In short: in AN 2.118 the Buddha says two kinds of people are rare in the world: one who takes the initiative to help, and one who is grateful and thankful for help received.
These two individuals are rare in the world. What two? One who takes the initiative, and one who is grateful and thankful.
AN 2.119, translated by Bhikkhu Sujato. This page shows the whole short chapter, AN 2.118 to 129.
Why gratitude is rare, and how to grow it
The one who takes the initiative is the one who helps first; the grateful person is the one who notices and remembers that help. Both are rare because both require attention. Gratitude also appears among the highest blessings in the Mangala Sutta.
- Each evening, name one person who helped you today.
- Thank one of them tomorrow, in words.
- Be the one who helps first, once.
See Buddhist gratitude practice.
Make a teaching card for a grateful day →
Read the full guide
The full text in Pāli and English
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral (AN2.118-129). Ellipses (…) are abbreviations in the original. Notes are ANEW's.
| Pāli | English |
|---|---|
| 118 | 118 |
| “Dvemā, bhikkhave, āsā duppajahā. | “These two hopes are hard to give up. |
| Katamā dve? | What two? |
| Lābhāsā ca jīvitāsā ca. | The hope for wealth and the hope for long life. |
| Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve āsā duppajahā”ti. | These are two hopes that are hard to give up.” |
| 119 | 119 |
| “Dveme, bhikkhave, puggalā dullabhā lokasmiṁ. | “These two individuals are rare in the world. |
| Katame dve? | What two? |
| Yo ca pubbakārī, yo ca kataññū katavedī. | One who takes the initiative, and one who is grateful and thankful. |
| Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve puggalā dullabhā lokasmin”ti. | These are the two individuals who are rare in the world.” |
| 120 | 120 |
| “Dveme, bhikkhave, puggalā dullabhā lokasmiṁ. | “These two individuals are rare in the world. |
| Katame dve? | What two? |
| Titto ca tappetā ca. | One who is satisfied, and one who satisfies others. |
| Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve puggalā dullabhā lokasmin”ti. | These are the two individuals who are rare in the world.” |
| 121 | 121 |
| “Dveme, bhikkhave, puggalā duttappayā. | “These two individuals are hard to satisfy in the world. |
| Katame dve? | What two? |
| Yo ca laddhaṁ laddhaṁ nikkhipati, yo ca laddhaṁ laddhaṁ vissajjeti. | One who continually hoards wealth, and one who continually wastes wealth. |
| Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve puggalā duttappayā”ti. | These are the two individuals who are hard to satisfy in the world.” |
| 122 | 122 |
| “Dveme, bhikkhave, puggalā sutappayā. | “These two individuals are easy to satisfy in the world. |
| Katame dve? | What two? |
| Yo ca laddhaṁ laddhaṁ na nikkhipati, yo ca laddhaṁ laddhaṁ na vissajjeti. | One who does not continually hoard wealth, and one who does not continually waste wealth. |
| Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve puggalā sutappayā”ti. | These are the two individuals who are easy to satisfy in the world.” |
| 123 | 123 |
| “Dveme, bhikkhave, paccayā rāgassa uppādāya. | “There are two conditions for the arising of greed. |
| Katame dve? | What two? |
| Subhanimittañca ayoniso ca manasikāro. | The feature of beauty and irrational application of mind. |
| Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve paccayā rāgassa uppādāyā”ti. | These are the two conditions for the arising of greed.” |
| 124 | 124 |
| “Dveme, bhikkhave, paccayā dosassa uppādāya. | “There are two conditions for the arising of hate. |
| Katame dve? | What two? |
| Paṭighanimittañca ayoniso ca manasikāro. | The feature of harshness and irrational application of mind. |
| Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve paccayā dosassa uppādāyā”ti. | These are the two conditions for the arising of hate.” |
| 125 | 125 |
| “Dveme, bhikkhave, paccayā micchādiṭṭhiyā uppādāya. | “There are two conditions for the arising of wrong view. |
| Katame dve? | What two? |
| Parato ca ghoso ayoniso ca manasikāro. | The voice of another and irrational application of mind. |
| Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve paccayā micchādiṭṭhiyā uppādāyā”ti. | These are the two conditions for the arising of wrong view.” |
| 126 | 126 |
| “Dveme, bhikkhave, paccayā sammādiṭṭhiyā uppādāya. | “There are two conditions for the arising of right view. |
| Katame dve? | What two? |
| Parato ca ghoso, yoniso ca manasikāro. | The voice of another and rational application of mind. |
| Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve paccayā sammādiṭṭhiyā uppādāyā”ti. | These are the two conditions for the arising of right view.” |
| 127 | 127 |
| “Dvemā, bhikkhave, āpattiyo. | “There are these two offenses. |
| Katamā dve? | What two? |
| Lahukā ca āpatti, garukā ca āpatti. | A light offense and a heavy offense. |
| Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve āpattiyo”ti. | These are the two offenses.” |
| 128 | 128 |
| “Dvemā, bhikkhave, āpattiyo. | “There are these two offenses. |
| Katamā dve? | What two? |
| Duṭṭhullā ca āpatti, aduṭṭhullā ca āpatti. | An offense with corrupt intention and an offense without corrupt intention. |
| Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve āpattiyo”ti. | These are the two offenses.” |
| 129 | 129 |
| “Dvemā, bhikkhave, āpattiyo. | “There are these two offenses. |
| Katamā dve? | What two? |
| Sāvasesā ca āpatti, anavasesā ca āpatti. | A curable offense and an incurable offense. |
| Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve āpattiyo”ti. | These are the two offenses.” |
| Āsāduppajahavaggo paṭhamo. |
The two hardest to repay: mother and father.
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Questions people ask
What did the Buddha say about gratitude?
In AN 2.119 he said two kinds of people are rare: one who takes the initiative in helping, and one who is grateful and thankful. The Mangala Sutta also lists gratitude among the highest blessings.