Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) — "It is in the nature of things that joy arises in a person free from remorse."

It is in the nature of things that joy arises in a person free from remorse.
Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) — Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) Ancient · Founder of Buddhism

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Details

Anguttara Nikaya 10.1

Date: c. 5th century BCE

General

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Understanding this quote

What it means

When you live without guilt or regret about your actions, happiness comes naturally. You don't have to chase joy or manufacture it through external pleasures. A clear conscience is itself the foundation of contentment. By acting ethically and avoiding behaviors that would haunt you later, you create the internal conditions where genuine peace and gladness simply emerge on their own, without effort.

Relevance to Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

The Buddha taught this after abandoning his princely life, where material pleasures failed to bring lasting happiness. His Eightfold Path centers right action, right speech, and right livelihood precisely because he observed that ethical conduct (sila) is the prerequisite for meditative concentration and wisdom. Having witnessed suffering firsthand during his legendary four sights, he recognized that inner peace cannot coexist with a troubled conscience, making remorselessness foundational to awakening.

The era

In 5th-century BCE northern India, the Vedic priestly caste emphasized ritual sacrifice and external purification to secure favorable rebirth. The Buddha's era saw shramana movements challenging this, arguing that inner ethical transformation mattered more than ceremony. Urbanization along the Ganges created new moral anxieties as traditional village bonds weakened. Teaching that joy followed naturally from blameless conduct offered a democratic alternative to Brahmanical ritualism, accessible to anyone regardless of caste.

AI-generated insights based on extensive research and information for context. Factual errors? Email [email protected].

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