The Buddha reviews the multitude of harmful and unwholesome mental qualities he has abandoned, and the multitude of wholesome mental qualities he has developed to completion.

UD 6.3  Paccavekkhaṇa sutta - Reviewing

Evaṁ me sutaṁ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā attano aneke pāpake akusale dhamme pahīne paccavekkhamāno nisinno hoti, aneke ca kusale dhamme bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gate.

Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. Now, at that time, the Blessed One was sitting, |reviewing::reviewing on, looking at [paccavekkhamāna]| the multitude of |harmful::injurious, bad, or evil. Encompasses the deceptively alluring that is ultimately detrimental or ruinous [pāpaka]| and |unwholesome::unhealthy, unskillful, unbeneficial, or karmically unprofitable [akusala]| |mental qualities::characteristics, traits, and tendencies of the mind, shaped by repeated actions and sustained attention, guided by particular ways of understanding; they may be wholesome or unwholesome, bright or dark [dhammā]| he had abandoned, and the multitude of |wholesome::healthy, beneficial, useful [kusala]| mental qualities that he had |developed to completion::cultivated to maturity [bhāvanāpāripūri]|.

Atha kho bhagavā attano aneke pāpake akusale dhamme pahīne viditvā aneke ca kusale dhamme bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gate tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then the Blessed One, having perceived that multitude of harmful and unwholesome qualities had been abandoned by him, and that multitude of wholesome qualities had been developed to completion, at that time uttered this inspired utterance:

“Ahu pubbe tadā nāhu,
nāhu pubbe tadā ahu;
Na cāhu na ca bhavissati,
na cetarahi vijjatī”ti.

“There was in the past, then there was not,
there was not in the past, then there was;
It neither was, nor will it be,
nor does it exist |now::at present [cetarahi]|.”[1]

[1] The Buddha is seen here to reflect on his practice, closely examining and verifying the unwholesome mental qualities that have been abandoned, and the wholesome mental qualities that have been cultivated.

Topics & Qualities:

Investigation

Investigation

Investigation involves the process of a careful inquiry of mental states, qualities, and phenomena, examining their arising, persisting, and ceasing in order to understand their true nature and support the cultivation of wisdom and awakening.

Also known as: inquiry, contemplation, examination, analysis, exploration
Pāli: vicaya, vīmaṃsā, parikkhati
View all discourses →
Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
View all discourses →
Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
View all discourses →
Right effort

Right effort

Energy and resolve directed toward preventing unwholesome states from arising, abandoning arisen unwholesome states, cultivating wholesome states, and maintaining arisen wholesome states; persistent application of the mind aligned with the path.

Also known as: right endeavor, right striving
Pāli: sammāvāyāma
View all discourses →
Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
View all discourses →
Unwholesome

Unwholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of poor health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameworthy, unhealthy, unskillful, unbeneficial, karmically unprofitable
Pāli: akusala
View all discourses →

Last updated on January 5, 2026