The Buddha contrasts disrespectful and respectful mendicants, each defined by five qualities—faithlessness, shamelessness, imprudence, laziness, and lack of wisdom versus their opposites.

AN 5.10 Disrespect (2nd)

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu agāravo appatisso abhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ. Katamehi pañcahi? Assaddho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu agāravo appatisso abhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ. Ahiriko, bhikkhave, bhikkhu agāravo appatisso abhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ. Anottappī, bhikkhave, bhikkhu agāravo appatisso abhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ. Kusīto, bhikkhave, bhikkhu agāravo appatisso abhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ. Duppañño, bhikkhave, bhikkhu agāravo appatisso abhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu agāravo appatisso abhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu sagāravo sappatisso bhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ. Katamehi pañcahi? Saddho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sagāravo sappatisso bhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ. Hirīmā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu …pe… ottappī, bhikkhave, bhikkhu …pe… āraddhavīriyo, bhikkhave, bhikkhu …pe… paññavā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sagāravo sappatisso bhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu sagāravo sappatisso bhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjitun”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Sekhabalavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Saṅkhittaṁ vitthataṁ dukkhā,
bhataṁ sikkhāya pañcamaṁ;
Samāpatti ca kāmesu,
cavanā dve agāravāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu agāravo appatisso abhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ.

“Mendicants, a disrespectful and irreverent mendicant with five qualities can’t achieve growth, improvement, or maturity in this teaching and training.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Assaddho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu agāravo appatisso abhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ.

A disrespectful and irreverent mendicant who is faithless …

Ahiriko, bhikkhave, bhikkhu agāravo appatisso abhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ.

shameless …

Anottappī, bhikkhave, bhikkhu agāravo appatisso abhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ.

imprudent …

Kusīto, bhikkhave, bhikkhu agāravo appatisso abhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ.

lazy …

Duppañño, bhikkhave, bhikkhu agāravo appatisso abhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ.

witless can’t achieve growth, improvement, or maturity in this teaching and training.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu agāravo appatisso abhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ.

A disrespectful and irreverent mendicant with these five qualities can’t achieve growth, improvement, or maturity in this teaching and training.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu sagāravo sappatisso bhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ.

A respectful and reverent mendicant with five qualities can achieve growth, improvement, and maturity in this teaching and training.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Saddho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sagāravo sappatisso bhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ.

A respectful and reverent mendicant who is faithful …

Hirīmā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu …pe… ottappī, bhikkhave, bhikkhu …pe… āraddhavīriyo, bhikkhave, bhikkhu …pe… paññavā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sagāravo sappatisso bhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjituṁ.

conscientious … prudent … energetic … wise can achieve growth, improvement, and maturity in this teaching and training.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu sagāravo sappatisso bhabbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjitun”ti.

A respectful and reverent mendicant with these five qualities can achieve growth, improvement, and maturity in this teaching and training.”

Dasamaṁ.

Sekhabalavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Saṅkhittaṁ vitthataṁ dukkhā,

bhataṁ sikkhāya pañcamaṁ;

Samāpatti ca kāmesu,

cavanā dve agāravāti.

Qualities:

Contempt

Contempt

A dismissive or belittling attitude that refuses to acknowledge worth or goodness. It closes the heart, undermines gratitude, and prepares the ground for ill will.

Also known as: ungratefulness, depreciation, denigration, disrespect, belittlement, disparagement
Pāli: makkha, vambhaka
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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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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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Fear of wrongdoing

Fear of wrongdoing

A wholesome dread of misconduct that considers consequences and the censure of the wise. It looks outward—aware of blame, loss of reputation, and the suffering that follows unskillful action—and holds the mind back from crossing ethical boundaries.

Also known as: conscientious, moral dread, respect for others, (comm) originating from outside
Pāli: ottappa
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Unassuming

Unassuming

A gentle, low-profile way of speaking and acting that avoids drawing attention to oneself; restrained in self-display, giving space to others, and simple in manner.

Also known as: courteous, low-key, respectful, not impudent, self-effacing, unpretentious
Pāli: appagabbha, sorata
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Last updated on July 27, 2026