The Buddha explains the consequences of negligence and diligence, laziness and arousing of energy, having many desires and having few wishes, discontentment and contentment, unwise and wise attention, full awareness and lack of it, bad and good friendships, and good and bad habits.

Pamādādi vagga - The Chapter Beginning With Negligence

1.82

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great harm as |negligence::carelessness, heedlessness [pamāda]|. Negligence, bhikkhus, leads to great harm.”

First.

1.83

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great benefit as |diligence::quality of wishing to do one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamāda]|. Diligence, bhikkhus, leads to great benefit.”

Second.

1.84

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great harm as |laziness::inactivity, idleness [kosajja]|. Laziness, bhikkhus, leads to great harm.”

Third.

1.85

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great benefit as |rousing of energy::taking initiative, making a mental decision to act [vīriyārambha]|. The arousing of energy, bhikkhus, leads to great benefit.”

Fourth.

1.86

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great harm as |having many desires::longing and yearning for many things, greediness [mahicchatā]|. Having many desires, bhikkhus, leads to great harm.”

Fifth.

1.87

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great benefit as |having few wishes::being content [appicchatā]|. Having few wishes, bhikkhus, leads to great benefit.”

Sixth.

1.88

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great harm as |discontentment::dissatisfaction [asantuṭṭhitā]|. Discontentment, bhikkhus, leads to great harm.”

Seventh.

1.89

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great benefit as |contentment::satisfaction, having few wishes [santuṭṭhitā]|. Contentment, bhikkhus, leads to great benefit.”

Eighth.

1.90

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great harm as |unwise attention::improper attention, imprudent use of the mind [ayonisomanasikāra]|. Unwise attention, bhikkhus, leads to great harm.”

Ninth.

1.91

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great benefit as |wise attention::proper attention, prudent use of the mind, wise reflection, attention to the source [yoniso + manasikāra]|. Wise attention, bhikkhus, leads to great benefit.”

Tenth.

1.92

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great harm as |lack of full awareness::lack of attentiveness, lack of clear comprehension [asampajañña]|. Lack of full awareness, bhikkhus, leads to great harm.”

Eleventh.

1.93

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great benefit as |full awareness::attentiveness, clear comprehension [sampajañña]|. Full awareness, bhikkhus, leads to great benefit.”

Twelfth.

1.94

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great harm as |bad friendship::friendship with unwholesome persons [pāpamittatā]|. Bad friendship, bhikkhus, leads to great harm.”

Thirteenth.

1.95

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great benefit as |good friendship::friendship with wholesome persons [kalyāṇamittatā]|. Good friendship, bhikkhus, leads to great benefit.”

Fourteenth.

1.96

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great harm as habitual engagement in |unwholesome qualities::unskillful actions, bad habits [akusaladhammā]| and habitual non-engagement in |wholesome qualities::skillful actions, good habits [kusaladhammā]|. Habitual engagement in unwholesome qualities, bhikkhus, and habitual non-engagement in wholesome qualities leads to great harm.”

Fifteenth.

1.97

“Bhikkhus, I do not see any other single quality that leads to such great harm as habitual engagement in |unwholesome qualities::unskillful actions, bad habits [akusaladhammā]| and habitual non-engagement in |wholesome qualities::skillful actions, good habits [kusaladhammā]|. Habitual engagement in unwholesome qualities, bhikkhus, and habitual non-engagement in wholesome qualities leads to great harm.”

Sixteenth.

Last updated on April 29, 2025

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