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

AN 5.239 Stinginess (1st)

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Katamehi pañcahi? Āvāsamaccharī hoti; kulamaccharī hoti; lābhamaccharī hoti; vaṇṇamaccharī hoti; 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? Na āvāsamaccharī hoti; na kulamaccharī hoti; na lābhamaccharī hoti; na vaṇṇamaccharī hoti; saddhādeyyaṁ na vinipāteti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato āvāsiko bhikkhu yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ sagge”ti.

Navamaṁ.

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?

Āvāsamaccharī hoti;

They’re stingy regarding monasteries,

kulamaccharī hoti;

families,

lābhamaccharī hoti;

material things,

vaṇṇamaccharī hoti;

and praise.

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?

Na āvāsamaccharī hoti;

They’re not stingy regarding monasteries,

na kulamaccharī hoti;

families,

na lābhamaccharī hoti;

material things,

na vaṇṇamaccharī hoti;

and praise.

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.”

Navamaṁ.

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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Stinginess

Stinginess

A contracted, possessive refusal to share what one has—whether material goods, knowledge, or status. It clings tightly to what is “mine,” fearing loss and closing the hand against generosity.

Also known as: miserliness, meanness, tight-fistedness
Pāli: macchariya
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Last updated on July 27, 2026