The Buddha teaches about integrity, gratitude, how one can repay one’s parents, action and non-action, who to make offerings to, persons who are internally or externally fettered, and the importance of right practice and well grasp of the Dhamma. The chapter gets its name from the AN 2.36 discourse.

AN 2.32-41  Samacitta vagga - The Chapter on the Even-Minded

2.36

Evaṁ me sutaṁ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā sāriputto sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde. Tatra kho āyasmā sāriputto bhikkhū āmantesi: “āvuso bhikkhave”ti.

At that time, the Venerable Sāriputta was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in the Eastern Park, at Migāramātā‘s mansion. There, the Venerable Sāriputta addressed the bhikkhus, saying: “Friends, bhikkhus.”

“Āvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato sāriputtassa paccassosuṁ. Āyasmā sāriputto etadavoca:

“Friend,” they responded to the Venerable Sāriputta. The Venerable Sāriputta said:

“ajjhattasaṁyojanañca [1], āvuso, puggalaṁ desessāmi bahiddhāsaṁyojanañca [2]. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“I will explain to you, friends, the person who is |fettered internally::bound inwardly, bound in oneself [ajjhattasaṃyojana]| [1] and the person who is |fettered externally::bound outwardly [bahiddhāsaṃyojana]| [2]. Listen to this and pay close attention, I will speak.”

“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato sāriputtassa paccassosuṁ. Āyasmā sāriputto etadavoca:

“Yes, friend,” the bhikkhus responded to Venerable Sāriputta. The Venerable Sāriputta said:

“Katamo cāvuso, ajjhattasaṁyojano puggalo? Idhāvuso, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno, aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ upapajjati. So tato cuto āgāmī hoti, āgantā itthattaṁ. Ayaṁ vuccati, āvuso, ajjhattasaṁyojano puggalo āgāmī hoti, āgantā itthattaṁ.

“And what, friends, is the person who is fettered internally? Here, friends, a bhikkhu is virtuous, restrained with the restraint of the |moral code of conduct::monastic code of discipline which promotes harmonious and pure conduct with others [pātimokkha]|, who knows how to behave and keep to suitable places, who sees danger even in the slightest fault, and undertakes the training by practicing the training rules. After the breakup of the body, after death, he arises in a certain heavenly realm. Passing away from there, he returns to this world. This is called, friends, the person who is fettered internally who returns to this world.

Katamo cāvuso, bahiddhāsaṁyojano puggalo? Idhāvuso, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno, aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu. So aññataraṁ santaṁ cetovimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ upapajjati. So tato cuto anāgāmī hoti, anāgantā itthattaṁ. Ayaṁ vuccatāvuso, bahiddhāsaṁyojano puggalo anāgāmī hoti, anāgantā itthattaṁ.

And what, friends, is the person who is fettered externally? Here, friends, a bhikkhu is virtuous, restrained with the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in conduct and field of activity, seeing danger in the slightest faults, and having undertaken the training rules, trains in them. He arrives at and dwells in a certain peaceful |liberation of mind::emancipation by mind/heart, samādhi obtained from fruition [cetovimutti]|. After the breakup of the body, after death, he arises in a certain heavenly realm. Passing away from there, he becomes a non-returner, one who does not come back to this world. This is called, friends, the person who is fettered externally who becomes a non-returner, one who does not come back to this world.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti …pe… samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu. So kāmānaṁyeva nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti. So bhavānaṁyeva nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti. So taṇhākkhayāya paṭipanno hoti. So lobhakkhayāya paṭipanno hoti. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ upapajjati. So tato cuto anāgāmī hoti, anāgantā itthattaṁ. Ayaṁ vuccatāvuso, bahiddhāsaṁyojano puggalo anāgāmī hoti, anāgantā itthattan”ti.

Furthermore, friends, a bhikkhu is virtuous, restrained with the restraint of the precepts, accomplished in conduct and field of activity, seeing danger in the slightest faults, and having undertaken the training rules, trains in them. He is engaged for the disenchantment, dispassion, and cessation of |sensual pleasures::sense desires, wishing, wanting, delighting in [kāma]|. He is engaged for the disenchantment, dispassion, and cessation of |existence::continued conditional existence, the karmically conditioned mode of being that leads to future rebirth [bhava]|. He is engaged for the |wearing away of craving::depletion of desire, extinction of longing [taṇhākkhaya]|. He is engaged for the |wearing away of greed::exhaustion of desire [lobhakkhaya]|. After the breakup of the body, after death, he arises in a certain heavenly realm. Passing away from there, he becomes a non-returner, one who does not come back to this world. This is called, friends, the person who is fettered externally who becomes a non-returner, one who does not come back to this world.”

Atha kho sambahulā samacittā devatā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “eso, bhante, āyasmā sāriputto pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde bhikkhūnaṁ ajjhattasaṁyojanañca puggalaṁ deseti bahiddhāsaṁyojanañca. Haṭṭhā, bhante, parisā. Sādhu, bhante, bhagavā yenāyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti. Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.

Then many even-minded deities approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and stood to one side. Standing to one side, those deities said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, the Venerable Sāriputta is teaching the bhikkhus in the Eastern Park, at Migāramātā’s mansion, about the person who is fettered internally and the person who is fettered externally. The assembly is joyful. Venerable sir, it would be good if the Blessed One, out of compassion, would approach the Venerable Sāriputta.” The Blessed One consented in silence.

