The Buddha teaches on timidity, presenting a fivefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 5.171 Timidity

Evaṁ me sutaṁ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato upāsako sārajjaṁ okkanto hoti. Katamehi pañcahi? Pāṇātipātī hoti, adinnādāyī hoti, kāmesumicchācārī hoti, musāvādī hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyī hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato upāsako sārajjaṁ okkanto hoti.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato upāsako visārado hoti. Katamehi pañcahi? Pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato upāsako visārado hotī”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Evaṁ me sutaṁ

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,

“bhikkhavo”ti.

“Mendicants!”

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

“Venerable sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

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

“A lay follower with five qualities is overcome by timidity.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Pāṇātipātī hoti, adinnādāyī hoti, kāmesumicchācārī hoti, musāvādī hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhāyī hoti.

They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.

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

A lay follower with these five qualities is overcome by timidity.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato upāsako visārado hoti.

A lay follower with five qualities is self-assured.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti.

They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.

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

A lay follower with these five qualities is self-assured.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Sexual misconduct

Sexual misconduct

Transgression of boundaries in intimate relations—acting on desire in ways that betray trust, cause harm, or violate the commitments of oneself or others.

Also known as: crossing boundaries, infidelity, inappropriate sexual behavior, unfaithfulness to one's partner
Pāli: kāmesumicchācāra
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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