The Buddha describes the five drawbacks of intolerance.

AN 5.216 Intolerance (2nd)

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā akkhantiyā. Katame pañca? Bahuno janassa appiyo hoti amanāpo, luddo ca hoti, vippaṭisārī ca, sammūḷho kālaṁ karoti, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā akkhantiyā.

Pañcime, bhikkhave, ānisaṁsā khantiyā. Katame pañca? Bahuno janassa piyo hoti manāpo, aluddo ca hoti, avippaṭisārī ca, asammūḷho kālaṁ karoti, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ānisaṁsā khantiyā”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā akkhantiyā.

“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of intolerance.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Bahuno janassa appiyo hoti amanāpo, luddo ca hoti, vippaṭisārī ca, sammūḷho kālaṁ karoti, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati.

Most people find you unlikable and disagreeable. You’re cruel and remorseful. You feel lost when you die. And when your body breaks up, after death, you’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā akkhantiyā.

These are the five drawbacks to intolerance.

Pañcime, bhikkhave, ānisaṁsā khantiyā.

There are these five benefits of tolerance.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Bahuno janassa piyo hoti manāpo, aluddo ca hoti, avippaṭisārī ca, asammūḷho kālaṁ karoti, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati.

Most people find you likable and agreeable. You’re neither cruel nor remorseful. You don’t feel lost when you die. And when your body breaks up, after death, you’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ānisaṁsā khantiyā”ti.

These are the five benefits of tolerance.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Qualities:

Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Patience

Patience

A quality of calm endurance that bears hardship, delay, and harshness without resentment. It is the strength to remain composed and gentle under provocation, grounded in wisdom and compassion.

Also known as: endurance, tolerance, forbearance
Pāli: khanti, khama
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026