating on concepts or features. Disconnected from the source of experience, it then engages in reactions of craving, aversion, and delusion.

Also known as: improper attention, imprudent use of the mind, unfocused attention
Pāli: ayonisomanasikāra
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Wrong view

Wrong view

A distorted understanding that sees permanence in the impermanent, satisfaction in the unsatisfactory, or self in the not-self. Wrong view guides action by delusion, obscuring cause and effect, and closes the door to wisdom and release.

Also known as: distorted or inverted perception, untrue view, false belief
Pāli: micchādiṭṭhi
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Last updated on November 30, 2025