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

AN 4.26 Deceivers

“Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū kuhā thaddhā lapā siṅgī unnaḷā asamāhitā, na me te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū māmakā. Apagatā ca te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū imasmā dhammavinayā, na ca te imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ viruḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjanti.

Ye ca kho te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū nikkuhā nillapā dhīrā atthaddhā susamāhitā, te kho me, bhikkhave, bhikkhū māmakā. Anapagatā ca te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū imasmā dhammavinayā. Te ca imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ viruḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjantīti.

Kuhā thaddhā lapā siṅgī,
unnaḷā asamāhitā;
Na te dhamme virūhanti,
sammāsambuddhadesite.

Nikkuhā nillapā dhīrā,
atthaddhā susamāhitā;
Te ve dhamme virūhanti,
sammāsambuddhadesite”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū kuhā thaddhā lapā siṅgī unnaḷā asamāhitā, na me te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū māmakā.

“Mendicants, those mendicants who are deceivers and flatterers, pompous and fake, insolent, and scattered: those mendicants are no followers of mine.

Apagatā ca te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū imasmā dhammavinayā, na ca te imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ viruḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjanti.

They’ve left this teaching and training, and they don’t achieve growth, improvement, or maturity in this teaching and training.

Ye ca kho te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū nikkuhā nillapā dhīrā atthaddhā susamāhitā, te kho me, bhikkhave, bhikkhū māmakā.

But those mendicants who are genuine, not flatterers, attentive, amenable, and serene: those mendicants are followers of mine.

Anapagatā ca te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū imasmā dhammavinayā. Te ca imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ viruḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjantīti.

They haven’t left this teaching and training, and they achieve growth, improvement, or maturity in this teaching and training.

Kuhā thaddhā lapā siṅgī,

Those who are deceivers and flatterers, pompous and fake,

unnaḷā asamāhitā;

insolent and scattered:

Na te dhamme virūhanti,

these don’t grow in the teaching

sammāsambuddhadesite.

that was taught by the perfected Buddha.

Nikkuhā nillapā dhīrā,

But those who are genuine, not flatterers, attentive,

atthaddhā susamāhitā;

amenable, and serene:

Te ve dhamme virūhanti,

these do grow in the teaching

sammāsambuddhadesite”ti.

that was taught by the perfected Buddha.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Qualities:

Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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Recollection of the Buddha

Recollection of the Buddha

A mental quality of reflecting on the qualities of the Buddha, which counters doubt and strengthens faith.

Also known as: recollection of Buddha, mindfulness of the Buddha, reflection on the qualities of the Buddha
Pāli: buddhānussati, buddhānusmṛti
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Last updated on July 27, 2026