The Buddha describes the five qualities is practicing for their own welfare, but not that—it’s when a mendicant is personally accomplished in ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom. but they don’t encourage others in these qualities, a mendicant with these five qualities is practicing for their own welfare, and but not that of others.”.

AN 5.17 One’s Own Welfare

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu attahitāya paṭipanno hoti, no parahitāya. Katamehi pañcahi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu attanā sīlasampanno hoti, no paraṁ sīlasampadāya samādapeti; attanā samādhisampanno hoti, no paraṁ samādhisampadāya samādapeti; attanā paññāsampanno hoti, no paraṁ paññāsampadāya samādapeti; attanā vimuttisampanno hoti, no paraṁ vimuttisampadāya samādapeti; attanā vimuttiñāṇadassanasampanno hoti, no paraṁ vimuttiñāṇadassanasampadāya samādapeti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi aṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu attahitāya paṭipanno hoti, no parahitāyā”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu attahitāya paṭipanno hoti, no parahitāya.

“Mendicants, a mendicant with five qualities is practicing for their own welfare, but not that of others.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu attanā sīlasampanno hoti, no paraṁ sīlasampadāya samādapeti;

It’s when a mendicant is personally accomplished in ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom. But they don’t encourage others in these qualities.

attanā samādhisampanno hoti, no paraṁ samādhisampadāya samādapeti;

attanā paññāsampanno hoti, no paraṁ paññāsampadāya samādapeti;

attanā vimuttisampanno hoti, no paraṁ vimuttisampadāya samādapeti;

attanā vimuttiñāṇadassanasampanno hoti, no paraṁ vimuttiñāṇadassanasampadāya samādapeti.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi aṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu attahitāya paṭipanno hoti, no parahitāyā”ti.

A mendicant with these five qualities is practicing for their own welfare, but not that of others.”

Sattamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Liberation

Liberation

Liberation can imply a temporary release of the mind, i.e. liberated from certain unwholesome mental qualities or complete liberation from all unwholesome qualities of the mind, i.e. Nibbāna.

Also known as: freedom, release, emancipation, deliverance
Pāli: vimutti, vimokkha, cetovimutti, paññāvimutti, akuppā cetovimutti
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Vision

Vision

The corrective clarity that clearly sees into the true nature of things as they actually are.

Also known as: knowledge and vision, seeing clearly, seeing things as they are, seeing the truth, seeing the dhamma
Pāli: dassana, ñāṇadassana, yathābhūtañāṇadassana
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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