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# AN 3:2 · Characterized (by Action) (Lakkhaṇa Sutta)
- URL: https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/an-3-2/
- Published: 2026-06-01T00:33:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-13T16:41:41.000Z
- Description: Aṅguttara Nikāya · AN 3:2. Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.
- Author: Ninth Heaven Literature & Arts Association (NHLAA)
- Tags: Buddhism, Sutta Piṭaka, Text, Indian, The Buddha, Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Aṅguttara Nikāya, Discourse, Pali, Early Buddhist, Library, #Import 2026-07-06 03:33

“Monks, a fool is characterized by his/her actions. A wise person is characterized by his/her actions. It is through the activities of one’s life that one’s discernment shines.

“A person endowed with three things is to be recognized as a fool. Which three? Bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, mental misconduct. A person endowed with these three things is to be recognized as a fool.

“A person endowed with three things is to be recognized as a wise person. Which three? Good bodily conduct, good verbal conduct, good mental conduct. A person endowed with these three things is to be recognized as a wise person.

“Thus, monks, you should train yourselves: ‘We will avoid the three things that, endowed with which, one is to be recognized as a fool. We will undertake & maintain the three things that, endowed with which, one is to be recognized as a wise person.’ That’s how you should train yourselves.”

See also: [MN 41](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/mn-41/); [AN 4:115](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/an-4-115/); [AN 10:176](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/an-10-176/); [AN 11:18](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/an-11-18/); [Dhp 60–75](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/dhp-05/)

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*Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. © 2014 / rev. 2017 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu — released under the [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) licence, for free distribution only. Source: [dhammatalks.org](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN3%5F2.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) (Metta Forest Monastery).*