The Buddha describes the five qualities fails, and doesn’t establish themselves in the tru—a mendicant who is faithless, shameless, imprudent, and witless fails, and doesn’t establish themselves in the true teaching, and a mendicant with these five qualities fails, and doesn’t establish themselves in the true teaching.

AN 5.8 Failure

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme. Katamehi pañcahi? Assaddho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme. Ahiriko, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme. Anottappī, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme. Kusīto, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme. Duppañño, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme. Katamehi pañcahi? Saddho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme. Hirīmā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme. Ottappī, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme. Āraddhavīriyo, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme. Paññavā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

“Mendicants, a mendicant with five qualities fails, and doesn’t establish themselves in the true teaching.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Assaddho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

A mendicant who is faithless …

Ahiriko, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

shameless …

Anottappī, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

imprudent …

Kusīto, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

lazy …

Duppañño, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

witless fails, and doesn’t establish themselves in the true teaching.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

A mendicant with these five qualities fails, and doesn’t establish themselves in the true teaching.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

A mendicant with five qualities doesn’t fail, and establishes themselves in the true teaching.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Saddho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

A mendicant who is faithful …

Hirīmā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

conscientious …

Ottappī, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

prudent …

Āraddhavīriyo, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

energetic …

Paññavā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

wise doesn’t fail, and establishes themselves in the true teaching.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme”ti.

A mendicant with these five qualities doesn’t fail, and establishes themselves in the true teaching.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

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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Fear of wrongdoing

Fear of wrongdoing

A wholesome dread of misconduct that considers consequences and the censure of the wise. It looks outward—aware of blame, loss of reputation, and the suffering that follows unskillful action—and holds the mind back from crossing ethical boundaries.

Also known as: conscientious, moral dread, respect for others, (comm) originating from outside
Pāli: ottappa
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Last updated on July 27, 2026