The Anumana Sutta (Anumana Sutta)

MN 15 — The Anumana Sutta (Anumana Sutta)

Guidance (not part of the sutta)

What this discourse is really about

This sutta presents a method for honest self-examination. Venerable Moggallana provides a practical toolkit for self-assessment, focusing on sixteen specific traits that make someone "difficult to admonish"—essentially, difficult to give feedback to or have honest conversations with.

Consider someone you know who always gets defensive when given constructive criticism, or who struggles to take advice without getting upset. We've all been that person sometimes. This teaching helps us recognize when we're being that person and gives us a clear path forward. The beauty is in its simplicity: notice the problem, work to change it if it's there, and feel good about yourself if it's not.

Moggallana's teaching is direct—you can naturally work to clean up these mental habits once you spot them. It's about honest self-care rather than self-judgment.

Key teachings

• Honest self-examination: Regularly check yourself for qualities such as anger, envy, arrogance, and stubbornness that make you hard to approach or reason with.

• Direct response to what you find: When you notice mental habits that harm your relationships, work to remove them immediately.

• Sixteen difficult qualities: Specific traits to watch for including evil wishes, self-praise while disparaging others, anger, resentment, contempt, domineering behavior, envy, miserliness, deceit, fraud, obstinacy, and arrogance.

• Two-step response: If you find these qualities in yourself, work to abandon them; if you find them absent, rejoice and continue training in wholesome states.

• Practical invitation: Ask others to give you feedback, but make sure you're actually ready to receive it without getting defensive.

Common misunderstandings

• "This is about harsh self-criticism": This is actually about kind, honest self-assessment with the intention to improve your relationships and mental well-being.

• "I should focus on others' faults": The entire teaching is about examining yourself rather than judging others or pointing out their difficult qualities.

• "If these faults are absent, I'm done": Even when you find these qualities absent, the teaching emphasizes continuing to train in wholesome states day and night.

Try this today

• The daily examination: Each evening, pick one quality from the list (such as anger or defensiveness) and honestly ask yourself: "Did this show up in me today?" If yes, make a gentle intention to watch for it tomorrow.

• Feedback invitation: Ask someone you trust: "Is there something I do that makes it hard to give me feedback?" Then practice just listening without defending or explaining.

• Acknowledging growth: When you notice you handled criticism well or stayed open during a difficult conversation, take a moment to appreciate that growth—recognize your progress in developing wholesome qualities.

If this landed, read next

• MN 61 for guidance on honest self-reflection before, during, and after actions
• AN 10.51 for more on the qualities that make someone worthy of respect and easy to be around
• MN 8 for practical guidance on eliminating mental defilements through mindful attention