The Buddha describes the five drawbacks of placing faith in an individual—the individual to whom an individual is devoted falls into an offense such that the saṅgha suspends them, it occurs to them:, ‘this individual dear and beloved to me has been suspended by the saṅgha.’, and they lose much of their faith in mendicants, and so they don’t frequent other mendicants,.

AN 5.250 Faith in Individuals

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā puggalappasāde. Katame pañca?

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, puggale puggalo abhippasanno hoti, so tathārūpaṁ āpattiṁ āpanno hoti yathārūpāya āpattiyā saṅgho ukkhipati. Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘yo kho myāyaṁ puggalo piyo manāpo so saṅghena ukkhitto’ti. Bhikkhūsu appasādabahulo hoti. Bhikkhūsu appasādabahulo samāno aññe bhikkhū na bhajati. Aññe bhikkhū abhajanto saddhammaṁ na suṇāti. Saddhammaṁ asuṇanto saddhammā parihāyati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo ādīnavo puggalappasāde.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, yasmiṁ puggale puggalo abhippasanno hoti, so tathārūpaṁ āpattiṁ āpanno hoti yathārūpāya āpattiyā saṅgho ante nisīdāpeti. Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘yo kho myāyaṁ puggalo piyo manāpo so saṅghena ante nisīdāpito’ti. Bhikkhūsu appasādabahulo hoti. Bhikkhūsu appasādabahulo samāno aññe bhikkhū na bhajati. Aññe bhikkhū abhajanto saddhammaṁ na suṇāti. Saddhammaṁ asuṇanto saddhammā parihāyati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo ādīnavo puggalappasāde.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, yasmiṁ puggale puggalo abhippasanno hoti, so disāpakkanto hoti …pe… so vibbhanto hoti …pe… so kālaṅkato hoti. Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘yo kho myāyaṁ puggalo piyo manāpo so kālaṅkato’ti. Aññe bhikkhū na bhajati. Aññe bhikkhū abhajanto saddhammaṁ na suṇāti. Saddhammaṁ asuṇanto saddhammā parihāyati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo ādīnavo puggalappasāde.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā puggalappasāde”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Duccaritavaggo pañcamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Duccaritaṁ kāyaduccaritaṁ,
Vacīduccaritaṁ manoduccaritaṁ;
Catūhi pare dve sivathikā,
Puggalappasādena cāti.

Pañcamo paṇṇāsako samatto.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā puggalappasāde.

“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of placing faith in an individual.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, puggale puggalo abhippasanno hoti, so tathārūpaṁ āpattiṁ āpanno hoti yathārūpāya āpattiyā saṅgho ukkhipati.

The individual to whom an individual is devoted falls into an offense such that the Saṅgha suspends them.

Tassa evaṁ hoti:

It occurs to them:

‘yo kho myāyaṁ puggalo piyo manāpo so saṅghena ukkhitto’ti.

‘This individual dear and beloved to me has been suspended by the Saṅgha.’

Bhikkhūsu appasādabahulo hoti.

They lose much of their faith in mendicants.

Bhikkhūsu appasādabahulo samāno aññe bhikkhū na bhajati.

So they don’t frequent other mendicants,

Aññe bhikkhū abhajanto saddhammaṁ na suṇāti.

they don’t hear the true teaching,

Saddhammaṁ asuṇanto saddhammā parihāyati.

and they fall away from the true teaching.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo ādīnavo puggalappasāde.

This is the first drawback in placing faith in an individual.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, yasmiṁ puggale puggalo abhippasanno hoti, so tathārūpaṁ āpattiṁ āpanno hoti yathārūpāya āpattiyā saṅgho ante nisīdāpeti.

Furthermore, the individual to whom an individual is devoted falls into an offense such that the Saṅgha makes them sit at the end of the line. …

Tassa evaṁ hoti:

‘yo kho myāyaṁ puggalo piyo manāpo so saṅghena ante nisīdāpito’ti.

Bhikkhūsu appasādabahulo hoti.

Bhikkhūsu appasādabahulo samāno aññe bhikkhū na bhajati.

Aññe bhikkhū abhajanto saddhammaṁ na suṇāti.

Saddhammaṁ asuṇanto saddhammā parihāyati.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo ādīnavo puggalappasāde.

This is the second drawback in placing faith in an individual.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, yasmiṁ puggale puggalo abhippasanno hoti, so disāpakkanto hoti …pe… so vibbhanto hoti …pe… so kālaṅkato hoti.

Furthermore, the individual to whom an individual is devoted leaves for another region … disrobes … passes away.

Tassa evaṁ hoti:

It occurs to them:

‘yo kho myāyaṁ puggalo piyo manāpo so kālaṅkato’ti.

‘This individual dear and beloved to me has passed away.’

Aññe bhikkhū na bhajati.

So they don’t frequent other mendicants,

Aññe bhikkhū abhajanto saddhammaṁ na suṇāti.

they don’t hear the true teaching,

Saddhammaṁ asuṇanto saddhammā parihāyati.

and they fall away from the true teaching.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo ādīnavo puggalappasāde.

This is the fifth drawback in placing faith in an individual.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā puggalappasāde”ti.

These are the five drawbacks of placing faith in an individual.”

Dasamaṁ.

Duccaritavaggo pañcamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Duccaritaṁ kāyaduccaritaṁ,

Vacīduccaritaṁ manoduccaritaṁ;

Catūhi pare dve sivathikā,

Puggalappasādena cāti.

Pañcamo paṇṇāsako samatto.

Qualities:

Dearness

Dearness

A mental quality of holding something or someone as 'dear' through attachment, which binds the mind with craving and possessiveness. It is the external fixation upon what the mind clings to, often giving rise to envy, quarrels, and sorrow.

Also known as: beloved, cherished, pleasing
Pāli: piya
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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026