The Book of Sixes

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

6. Book of the Sixes [go up]

• AN 6.12: Saraniya Sutta — Conducive to Amiability {A iii 289} [Thanissaro]. The Buddha describes how to behave with one's peers in ways that engender mutual feelings of fellowship, friendship, and respect.
• AN 6.13: Nissaraniya Sutta — Means of Escape {A iii 290} [Thanissaro]. Six qualities that, when fully developed, lead to liberation.
• AN 6.16: Nakula Sutta — Nakula's Parents {A iii 296} [Thanissaro]. A wise female householder consoles her worried husband as he faces death from a grave illness.
• AN 6.19: Maranassati Sutta — Mindfulness of Death (1) {A iii 303}
• AN 6.20: Maranassati Sutta — Mindfulness of Death (2) {A iii 306} [Thanissaro].

Death could come at any time. Are you ready?

• AN 6.41: Daruka-khandha Sutta — The Wood Pile {A iii 340} [Thanissaro]. If you ever wanted to know how psychic transformation works, here's a brief primer.
• AN 6.42: Nagita Sutta — To Nagita {A iii 341} [Thanissaro]. While dwelling in a forest grove, the Buddha speaks in praise of modesty, contentment, unentanglement, and seclusion in the wilderness. (See AN 8.86 for a longer version of this conversation.)
• AN 6.45: Ina Sutta — Debt {A iii 351} [Thanissaro]. How falling under the grip of sensuality is like falling heavily into debt.
• AN 6.46: Cunda Sutta — Cunda {A iii 355} [Thanissaro]. Why the world needs both meditators and those who devote themselves to the study of Dhamma.
• AN 6.47: Sanditthika Sutta — Visible Here-&-Now {A iii 355} [Thanissaro]. A few of the more obvious ways in which the Dhamma is visible here-&-now.
• AN 6.49: Khema Sutta — With Khema {A iii 357} [Thanissaro]. Having abandoned all sense of self, arahants don't regard themselves as better than, worse than, or equal to anyone else.
• AN 6.54: Dhammika Sutta — Dhammika (excerpts) {A iii 364} [Olendzki]. In the first of these excerpts, the Buddha uses a telling simile to explain the meaning of his most common epithet, Tathagata — "the Thus-Gone one." In the second, the Buddha tells a story illustrating how patient endurance is the best response to the insults of others.
• AN 6.55: Sona Sutta — About Sona {A iii 374} [Thanissaro]. In this famous sutta the Buddha explains to Ven. Sona that balancing one's effort in meditation practice is like tuning a musical instrument.
• AN 6.63: Nibbedhika Sutta — Penetrative {A iii 410} [Thanissaro]. The Buddha explains that mastery of the Dhamma comes from meditating on six factors in the mind, each of which should be understood deeply in six different ways. This sutta contains a lovely short verse pointing out the true cause of attachment based on sensuality.
• AN 6.85: Siti Sutta — Cooled {A iii 434} [Thanissaro]. Six qualities required to achieve Awakening.
• AN 6.86: Avaranata Sutta — Obstructions {A iii 435} [Thanissaro]. Six qualities that prevent, and six that foster, the development of skillful states of mind.
• AN 6.87: Kammavaranata Sutta — Kamma Obstructions {A iii 436} [Thanissaro]. Six things that can render one incapable of developing skillful mental qualities.
• AN 6.88: Sussusa Sutta — Listening Well {A iii 437} [Thanissaro]. The Buddha's instructions on how to listen to the Dhamma so that it can be truly taken to heart.
• AN 6.97: Anisansa Sutta — Rewards {A iii 440} [Thanissaro]. Six rewards of stream-entry.
• AN 6.102: Anodhi Sutta — Without Exception (1) {A iii 442}
• AN 6.103: Anodhi Sutta — Without Exception (2) {A iii 442}
• AN 6.104: Anodhi Sutta — Without Exception (3) {A iii 442} [Thanissaro].

What six things motivate one to see the three characteristics of anicca, dukkha, and anatta?