The Buddha teaches on deserving criticism (2nd), presenting a fivefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 5.237 Deserving Criticism (2nd)

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Katamehi pañcahi? Ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā avaṇṇārahassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati; ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā vaṇṇārahassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati; āvāsamaccharī hoti āvāsapaligedhī; kulamaccharī hoti kulapaligedhī; 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; na āvāsamaccharī hoti na āvāsapaligedhī; na kulamaccharī hoti na kulapaligedhī; saddhādeyyaṁ na vinipāteti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

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.

āvāsamaccharī hoti āvāsapaligedhī;

They’re stingy and avaricious regarding monasteries.

kulamaccharī hoti kulapaligedhī;

They’re stingy and avaricious regarding families.

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.

na āvāsamaccharī hoti na āvāsapaligedhī;

They’re not stingy and avaricious regarding monasteries.

na kulamaccharī hoti na kulapaligedhī;

They’re not stingy and avaricious regarding families.

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.”

Sattamaṁ.

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
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026