The Buddha teaches on unethical, presenting a fourfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 4.220 Unethical

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Katamehi catūhi? Assaddho hoti, dussīlo hoti, kusīto hoti, duppañño hoti imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge. Katamehi catūhi? Saddho hoti, sīlavā hoti, āraddhavīriyo hoti, paññavā hoti imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Parisasobhaṇavaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Parisā diṭṭhi akataññutā,
Pāṇātipātāpi dve maggā;
Dve vohārapathā vuttā,
Ahirikaṁ duppaññena cāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

“Mendicants, someone with four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Katamehi catūhi?

What four?

Assaddho hoti, dussīlo hoti, kusīto hoti, duppañño hoti

They’re faithless, unethical, lazy, and witless.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

Someone with these four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge.

Someone with four qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.

Katamehi catūhi?

What four?

Saddho hoti, sīlavā hoti, āraddhavīriyo hoti, paññavā hoti

They’re faithful, ethical, energetic, and wise.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.

Someone with these four qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

Dasamaṁ.

Parisasobhaṇavaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Parisā diṭṭhi akataññutā,

Pāṇātipātāpi dve maggā;

Dve vohārapathā vuttā,

Ahirikaṁ duppaññena cāti.

Qualities:

Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
View all discourses →
Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026