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

AN 5.38 Faith

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, saddhe kulaputte ānisaṁsā. Katame pañca? Ye te, bhikkhave, loke santo sappurisā te saddhaññeva paṭhamaṁ anukampantā anukampanti, no tathā assaddhaṁ; saddhaññeva paṭhamaṁ upasaṅkamantā upasaṅkamanti, no tathā assaddhaṁ; saddhaññeva paṭhamaṁ paṭiggaṇhantā paṭiggaṇhanti, no tathā assaddhaṁ; saddhaññeva paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ desentā desenti, no tathā assaddhaṁ; saddho kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca saddhe kulaputte ānisaṁsā.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, subhūmiyaṁ catumahāpathe mahānigrodho samantā pakkhīnaṁ paṭisaraṇaṁ hoti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, saddho kulaputto bahuno janassa paṭisaraṇaṁ hoti bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ upāsakānaṁ upāsikānanti.

Sākhāpattaphalūpeto,
khandhimāva mahādumo;
Mūlavā phalasampanno,
patiṭṭhā hoti pakkhinaṁ.

Manorame āyatane,
sevanti naṁ vihaṅgamā;
Chāyaṁ chāyatthikā yanti,
phalatthā phalabhojino.

Tatheva sīlasampannaṁ,
saddhaṁ purisapuggalaṁ;
Nivātavuttiṁ atthaddhaṁ,
sorataṁ sakhilaṁ muduṁ.

Vītarāgā vītadosā,
vītamohā anāsavā;
Puññakkhettāni lokasmiṁ,
sevanti tādisaṁ naraṁ.

Te tassa dhammaṁ desenti,
Sabbadukkhāpanūdanaṁ;
Yaṁ so dhammaṁ idhaññāya,
Parinibbāti anāsavo”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, saddhe kulaputte ānisaṁsā.

“Mendicants, a faithful gentleman gets five benefits.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Ye te, bhikkhave, loke santo sappurisā te saddhaññeva paṭhamaṁ anukampantā anukampanti, no tathā assaddhaṁ;

The true persons in the world show sympathy first to the faithful, not so much to the unfaithful.

saddhaññeva paṭhamaṁ upasaṅkamantā upasaṅkamanti, no tathā assaddhaṁ;

They first approach the faithful, not so much the unfaithful.

saddhaññeva paṭhamaṁ paṭiggaṇhantā paṭiggaṇhanti, no tathā assaddhaṁ;

They first receive alms from the faithful, not so much the unfaithful.

saddhaññeva paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ desentā desenti, no tathā assaddhaṁ;

They first teach Dhamma to the faithful, not so much the unfaithful.

saddho kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati.

When their body breaks up, after death, the faithful are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca saddhe kulaputte ānisaṁsā.

A faithful gentleman gets these five benefits.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, subhūmiyaṁ catumahāpathe mahānigrodho samantā pakkhīnaṁ paṭisaraṇaṁ hoti;

Suppose there was a great banyan tree at a level crossroads. It would become a refuge for birds from all around.

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, saddho kulaputto bahuno janassa paṭisaraṇaṁ hoti bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ upāsakānaṁ upāsikānanti.

In the same way, a faithful gentleman becomes a refuge for many people—monks, nuns, laywomen, and laymen.

Sākhāpattaphalūpeto,

With its branches, leaves, and fruit,

khandhimāva mahādumo;

a great tree with its strong trunk,

Mūlavā phalasampanno,

firmly-rooted and fruit-bearing,

patiṭṭhā hoti pakkhinaṁ.

supports many birds.

Manorame āyatane,

It’s a lovely place,

sevanti naṁ vihaṅgamā;

frequented by the sky-soarers.

Chāyaṁ chāyatthikā yanti,

Those that need shade go in the shade,

phalatthā phalabhojino.

those that need fruit enjoy the fruit.

Tatheva sīlasampannaṁ,

So too, a faithful individual

saddhaṁ purisapuggalaṁ;

is perfect in ethics,

Nivātavuttiṁ atthaddhaṁ,

placid in manner and amenable,

sorataṁ sakhilaṁ muduṁ.

gentle, courteous, and tender.

Vītarāgā vītadosā,

Those free of greed, freed of hate,

vītamohā anāsavā;

free of delusion, undefiled,

Puññakkhettāni lokasmiṁ,

fields of merit for the world,

sevanti tādisaṁ naraṁ.

associate with such a person.

Te tassa dhammaṁ desenti,

They teach them the Dhamma,

Sabbadukkhāpanūdanaṁ;

that casts aside all suffering.

Yaṁ so dhammaṁ idhaññāya,

Having understood this teaching,

Parinibbāti anāsavo”ti.

the undefiled one is fully extinguished.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Aversion

Aversion

A rejecting mental quality rooted in perception, where one instinctively turns away from or resists unpleasant experiences or objects; it manifests as a tendency to push away discomfort, obstructing patience and acceptance.

Also known as: animosity, hate, hostility, fault-finding mindset, upset
Pāli: dosa, paṭighasaññā, vera
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Delusion

Delusion

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
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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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Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
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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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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026