The Buddha teaches on those who eat only from the almsbowl, presenting a fivefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 5.190 Those Who Eat Only From the Almsbowl

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, pattapiṇḍikā. Katame pañca? Mandattā momūhattā pattapiṇḍiko hoti, pāpiccho icchāpakato pattapiṇḍiko hoti, ummādā cittakkhepā pattapiṇḍiko hoti, ‘vaṇṇitaṁ buddhehi buddhasāvakehī’ti pattapiṇḍiko hoti, appicchataṁyeva nissāya santuṭṭhiṁyeva nissāya sallekhaṁyeva nissāya pavivekaṁyeva nissāya idamatthitaṁyeva nissāya pattapiṇḍiko hoti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca pattapiṇḍikā. Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ pattapiṇḍikānaṁ yvāyaṁ pattapiṇḍiko appicchataṁyeva nissāya santuṭṭhiṁyeva nissāya sallekhaṁyeva nissāya pavivekaṁyeva nissāya idamatthitaṁyeva nissāya pattapiṇḍiko hoti, ayaṁ imesaṁ pañcannaṁ pattapiṇḍikānaṁ aggo ca seṭṭho ca mokkho ca uttamo ca pavaro ca.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gavā khīraṁ, khīramhā dadhi, dadhimhā navanītaṁ, navanītamhā sappi, sappimhā sappimaṇḍo, sappimaṇḍo tattha aggamakkhāyati; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, imesaṁ pañcannaṁ pattapiṇḍikānaṁ yvāyaṁ pattapiṇḍiko appicchataṁyeva nissāya santuṭṭhiṁyeva nissāya sallekhaṁyeva nissāya pavivekaṁyeva nissāya idamatthitaṁyeva nissāya pattapiṇḍiko hoti, ayaṁ imesaṁ pañcannaṁ pattapiṇḍikānaṁ aggo ca seṭṭho ca mokkho ca uttamo ca pavaro cā”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Araññavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Araññaṁ cīvaraṁ rukkha,
Susānaṁ abbhokāsikaṁ;
Nesajjaṁ santhataṁ ekāsanikaṁ,
Khalupacchāpiṇḍikena cāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, pattapiṇḍikā.

“Mendicants, these five eat only from the almsbowl.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Mandattā momūhattā pattapiṇḍiko hoti, pāpiccho icchāpakato pattapiṇḍiko hoti, ummādā cittakkhepā pattapiṇḍiko hoti, ‘vaṇṇitaṁ buddhehi buddhasāvakehī’ti pattapiṇḍiko hoti, appicchataṁyeva nissāya santuṭṭhiṁyeva nissāya sallekhaṁyeva nissāya pavivekaṁyeva nissāya idamatthitaṁyeva nissāya pattapiṇḍiko hoti.

One may eat only from the almsbowl because of stupidity and folly. Or because of corrupt wishes, being of wishful temperament. Or because of madness and mental disorder. Or because it is praised by the Buddhas and their disciples. Or for the sake of having few wishes, for the sake of contentment, self-effacement, seclusion, and simplicity.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca pattapiṇḍikā.

These are the five who eat only from the almsbowl.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ pattapiṇḍikānaṁ yvāyaṁ pattapiṇḍiko appicchataṁyeva nissāya santuṭṭhiṁyeva nissāya sallekhaṁyeva nissāya pavivekaṁyeva nissāya idamatthitaṁyeva nissāya pattapiṇḍiko hoti, ayaṁ imesaṁ pañcannaṁ pattapiṇḍikānaṁ aggo ca seṭṭho ca mokkho ca uttamo ca pavaro ca.

But the person who eats only from the almsbowl for the sake of having few wishes is the foremost, best, chief, highest, and finest of the five.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gavā khīraṁ, khīramhā dadhi, dadhimhā navanītaṁ, navanītamhā sappi, sappimhā sappimaṇḍo, sappimaṇḍo tattha aggamakkhāyati;

From a cow comes milk, from milk comes curds, from curds come butter, from butter comes ghee, and from ghee comes cream of ghee. And the cream of ghee is said to be the best of these.

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, imesaṁ pañcannaṁ pattapiṇḍikānaṁ yvāyaṁ pattapiṇḍiko appicchataṁyeva nissāya santuṭṭhiṁyeva nissāya sallekhaṁyeva nissāya pavivekaṁyeva nissāya idamatthitaṁyeva nissāya pattapiṇḍiko hoti, ayaṁ imesaṁ pañcannaṁ pattapiṇḍikānaṁ aggo ca seṭṭho ca mokkho ca uttamo ca pavaro cā”ti.

In the same way, the one who eats only from the almsbowl for the sake of having few wishes is the foremost, best, chief, highest, and finest of the five.”

Dasamaṁ.

Araññavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Araññaṁ cīvaraṁ rukkha,

Susānaṁ abbhokāsikaṁ;

Nesajjaṁ santhataṁ ekāsanikaṁ,

Khalupacchāpiṇḍikena cāti.

Qualities:

Contentment

Contentment

The quality of being satisfied with the requisites one has and with the present conditions, resulting in having few desires and being free from agitation.

Also known as: fewness of wishes, having few desires, satisfaction, sense of ease
Pāli: santutthi, appicchatā, tuṭṭha, tosana
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Insanity

Insanity

A disturbed and unstable mental condition in which the mind is scattered, erratic, or deranged. It can range from temporary disorientation and agitation to severe forms of insanity, obstructing clarity and discernment.

Also known as: craziness, mental derangement, lunacy, loss of reason, madness
Pāli: ummattaka, cittakkhepa
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Solitude

Solitude

Physical seclusion from crowds and mental seclusion from unwholesome states. It provides the quietude necessary for the mind to settle, detach from worldly entanglements, and develop deep collectedness.

Also known as: seclusion, privacy, aloofness, non-association
Pāli: viveka, asaṃsaṭṭha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026