Dhamma Principles › The Greater Discourse to Vacchagotta: A Teaching Truly Realised by Many
Core teachings

The Greater Discourse to Vacchagotta: A Teaching Truly Realised by Many

Mahāvacchagottasuttaṃ

Vacchagotta asks for a brief teaching on the wholesome and unwholesome, then asks whether anyone has actually attained. The Buddha says far more than five hundred have, among monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen. Vacchagotta compares this assembly to the Ganges flowing to the sea, then goes forth and attains arahantship.

8 points

In the Mahāvacchagotta Sutta of the Majjhima Nikāya, the wanderer Vacchagotta visits the Buddha at the Bamboo Grove in Rājagaha. He says he has long conversed with the Buddha and asks for a brief teaching on the wholesome and the unwholesome. The Buddha says greed, hatred and delusion are unwholesome, and non-greed, non-hatred and non-delusion are wholesome, then sets out the ten courses of action, both unwholesome and wholesome.

The discourse's distinctive point comes next. Vacchagotta asks whether, apart from the Buddha, there are monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen who have actually attained. The Buddha says not just one hundred, two hundred, up to five hundred, but far more than that, both monastics and householders, both the celibate and those still enjoying sensual pleasures.

Vacchagotta says this holy life is complete because every group has accomplished it, and compares the Buddha's assembly of householders and monastics, inclining towards Nibbāna, to the river Ganges flowing towards the sea. He then asks to go forth, develops calm and insight, and attains arahantship.

  1. 1

    Wholesome and unwholesome in brief Lobho akusalaṃ alobho kusalaṃ

    The Buddha says greed, hatred and delusion are unwholesome, and non-greed, non-hatred and non-delusion are wholesome. He then sets out the ten courses of action: killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, divisive speech, harsh speech, idle chatter, covetousness, ill will and wrong view are unwholesome, and abstaining from them is wholesome. He adds that a monk who has cut off craving at the root is an arahant.

    Applying it in daily life

    When unsure whether what you're about to do is good, look at its root in the mind: does it come from greed, anger or delusion, or from their absence?

  2. 2

    Many monks have attained arahantship Na kho vaccha ekaṃyeva sataṃ

    Vacchagotta asks whether, apart from the Buddha, there is even one monk who has realised the liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom through the destruction of the taints. The Buddha says not just one hundred, two, three, four or five hundred, but far more.

    Applying it in daily life

    When you doubt whether a teaching really works, look for examples of people who have practised it and seen results, instead of judging only by your own thinking.

  3. 3

    Nuns attain in the same way Bhikkhuniyo

    Vacchagotta then asks about nuns. The Buddha says the nun disciples who have destroyed the taints are likewise far more than five hundred. The highest attainment is not limited by gender.

    Applying it in daily life

    When looking for teachers or examples in the Dhamma, don't limit yourself to one gender or status.

  4. 4

    Celibate householders reach non-return Gihī odātavasanā brahmacārino

    Lay followers, householders clothed in white, living the celibate life, who have destroyed the five lower fetters, will reappear spontaneously and attain final Nibbāna there without returning from that world. They are far more than five hundred. The same holds for celibate laywomen.

    Applying it in daily life

    Deep inner progress is not tied only to ordination. Living at home, you can still set serious goals for your training.

  5. 5

    Householders still enjoying sensual pleasures can reach the Dhamma Gihī odātavasanā kāmabhogino

    Lay followers, householders clothed in white, still enjoying sensual pleasures, who carry out the teaching, respond to advice, have crossed beyond doubt, are free of perplexity, have gained confidence and are independent of others in the Teacher's dispensation, are far more than five hundred. The same holds for laywomen still enjoying sensual pleasures.

    Applying it in daily life

    Having a family, a job and responsibilities, you can still be a steady practitioner. Start by following the teaching consistently in daily life.

  6. 6

    The holy life is complete because every group attains Paripūraṃ tenaṅgena

    Vacchagotta says that if only the Buddha had accomplished this Dhamma and not the monks, the holy life would be incomplete in that respect. But because the Buddha, monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen have all accomplished it, this holy life is complete.

    Applying it in daily life

    Assess any teaching or method by asking whether, besides the teacher, a wide range of learners can really put it into practice.

  7. 7

    Like the Ganges flowing to the sea Nibbānaninnā nibbānapoṇā nibbānapabbhārā

    Vacchagotta compares it thus: just as the river Ganges inclines, slopes and tends towards the sea and reaches the sea, so the Buddha's assembly of householders and monastics inclines, slopes and tends towards Nibbāna and reaches Nibbāna.

    Applying it in daily life

    You don't have to reach the end today. Just let each day lean in the right direction, like a river gradually flowing one way.

  8. 8

    Going forth and developing calm and insight Samatho ca vipassanā ca

    Vacchagotta asks to go forth. The Buddha mentions the four-month probation for those formerly of other sects; Vacchagotta says he is willing to undergo four years, and then receives the going forth and full ordination. Half a month after ordination he says he has attained what a trainee can attain and asks for further teaching. The Buddha tells him to develop calm and insight further. He does so and attains arahantship.

    Applying it in daily life

    Once your practice reaches a certain point, don't stop out of satisfaction. Ask someone knowledgeable what the next step is, and train calm and understanding together.

Try it in daily life

Many people think the Dhamma is good in theory but only truly achievable for monks or those who leave everything to live in a monastery. This discourse answers plainly that many people have really achieved it, including householders who still have families and live in the world.

Vacchagotta's question is a reasonable one. A good teaching should have results visible in the lives of those who practise it, not only in the teacher. Looking for examples of people around you whose lives improved by practising the Dhamma is a way to build steady faith.

Vacchagotta's own story is encouraging too. He was a wanderer who came with questions many times and didn't believe from the start, but once he saw clearly, he practised all the way to the end.

Sign in to keep track of what you have read

Sources in the Tipiṭaka

Tap to read the actual passage on the page cited.

Other principles worth reading

Log in to earn 40 merit points for reading this page