The Buddha teaches on deserving criticism (1st), presenting a fivefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 5.236 Deserving Criticism (1st)

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Katamehi pañcahi? Ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati; ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati; ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā appasādanīye ṭhāne pasādaṁ upadaṁseti; ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā pasādanīye ṭhāne appasādaṁ upadaṁseti; saddhādeyyaṁ vinipāteti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge. Katamehi pañcahi? Anuvicca pariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati; anuvicca pariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati; anuvicca pariyogāhetvā appasādanīye ṭhāne appasādaṁ upadaṁseti; anuvicca pariyogāhetvā pasādanīye ṭhāne pasādaṁ upadaṁseti; saddhādeyyaṁ na vinipāteti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

“Mendicants, a resident mendicant with five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati;

Without examining or scrutinizing, they praise those deserving of criticism,

ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati;

and they criticize those deserving of praise.

ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā appasādanīye ṭhāne pasādaṁ upadaṁseti;

Without examining or scrutinizing, they arouse faith in things that are dubious,

ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā pasādanīye ṭhāne appasādaṁ upadaṁseti;

and they don’t arouse faith in things that are inspiring.

saddhādeyyaṁ vinipāteti.

And they waste a gift given in faith.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

A resident mendicant with these five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge.

A resident mendicant with five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Anuvicca pariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati;

After examining and scrutinizing, they criticize those deserving of criticism,

anuvicca pariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati;

and they praise those deserving of praise.

anuvicca pariyogāhetvā appasādanīye ṭhāne appasādaṁ upadaṁseti;

They don’t arouse faith in things that are dubious,

anuvicca pariyogāhetvā pasādanīye ṭhāne pasādaṁ upadaṁseti;

and they do arouse faith in things that are inspiring.

saddhādeyyaṁ na vinipāteti.

And they don’t waste a gift given in faith.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.

A resident mendicant with these five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Qualities:

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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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