The Buddha shares the importance of recollection of the Buddha, Dhamma, Saṅgha, one’s virtue, generosity, deities, in-and-out breathing, death, body, and peace.

AN 1.296-305  Paṭhama vagga - The Chapter on One Thing (First)

1.296

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Buddhānussati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, one quality, when |cultivated::developed [bhāvita]| and frequently practiced, leads to |disenchantment::de-illusionment, disinterest, dispassion [nibbidā]|, to the |fading of desire::dispassion, detachment [virāga]|, to |gradual ending::cessation, termination [nirodha]|, to |tranquility::calmness, serenity, stillness, peace [upasama]|, to |direct knowledge::experiential understanding [abhiññāya]|, to |full awakening::perfect understanding, enlightenment [sambodha]|, to |Nibbāna::complete cooling, letting go of everything, deathless, freedom from calamity, the non-disintegrating [nibbāna]|. What is that one quality? It is |recollection of the Buddha::reflection on the qualities of the Buddha [buddhānussati]|. This, bhikkhus, is the one quality that, when developed and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna.”

1.297

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Dhammānussati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, one quality, when developed and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna. What is that one quality? It is |recollection of the Dhamma::reflection on the qualities of the teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhammānussati]|. This, bhikkhus, is the one quality that, when developed and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna.”

1.298

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Saṅghānussati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, one quality, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna. What is that one quality? It is |recollection of the Saṅgha::reflection on the qualities of the community of followers of the Buddha, whether lay or monastic, who have attained to one of the four stages of awakening [saṅghānussati]|. This, bhikkhus, is the one quality that, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna.”

1.299

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Sīlānussati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, one quality, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna. What is that one quality? It is |recollection of one’s virtue::recollection of one’s ethical conduct [sīlānussati]|. This, bhikkhus, is the one quality that, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna.”

1.300

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Cāgānussati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, one quality, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna. What is that one quality? It is |recollection of one’s generosity::recollection of one’s sharing, also recollection of one’s relinquishing [cāgānussati]|. This, bhikkhus, is the one quality that, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna.”

1.301

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Devatānussati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, one quality, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna. What is that one quality? It is |recollection of the deities::reflection on the qualities of the deities, gods [devatānussati]|. This, bhikkhus, is the one quality that, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna.”

1.302

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Ānāpānassati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, one quality, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna. What is that one quality? It is |mindfulness of in-and-out breathing::mindfulness during inhalation and exhalation [ānāpānassati]|. This, bhikkhus, is the one quality that, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna.”

1.303

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Maraṇassati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, one quality, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna. What is that one quality? It is |recollection of death::reflection on the inevitability of death [maraṇassati]|. This, bhikkhus, is the one quality that, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna.”

1.304

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Kāyagatāsati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, one quality, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna. What is that one quality? It is |mindfulness directed to the body::dwelling in the body [kāyagatāsati]|. This, bhikkhus, is the one quality that, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna.”

1.305

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati. Katamo ekadhammo? Upasamānussati. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattatī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, one quality, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna. What is that one quality? It is |recollection of peace::reflection on the peace of Nibbāna [upasamānussati]|. This, bhikkhus, is the one quality that, when cultivated and frequently practiced, leads to disenchantment, to the fading of desire, to gradual ending, to tranquility, to directly knowing, to full awakening, to Nibbāna.”

Topics & Qualities:

Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
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Direct knowledge

Direct knowledge

A deep, firsthand realization or knowing that arises from personal experience, not from study or conceptual understanding; it is an immediate, unmediated apprehension of truth.

Also known as: experiential understanding, direct experience
Pāli: abhiñña
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Disenchantment

Disenchantment

Also known as: de-illusionment, disinterest
Pāli: nibbidā
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Dispassion

Dispassion

Also known as: detachment, disinterest, fading of desire, disentanglement
Pāli: virāga, visaṃyutta
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and cessation of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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Recollection of death

Recollection of death

Also known as: mindfulness of death
Pāli: maraṇassati
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Recollection of the Buddha

Recollection of the Buddha

A mental quality of reflecting on the qualities of the Buddha, which counters doubt and strengthens faith.

Also known as: recollection of Buddha, mindfulness of the Buddha, reflection on the qualities of the Buddha
Pāli: buddhānussati, buddhānusmṛti
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Tranquility

Tranquility

A mental quality of calm and stillness that arises when the body and mind are unburdened by agitation.

Also known as: calmness, peacefulness, serenity
Pāli: passaddhi, santi, upasama, upasanta
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Last updated on November 24, 2025