Reading guide
The teaching in one sentence
Each of the ten unskillful acts is the near shore, and its skillful opposite is the far shore; few people cross from the near shore to the far.
The near/far shore image, met before
This project has already encountered the near-shore/far-shore image at AN 10.65 and 10.66 in chapter 7, though there it answered a different question (what is pleasure and pain in this teaching); here the same image is redeployed for the ten-factor path directly, each unskillful act paired against its skillful opposite as shore against shore.
A different questioner, a familiar Sanskrit-adjacent name
Saṅgārava is a named brahmin interlocutor distinct from Jāṇussoṇi, who opened and will close this chapter — his single direct question (what is the near shore, what is the far shore) receives the ten-factor answer without extended narrative framing, more compact than Jāṇussoṇi's own ritual-focused exchange at AN 10.167.
Seven verses closing on liberation imagery
The prose answer gives way to seven verses moving through a full arc: few cross to the far shore, practicing the well-explained teaching lets one cross Death's dominion, the astute person develops the bright and leaves sensual pleasure behind, and finally — having developed the awakening factors and let go of attachment — is quenched, ended, brilliant, with defilements ended, in this very world.
Key terms
The text
Saṅgārava's question
§1Then Saṅgārava the brahmin went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha: “Worthy Gotama, what is the near shore? And what is the far shore?” “Killing living creatures is the near shore, brahmin, and not killing living creatures is the far shore. Stealing is the near shore, and not stealing is the far shore. Sexual misconduct is the near shore, and avoiding sexual misconduct is the far shore. Lying is the near shore, and not lying is the far shore. Backbiting is the near shore, and avoiding backbiting is the far shore. Harsh speech is the near shore, and avoiding harsh speech is the far shore. Talking nonsense is the near shore, and avoiding talking nonsense is the far shore. Covetousness is the near shore, and contentment is the far shore. Ill will is the near shore, and good will is the far shore. Wrong view is the near shore, and right view is the far shore. This is the near shore, and this is the far shore.
Seven verses
§2Few are those among humans who cross to the far shore. The rest just run around on the near shore. When the teaching is well explained, those who practice accordingly are the ones who will cross over Death’s dominion so hard to pass. Rid of dark qualities, an astute person should develop the bright. Leaving home behind for the seclusion so hard to enjoy, try to find satisfaction there, having left behind sensual pleasures. Owning nothing, an astute person should cleanse themselves of mental corruptions. And those whose minds are rightly developed in the awakening factors; letting go of attachments, they delight in not grasping. With defilements ended, brilliant, they are quenched in this world.”
Self-check quiz
6 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.