Paññāsutta — Sattāvāsavagga — the third chapter of the Nines
Setting
None stated in the source
Speakers
The Buddha alone, addressing the mendicants
Form
A declaration formula, then nine specific kinds of self-knowledge that justify making it
Length
~1 minute to read
The same nine as AN 9.26, framed differently
This discourse's nine items of self-knowledge, framed here as a mind ‘consolidated with wisdom,’ reappear at AN 9.26 framed instead as a mind ‘consolidated by heart’
Difficulty
★★☆☆☆ — a precise formula, best compared directly with AN 9.26
Why this discourse
A mendicant whose mind is well consolidated with wisdom may rightly declare themselves free of further rebirth, and this consolidation is defined by nine specific items of self-knowledge: freedom from greed, hate, and delusion; freedom from any tendency to return to them; and freedom from any tendency to be reborn in the sensual, form, or formless realms.
Reading guide
The teaching in one sentence
When a mendicant knows ‘my mind is without greed, hate, delusion,’ ‘my mind is not liable to become greedy, hateful, deluded,’ and ‘my mind is not liable to return to rebirth in the sensual, form, or formless realm,’ their mind is well consolidated with wisdom, and it's appropriate for them to declare rebirth ended.
Nine items, three groups of three
The nine items of self-knowledge fall into three clean groups: present freedom from the three roots (greed, hate, delusion); assurance against any future return of those same three roots; and assurance against rebirth in any of the three realms of existence — sensual, form, and formless.
Present state and future assurance, not just one moment
The formula doesn't stop at describing the mind's current condition. The middle three items shift explicitly to the future tense — not liable to become greedy again, not liable to become hateful again — distinguishing a settled, permanent freedom from what might be only a temporary calm.
Wisdom here; the same nine by heart at AN 9.26
This discourse frames its nine items as what makes a mind ‘well consolidated with wisdom’ (paññāya suvimuttacittaṁ). The very next discourse, AN 9.26, gives the identical nine items but frames them instead as what makes a mind ‘well consolidated by heart’ — the same content under two different framings, clarified there through a famous correction of a misquotation.
Key terms
khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ — “rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed” — the arahant's declaration formula this discourse's nine items justify making.
suparimuṭṭhacittaṁ paññāya — “well consolidated with wisdom” — this discourse's own framing for the nine-item formula, contrasted with AN 9.26's ‘consolidated by heart’.
vītarāgaṁ me cittanti pajānāti — “my mind is without greed” — the first of the nine items, naming present freedom from the first of the three roots.
na rāgadhammaṁ — “not liable to become greedy” — the fourth item, shifting from present state to future assurance.
nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānāti — “there is nothing further for this place” — the closing phrase of the declaration formula this discourse justifies.
The text
The discourse in full: the declaration formula, and nine items of self-knowledge that justify making it. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
A declaration, and what justifies it
§1“Mendicants, when a mendicant’s mind has been well consolidated with wisdom it’s appropriate for them to say: ‘I understand: “Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.”’
Nine items of self-knowledge
§2And how is a mendicant’s mind well consolidated with wisdom? The mind is well consolidated with wisdom when they know: ‘My mind is without greed.’ … ‘My mind is without hate.’ … ‘My mind is without delusion.’ … ‘My mind is not liable to become greedy.’ … ‘My mind is not liable to become hateful.’ … ‘My mind is not liable to become deluded.’ … ‘My mind is not liable to return to rebirth in the sensual realm.’ … ‘My mind is not liable to return to rebirth in the realm of luminous form.’ … ‘My mind is not liable to return to rebirth in the formless realm.’ When a mendicant’s mind has been well consolidated with wisdom it’s appropriate for them to say: ‘I understand: “Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.”’”
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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 declaration does this discourse's nine items justify making?
Correct: B. The standard arahant's declaration formula.
Question 2 of 6
How do the nine items of self-knowledge group together?
Correct: B. A cleanly structured formula, not a loose list.
Question 3 of 6
What shift happens in the formula's middle three items?
Correct: B. Distinguishing settled freedom from merely temporary calm.
Question 4 of 6
What three realms does the formula's final group of three items name assurance against?
Correct: B. The three realms of existence in Buddhist cosmology.
Question 5 of 6
According to the guide, how does this discourse's framing compare to AN 9.26's?
Correct: B. Same content, two different framings, worth reading side by side.
Question 6 of 6
Is a setting given for this discourse?
Correct: C. A bare formula, unlike AN 9.26 immediately after it.
