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

AN 5.199 Families

“Yaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavanto pabbajitā kulaṁ upasaṅkamanti, tattha manussā pañcahi ṭhānehi bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavanti. Katamehi pañcahi?

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye sīlavante pabbajite kulaṁ upasaṅkamante manussā disvā cittāni pasādenti, saggasaṁvattanikaṁ, bhikkhave, taṁ kulaṁ tasmiṁ samaye paṭipadaṁ paṭipannaṁ hoti.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye sīlavante pabbajite kulaṁ upasaṅkamante manussā paccuṭṭhenti abhivādenti āsanaṁ denti, uccākulīnasaṁvattanikaṁ, bhikkhave, taṁ kulaṁ tasmiṁ samaye paṭipadaṁ paṭipannaṁ hoti.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye sīlavante pabbajite kulaṁ upasaṅkamante manussā maccheramalaṁ paṭivinenti, mahesakkhasaṁvattanikaṁ, bhikkhave, taṁ kulaṁ tasmiṁ samaye paṭipadaṁ paṭipannaṁ hoti.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye sīlavante pabbajite kulaṁ upasaṅkamante manussā yathāsatti yathābalaṁ saṁvibhajanti, mahābhogasaṁvattanikaṁ, bhikkhave, taṁ kulaṁ tasmiṁ samaye paṭipadaṁ paṭipannaṁ hoti.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye sīlavante pabbajite kulaṁ upasaṅkamante manussā paripucchanti paripañhanti dhammaṁ suṇanti, mahāpaññāsaṁvattanikaṁ, bhikkhave, taṁ kulaṁ tasmiṁ samaye paṭipadaṁ paṭipannaṁ hoti.

Yaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavanto pabbajitā kulaṁ upasaṅkamanti, tattha manussā imehi pañcahi ṭhānehi bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavantī”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Yaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavanto pabbajitā kulaṁ upasaṅkamanti, tattha manussā pañcahi ṭhānehi bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavanti.

“When ethical renunciates come to a family, the people brim with much merit for five reasons.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye sīlavante pabbajite kulaṁ upasaṅkamante manussā disvā cittāni pasādenti, saggasaṁvattanikaṁ, bhikkhave, taṁ kulaṁ tasmiṁ samaye paṭipadaṁ paṭipannaṁ hoti.

When they see ethical renunciates coming to their family, the people bring up confidence in their hearts. At that time the family is practicing a path leading to heaven.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye sīlavante pabbajite kulaṁ upasaṅkamante manussā paccuṭṭhenti abhivādenti āsanaṁ denti, uccākulīnasaṁvattanikaṁ, bhikkhave, taṁ kulaṁ tasmiṁ samaye paṭipadaṁ paṭipannaṁ hoti.

When ethical renunciates come to their family, the people rise from their seats, bow down, and offer them a seat. At that time the family is practicing a path leading to a birth in an eminent family.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye sīlavante pabbajite kulaṁ upasaṅkamante manussā maccheramalaṁ paṭivinenti, mahesakkhasaṁvattanikaṁ, bhikkhave, taṁ kulaṁ tasmiṁ samaye paṭipadaṁ paṭipannaṁ hoti.

When ethical renunciates come to their family, the people get rid of the stain of stinginess. At that time the family is practicing a path leading to being illustrious.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye sīlavante pabbajite kulaṁ upasaṅkamante manussā yathāsatti yathābalaṁ saṁvibhajanti, mahābhogasaṁvattanikaṁ, bhikkhave, taṁ kulaṁ tasmiṁ samaye paṭipadaṁ paṭipannaṁ hoti.

When ethical renunciates come to their family, the people share what they have as best they can. At that time the family is practicing a path leading to great wealth.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye sīlavante pabbajite kulaṁ upasaṅkamante manussā paripucchanti paripañhanti dhammaṁ suṇanti, mahāpaññāsaṁvattanikaṁ, bhikkhave, taṁ kulaṁ tasmiṁ samaye paṭipadaṁ paṭipannaṁ hoti.

When ethical renunciates come to their family, the people ask questions and listen to the teachings. At that time the family is practicing a path leading to great wisdom.

Yaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavanto pabbajitā kulaṁ upasaṅkamanti, tattha manussā imehi pañcahi ṭhānehi bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavantī”ti.

When ethical renunciates come to a family, the people brim with much merit for these five reasons.”

Navamaṁ.

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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Merit

Merit

Wholesome result of good conduct, generosity, and right intention. Merit brightens the mind and supports happiness and favorable conditions for practice.

Also known as: good deeds, spiritual wealth
Pāli: puñña, kalyāṇa
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Stinginess

Stinginess

A contracted, possessive refusal to share what one has—whether material goods, knowledge, or status. It clings tightly to what is “mine,” fearing loss and closing the hand against generosity.

Also known as: miserliness, meanness, tight-fistedness
Pāli: macchariya
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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