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

AN 5.234 Very Helpful

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu āvāsassa bahūpakāro hoti. Katamehi pañcahi?

Sīlavā hoti …pe… samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu;

bahussuto hoti …pe… diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā;

khaṇḍaphullaṁ paṭisaṅkharoti;

mahā kho pana bhikkhusaṅgho abhikkanto nānāverajjakā bhikkhū gihīnaṁ upasaṅkamitvā āroceti:

‘mahā kho, āvuso, bhikkhusaṅgho abhikkanto nānāverajjakā bhikkhū, karotha puññāni, samayo puññāni kātun’ti;

catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu āvāsassa bahūpakāro hotī”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu āvāsassa bahūpakāro hoti.

“Mendicants, a resident mendicant with five qualities is very helpful to the monastery.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Sīlavā hoti …pe… samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu;

They’re ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.

bahussuto hoti …pe… diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā;

They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s totally full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reciting them, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically.

khaṇḍaphullaṁ paṭisaṅkharoti;

They repair what is decayed and damaged.

mahā kho pana bhikkhusaṅgho abhikkanto nānāverajjakā bhikkhū gihīnaṁ upasaṅkamitvā āroceti:

When a large mendicant Saṅgha is arriving with mendicants from abroad, they go to the lay people and announce:

‘mahā kho, āvuso, bhikkhusaṅgho abhikkanto nānāverajjakā bhikkhū, karotha puññāni, samayo puññāni kātun’ti;

‘A large mendicant Saṅgha is arriving with mendicants from abroad. Make merit! Now is the time to make merit!’

catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

They get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu āvāsassa bahūpakāro hotī”ti.

A resident mendicant with these five qualities is very helpful to the monastery.”

Catutthaṁ.

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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Ill will

Ill will

A mental quality of actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, manifesting as deliberate thoughts or intentions that oppose kindness and compassion; it fuels conflict and obstructs goodwill.

Also known as: actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, thought of malevolence towards another, hostile reflections towards another
Pāli: byāpāda
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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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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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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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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