1
Conviction (saddhā)
Is my confidence in the Buddha's teachings and the idea of kamma (karma) solid, or does it still waver? In which situations does my confidence turn into doubt?
Self-Reflection
Guide Questions to Aid in Attaññuta
Assessing Oneself
Take a gentle pause to look inward. The Buddha encouraged us to honestly evaluate where we stand in our practice by cultivating attaññutā—having a true "sense of oneself." These guide questions are offered to help you examine both your strengths and blind spots across six key qualities: conviction (saddhā), virtue (sīla), learning (suta), generosity (cāga), discernment (paññā), and quick-witted clarity (paṭibhāna).
Six Areas of Reflection
2
Virtue (sīla)
Which of the Five Precepts do I find easiest to uphold? Do certain pressures like fear, fatigue, irritation, or social convenience make me compromise the precepts?
3
Learning (suta)
Which teachings of the Buddha have I truly absorbed and can reliably recall to steady my mind, and what areas of the Dhamma do I still find vague, neglected, or difficult to apply in practice?
4
Generosity (cāga)
In what ways do I find it effortless and joyful to give (possessions, time, energy or forgiveness), and where do I notice a sense of reluctance, possessiveness or longing for credit?
5
Discernment (paññā)
Is my mindfulness steady and my mind concentrated enough to observe stress (dukkha) directly, clearly tracing it back to my own desires and craving instead of external circumstances?
6
Quick-witted clarity (paṭibhāna)
How quickly do I catch unskillful qualities as they arise, and do I swiftly and effectively apply the right Dhamma remedy so unskillful states cease and skillful ones can take their place?
From the Suttas
“And how is a monk one with a sense of himself? There is the case where a monk knows himself: ‘This is how far I have come in conviction, virtue, learning, generosity, discernment, quick-wittedness.’ If he didn’t know himself—‘This is how far I have come in conviction, virtue, learning, generosity, discernment, quick-wittedness’—he wouldn’t be said to be one with a sense of himself. So it’s because he does know himself—‘This is how far I have come in conviction, virtue, learning, generosity, discernment, quick-wittedness’—that he is said to be one with a sense of himself. This is one with a sense of Dhamma, a sense of meaning, & a sense of himself.”
— One With a Sense of Dhamma
Dhammaññū Sutta (AN 7:64)
May this reflection bring greater clarity and steadiness to your practice.