Five ways to overcome arisen resentment - 1) loving-kindness, 2) compassion, 3) equanimity, 4) disregarding and non-attention, 5) reflection on kamma.

AN 5.161  Paṭhama āghātapaṭivinaya sutta - Overcoming Resentment (First)

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, āghātapaṭivinayā yattha bhikkhuno uppanno āghāto sabbaso paṭivinetabbo. Katame pañca?

Bhikkhus, there are these five ways to overcome resentment by means of which resentment that has arisen in a bhikkhu is completely overcome. What five?

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, puggale āghāto jāyetha, mettā tasmiṁ puggale bhāvetabbā; evaṁ tasmiṁ puggale āghāto paṭivinetabbo.

Bhikkhus, in whoever resentment might arise, loving-kindness should be cultivated towards that person. Thus, the resentment towards that person should be overcome.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, puggale āghāto jāyetha, karuṇā tasmiṁ puggale bhāvetabbā; evaṁ tasmiṁ puggale āghāto paṭivinetabbo.

Bhikkhus, in whoever resentment might arise, compassion should be cultivated towards that person. Thus, the resentment towards that person should be overcome.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, puggale āghāto jāyetha, upekkhā tasmiṁ puggale bhāvetabbā; evaṁ tasmiṁ puggale āghāto paṭivinetabbo.

Bhikkhus, in whoever resentment might arise, equanimity should be cultivated towards that person. Thus, the resentment towards that person should be overcome.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, puggale āghāto jāyetha, asatiamanasikāro tasmiṁ puggale āpajjitabbo; evaṁ tasmiṁ puggale āghāto paṭivinetabbo.

Bhikkhus, in whoever resentment might arise, disregarding and non-attention should be applied towards that person. Thus, the resentment towards that person should be overcome.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, puggale āghāto jāyetha, kammassakatā tasmiṁ puggale adhiṭṭhātabbā: ‘kammassako ayamāyasmā kammadāyādo kammayoni kammabandhu kammapaṭisaraṇo, yaṁ kammaṁ karissati kalyāṇaṁ pāpakaṁ tassa dāyādo bhavissatī’ti; evaṁ tasmiṁ puggale āghāto paṭivinetabbo.

Bhikkhus, in whoever resentment might arise, reflection on kamma should be determined towards that person: ‘He is the owner of his actions, heir to his actions, born of his actions, related to his actions, supported by his actions. Whatever actions he does, whether good or bad, he will be the heir of those.’ Thus, the resentment towards that person should be overcome.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca āghātapaṭivinayā, yattha bhikkhuno uppanno āghāto sabbaso paṭivinetabbo”ti.

Bhikkhus, these are the five ways to overcome resentment by means of which resentment that has arisen in a bhikkhu is completely overcome.

Last updated on October 9, 2025

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