Dukkhasutta — Ānisaṁsavagga — the tenth chapter of the Sixes, continuing the Second Fifty
Setting
None stated in the source
Speakers
The Buddha alone, addressing the mendicants
Form
The same three-link chain as AN 6.98, compressed via Pāli ellipsis after a changed opening clause
Length
under 1 minute to read
Northern parallel
The claim that regarding conditions as pleasurable blocks right view recurs widely across the Chinese Āgamas' treatment of the three characteristics; this reading guide does not assert a specific matching sutra number
Difficulty
★★☆☆☆ — identical chain to AN 6.98, compressed by elision, and sharing its exact title with an unrelated earlier discourse
Why this discourse
AN 6.99 is the second discourse in this series titled ‘Suffering’ (Dukkhasutta) — AN 6.75, in the earlier Arahattavagga, was the first. The two share nothing beyond a title: this discourse applies AN 6.98's exact chain to a new opening perception, regarding any condition as pleasurable, compressed via Pāli ellipsis to just the changed opening clause.
Reading guide
The teaching in one sentence
A mendicant who regards any condition as pleasurable cannot accept views conforming with the teaching, step onto the sure path, or realize any of the four fruits; regarding all conditions as suffering makes all three possible.
A second, unrelated 'Suffering'
AN 6.75's blocking list was six unwholesome thoughts and perceptions bringing present distress and bad rebirth. This discourse's content is entirely different: a single perceptual error about conditions blocking the sure path and the four fruits. A title repeated within this collection, once again, does not indicate shared content.
Only the opening clause is spelled out
Checked against the Pāli source, this discourse's text reads “regards any condition as pleasurable …pe…” — the ellipsis standing in for AN 6.98's entire chain, unchanged, from “cannot accept views conforming with the teaching” through the four fruits.
Suffering as the second of the three characteristics
Where AN 6.98 addressed the perception of permanence, this discourse addresses the perception of pleasure — the second of the three characteristics (impermanence, suffering, non-self) this literature treats as fundamental, with AN 6.100 to follow completing the set with not-self.
Key terms
saṅkhāraṁ sukhato samanupassati — “regards a condition as pleasurable” — this discourse's own opening perceptual error, the only content spelled out before the Pāli ellipsis.
…pe… — the Pāli ellipsis mark standing in for AN 6.98's entire chain, repeated here unchanged.
sabbasaṅkhāre dukkhato samanupassati — “regards all conditions as suffering” — this discourse's reversal, likewise the only spelled-out content in its half.
dukkha — “suffering” — the second of the three characteristics, and this discourse's own title term, shared with the unrelated AN 6.75 earlier in this collection.
dhammānudhammappaṭipadā — “views that conform with the teaching” — the first link of the elided chain, spelled out in full at AN 6.98.
The text
The discourse in full: regarding conditions as pleasurable, blocking the path via AN 6.98's chain, and the reversal. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Regarding conditions as pleasurable blocks the path
§1“Mendicants, it is quite impossible for a mendicant who regards any condition as pleasurable to accept views that agree with the teaching. … It’s quite possible for a mendicant who regards all conditions as suffering to accept views that agree with the teaching. …”
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Self-check quiz
6 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 6
What earlier discourse in this collection shares this discourse's exact title, 'Suffering' (Dukkhasutta)?
Correct: B. A second, unrelated discourse of the same name within this collection.
Question 2 of 6
What perceptual error does this discourse apply AN 6.98's chain to?
Correct: B. A new opening clause, with the rest of the chain compressed via elision.
Question 3 of 6
How is this discourse's text structured in the Pāli source, according to the guide?
Correct: B. A compression technique pointing back to AN 6.98's fuller template.
Question 4 of 6
Which of the three characteristics does this discourse address, and what completes the set?
Correct: B. Impermanence at AN 6.98, suffering here, not-self to follow at AN 6.100.
Question 5 of 6
Is a setting stated for AN 6.99?
Correct: B. A bare formula, matching AN 6.98 immediately before it.
Question 6 of 6
How much content does AN 6.99 share with AN 6.75, checked term by term?
Correct: B. A title shared twice within this collection is not evidence of shared content.
