DiscoverANAN 4AN 4.268

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

AN 4.268 Backbiting

…pe… Attanā ca pisuṇavāco hoti, parañca pisuṇāya vācāya samādapeti, pisuṇāya vācāya ca samanuñño hoti, pisuṇāya vācāya ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati—imehi …pe….

Attanā ca pisuṇāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, parañca pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇiyā samādapeti, pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇiyā ca samanuñño hoti, pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇiyā ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati—imehi …pe….

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

…pe… Attanā ca pisuṇavāco hoti, parañca pisuṇāya vācāya samādapeti, pisuṇāya vācāya ca samanuñño hoti, pisuṇāya vācāya ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati—imehi …pe….

“… They themselves backbite …

Attanā ca pisuṇāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, parañca pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇiyā samādapeti, pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇiyā ca samanuñño hoti, pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇiyā ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati—imehi …pe….

… They don’t themselves backbite …”

Pañcamaṁ.

Qualities:

Wisdom

Wisdom

☀️ bright quality

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026

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