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

AN 5.235 A Sympathetic Mendicant

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu gihīnaṁ anukampati. Katamehi pañcahi? Adhisīle samādapeti; dhammadassane niveseti; gilānake upasaṅkamitvā satiṁ uppādeti: ‘arahaggataṁ āyasmanto satiṁ upaṭṭhāpethā’ti; mahā kho pana bhikkhusaṅgho abhikkanto nānāverajjakā bhikkhū gihīnaṁ upasaṅkamitvā āroceti: ‘mahā kho, āvuso, bhikkhusaṅgho abhikkanto nānāverajjakā bhikkhū, karotha puññāni, samayo puññāni kātun’ti; yaṁ kho panassa bhojanaṁ denti lūkhaṁ paṇītaṁ taṁ attanā paribhuñjati, saddhādeyyaṁ na vinipāteti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu gihīnaṁ anukampatī”ti.

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu gihīnaṁ anukampati.

“Mendicants, a resident mendicant with five qualities shows sympathy to the lay people.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Adhisīle samādapeti;

They encourage them in higher ethics.

dhammadassane niveseti;

They equip them to see the truth of the teachings.

gilānake upasaṅkamitvā satiṁ uppādeti:

When they are sick, they go to them and prompt their mindfulness, saying:

‘arahaggataṁ āyasmanto satiṁ upaṭṭhāpethā’ti;

‘Establish your mindfulness, good fellows, in what is worthy.’

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!’

yaṁ kho panassa bhojanaṁ denti lūkhaṁ paṇītaṁ taṁ attanā paribhuñjati, saddhādeyyaṁ na vinipāteti.

And they eat whatever food they give them, coarse or fine, not wasting a gift given in faith.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu gihīnaṁ anukampatī”ti.

A resident mendicant with these five qualities shows sympathy to the lay people.”

Pañcamaṁ.

Qualities:

Compassion

Compassion

A mental quality of wise empathy in response to suffering, which counters qualities of harm or cruelty.

Also known as: benevolence, concern, sympathy, kindness towards those who are suffering
Pāli: karuṇā, anukampa
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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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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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Truth

Truth

The quality of what is real and dependable; speech and conduct aligned with reality, honesty, and integrity.

Also known as: accuracy, reliability, verifiability
Pāli: sacca
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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