Atha kho bhagavāseyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evamevaṁjetavane antarahito pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde āyasmato sāriputtassa sammukhe pāturahosi. Nisīdi bhagavā paññatte āsane. Āyasmāpi kho sāriputto bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then the Blessed One — just as a strong man might extend his flexed arm or flex his extended arm — disappeared from Jeta’s grove and reappeared in the Eastern Park, at Migāramātā‘s mansion, in front of the Venerable Sāriputta. The Blessed One sat down on the prepared seat. The Venerable Sāriputta also paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the Blessed One said to the Venerable Sāriputta:

“Idha, sāriputta, sambahulā samacittā devatā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, sāriputta, devatā maṁ etadavocuṁ: ‘eso, bhante, āyasmā sāriputto pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde bhikkhūnaṁ ajjhattasaṁyojanañca puggalaṁ deseti bahiddhāsaṁyojanañca. Haṭṭhā, bhante, parisā. Sādhu, bhante, bhagavā yena āyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā’ti.

“Here, Sāriputta, many even-minded deities approached me; having approached, they paid homage to me and stood to one side. Standing to one side, those deities said to me: ‘Venerable sir, the Venerable Sāriputta is teaching the bhikkhus in the Eastern Park, at Migāramātā’s mansion, about the person who is fettered internally and the person who is fettered externally. The assembly is joyful. Venerable sir, it would be good if the Blessed One, out of compassion, would approach the Venerable Sāriputta.’

kho pana, sāriputta, devatā dasapi hutvā vīsampi hutvā tiṁsampi hutvā cattālīsampi hutvā paññāsampi hutvā saṭṭhipi hutvā āraggakoṭinitudanamattepi tiṭṭhanti, na ca aññamaññaṁ byābādhenti.

However, Sāriputta, those deities, even when they become ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, or sixty, they stand in an area the size of the sharp end of a needle, yet do not obstruct upon one another.

Siyā kho pana, sāriputta, evamassa: ‘tattha nūna tāsaṁ devatānaṁ tathā cittaṁ bhāvitaṁ yena devatā dasapi hutvā vīsampi hutvā tiṁsampi hutvā cattālīsampi hutvā paññāsampi hutvā saṭṭhipi hutvā āraggakoṭinitudanamattepi tiṭṭhanti na ca aññamaññaṁ byābādhentī’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, sāriputta, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Idheva kho, sāriputta, tāsaṁ devatānaṁ tathā cittaṁ bhāvitaṁ, yena devatā dasapi hutvā …pe… na ca aññamaññaṁ byābādhenti.

It might be, however, Sāriputta, one might think thus: ‘Surely, the minds of those deities are so developed that even when they become ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, or sixty, they stand in an area the size of the sharp end of a needle, yet do not obstruct upon one another.’ However, Sāriputta, this should not be regarded in this way. Rather, it was right here that those deities developed their mind in such a way that even when they become ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, or sixty, they stand in an area the size of the sharp end of a needle, yet do not obstruct upon one another.”

Tasmātiha, sāriputta, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘santindriyā bhavissāma santamānasā’ti. Evañhi vo, sāriputta, sikkhitabbaṁ. ‘Santindriyānañhi vo, sāriputta, santamānasānaṁ santaṁyeva kāyakammaṁ bhavissati santaṁ vacīkammaṁ santaṁ manokammaṁ. Santaṁyeva upahāraṁ upaharissāma sabrahmacārīsū’ti. ‘Evañhi vo, sāriputta, sikkhitabbaṁ.

Therefore, Sāriputta, you should train thus: ‘We will be calm in faculties, calm in mind.’ Thus, you should train, Sāriputta. For in those with calm faculties and calm minds, only calm bodily action, calm verbal action, and calm mental action will arise. We will offer only peaceful service to our fellow practitioners. Thus, you should train, Sāriputta.

Anassuṁ kho, sāriputta, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā ye imaṁ dhammapariyāyaṁ nāssosun’”ti.

Indeed, Sāriputta, the wanderers of other sects are lost who did not get to hear this exposition on the Dhamma.”

View full text for: AN 2.32-41

[1] In AN 2.36, the fettered |internally::bound in oneself| is a reference to the five lower fetters of personal existence view, doubt, adherence to rules and observances, sensual desire, and ill will. This refers to a person training to attain stream-entry, a stream-enterer, or a once-returner.

[2] In AN 2.36, the fettered |externally::bound outwardly| is a reference to the five higher fetters of desire for fine-material existence, desire for immaterial existence, conceit, restlessness, and ignorance. This refers to a non-returner.

Topics & Qualities:

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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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Disenchantment

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The turning away from fascination with conditioned things through clear seeing of their impermanence and unsatisfactoriness.

Also known as: de-illusionment, disinterest
Pāli: nibbidā
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Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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Faith

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Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Respect

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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
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Wisdom

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Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, vijjā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita
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Feuding

Feuding

Also known as: competitiveness, contentiousness, quarreling, rivalry, opposition, struggle, conflict
Pāli: paḷāsa
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Sensual desire

Sensual desire

A mental quality of desiring sensory gratification. It pulls the mind’s attention toward sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches in a search for satisfaction.

Also known as: passion for sensual pleasures, lust, craving for pleasure, pull toward enticing sense objects
Pāli: kāmacchanda
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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