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

AN 5.6 Becoming

“Na tāva, bhikkhave, akusalassa samāpatti hoti yāva saddhā paccupaṭṭhitā hoti kusalesu dhammesu. Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, saddhā antarahitā hoti, assaddhiyaṁ pariyuṭṭhāya tiṭṭhati; atha akusalassa samāpatti hoti.

Na tāva, bhikkhave, akusalassa samāpatti hoti yāva hirī paccupaṭṭhitā hoti kusalesu dhammesu. Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, hirī antarahitā hoti, ahirikaṁ pariyuṭṭhāya tiṭṭhati; atha akusalassa samāpatti hoti.

Na tāva, bhikkhave, akusalassa samāpatti hoti yāva ottappaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ hoti kusalesu dhammesu. Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, ottappaṁ antarahitaṁ hoti, anottappaṁ pariyuṭṭhāya tiṭṭhati; atha akusalassa samāpatti hoti.

Na tāva, bhikkhave, akusalassa samāpatti hoti yāva vīriyaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ hoti kusalesu dhammesu. Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, vīriyaṁ antarahitaṁ hoti, kosajjaṁ pariyuṭṭhāya tiṭṭhati; atha akusalassa samāpatti hoti.

Na tāva, bhikkhave, akusalassa samāpatti hoti yāva paññā paccupaṭṭhitā hoti kusalesu dhammesu. Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, paññā antarahitā hoti, duppaññā pariyuṭṭhāya tiṭṭhati; atha akusalassa samāpatti hotī”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Na tāva, bhikkhave, akusalassa samāpatti hoti yāva saddhā paccupaṭṭhitā hoti kusalesu dhammesu.

“Mendicants, you don’t become unskillful as long as faith is established in skillful qualities.

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, saddhā antarahitā hoti, assaddhiyaṁ pariyuṭṭhāya tiṭṭhati;

But when faith vanishes and faithlessness takes over,

atha akusalassa samāpatti hoti.

you become unskillful.

Na tāva, bhikkhave, akusalassa samāpatti hoti yāva hirī paccupaṭṭhitā hoti kusalesu dhammesu.

You don’t become unskillful as long as conscience … prudence … energy … wisdom is established in skillful qualities.

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, hirī antarahitā hoti, ahirikaṁ pariyuṭṭhāya tiṭṭhati;

atha akusalassa samāpatti hoti.

Na tāva, bhikkhave, akusalassa samāpatti hoti yāva ottappaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ hoti kusalesu dhammesu.

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, ottappaṁ antarahitaṁ hoti, anottappaṁ pariyuṭṭhāya tiṭṭhati;

atha akusalassa samāpatti hoti.

Na tāva, bhikkhave, akusalassa samāpatti hoti yāva vīriyaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ hoti kusalesu dhammesu.

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, vīriyaṁ antarahitaṁ hoti, kosajjaṁ pariyuṭṭhāya tiṭṭhati;

atha akusalassa samāpatti hoti.

Na tāva, bhikkhave, akusalassa samāpatti hoti yāva paññā paccupaṭṭhitā hoti kusalesu dhammesu.

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, paññā antarahitā hoti, duppaññā pariyuṭṭhāya tiṭṭhati;

But when wisdom vanishes and witlessness takes over,

atha akusalassa samāpatti hotī”ti.

you become unskillful.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Qualities:

Conscience

Conscience

An inner moral sensitivity that shrinks from wrongdoing out of self-respect and personal integrity. It is the voice within that knows what is beneath one's dignity, guarding conduct through an inward standard of honor.

Also known as: with sense of right and wrong, sense of shame, modesty, (comm) originating from inside
Pāli: hirī
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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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Faithlessness

Faithlessness

An absence of confidence in the path and its fruits. The mind remains unconvinced, unable to commit energy or trust to practice. This inner hesitancy stalls progress and leaves one adrift without direction.

Also known as: lack of confidence, lack of conviction, disbelief, cynicism
Pāli: assadha
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Unwholesome

Unwholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of poor health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameworthy, unhealthy, unskillful, unbeneficial, karmically unprofitable
Pāli: akusala
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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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