The Buddha describes the five qualities is overcome by timidity—it’s when a mendicant is faithless, unethical, with little learning, lazy, and witless, a mendicant with these five qualities is overcome by timidity, a mendicant with five qualities is self-assured, and what five?, and it’s when a mendicant is faithful, ethical, learned, energetic, and wise.

AN 5.158 Timidity

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu sārajjaṁ okkanto hoti. Katamehi pañcahi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu assaddho hoti, dussīlo hoti, appassuto hoti, kusīto hoti, duppañño hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu sārajjaṁ okkanto hoti.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu visārado hoti. Katamehi pañcahi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddho hoti, sīlavā hoti, bahussuto hoti, āraddhavīriyo hoti, paññavā hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu visārado hotī”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu sārajjaṁ okkanto hoti.

“Mendicants, a mendicant with five qualities is overcome by timidity.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu assaddho hoti, dussīlo hoti, appassuto hoti, kusīto hoti, duppañño hoti.

It’s when a mendicant is faithless, unethical, with little learning, lazy, and witless.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu sārajjaṁ okkanto hoti.

A mendicant with these five qualities is overcome by timidity.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu visārado hoti.

A mendicant with five qualities is self-assured.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddho hoti, sīlavā hoti, bahussuto hoti, āraddhavīriyo hoti, paññavā hoti.

It’s when a mendicant is faithful, ethical, learned, energetic, and wise.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu visārado hotī”ti.

A mendicant with these five qualities is self-assured.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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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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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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Last updated on July 27, 2026