The Buddha teaches on where criticism takes you, presenting a fourfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 4.83 Where Criticism Takes You

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Katamehi catūhi? Ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā appasādanīye ṭhāne pasādaṁ upadaṁseti, ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā pasādanīye ṭhāne appasādaṁ upadaṁseti imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge. Katamehi catūhi? Anuvicca pariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, anuvicca pariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, anuvicca pariyogāhetvā appasādanīye ṭhāne appasādaṁ upadaṁseti anuvicca pariyogāhetvā pasādanīye ṭhāne pasādaṁ upadaṁseti imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

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?

Ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

Without examining or scrutinizing, they praise those deserving of criticism,

ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

and they criticize those deserving of praise.

ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā appasādanīye ṭhāne pasādaṁ upadaṁseti, ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā pasādanīye ṭhāne appasādaṁ upadaṁseti

They arouse faith in things that are dubious, and they don’t arouse faith in things that are inspiring.

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?

Anuvicca pariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

After examining and scrutinizing, they criticize those deserving of criticism,

anuvicca pariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

and they praise those deserving of praise.

anuvicca pariyogāhetvā appasādanīye ṭhāne appasādaṁ upadaṁseti

They don’t arouse faith in things that are dubious,

anuvicca pariyogāhetvā pasādanīye ṭhāne pasādaṁ upadaṁseti

and they do arouse faith in things that are inspiring.

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

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

Tatiyaṁ.

Qualities:

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
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Wisdom

Wisdom

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