The Buddha teaches on having wrong view, presenting a fivefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 5.118 Having Wrong View

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ niraye. Katamehi pañcahi? Ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, micchādiṭṭhikā ca hoti, micchāsaṅkappā ca, saddhādeyyaṁ vinipāteti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ niraye.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ sagge. Katamehi pañcahi? Anuvicca pariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, anuvicca pariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, sammādiṭṭhikā ca hoti, sammāsaṅkappā ca, saddhādeyyaṁ na vinipāteti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ sagge”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ niraye.

“Mendicants, a nun with five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

Without examining or scrutinizing, she praises those deserving of criticism,

ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

and criticizes those deserving of praise.

micchādiṭṭhikā ca hoti,

She has wrong view

micchāsaṅkappā ca,

and wrong purpose,

saddhādeyyaṁ vinipāteti.

and wastes gifts given in faith.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ niraye.

A nun with these five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ sagge.

A nun with five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Anuvicca pariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

After examining and scrutinizing, she criticizes those deserving of criticism,

anuvicca pariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati,

and praises those deserving of praise.

sammādiṭṭhikā ca hoti,

She has right view

sammāsaṅkappā ca,

and right purpose,

saddhādeyyaṁ na vinipāteti.

and doesn’t waste gifts given in faith.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgatā bhikkhunī yathābhataṁ nikkhittā evaṁ sagge”ti.

A nun with these five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

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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Right view

Right view

View that is in line with the Dhamma — teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth.

Also known as: right understanding, right belief, view that is inline with the Dhamma
Pāli: sammādiṭṭhi
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Wrong view

Wrong view

A distorted understanding that sees permanence in the impermanent, satisfaction in the unsatisfactory, or self in the not-self. Wrong view guides action by delusion, obscuring cause and effect, and closes the door to wisdom and release.

Also known as: distorted or inverted perception, untrue view, false belief
Pāli: micchādiṭṭhi
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Last updated on July 27, 2026