The Buddha teaches on cannot endure, presenting a fivefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 5.85 Cannot Endure

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārīnaṁ appiyo ca hoti amanāpo ca agaru ca abhāvanīyo ca. Katamehi pañcahi? Akkhamo hoti rūpānaṁ, akkhamo saddānaṁ, akkhamo gandhānaṁ, akkhamo rasānaṁ, akkhamo phoṭṭhabbānaṁ imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārīnaṁ appiyo ca hoti amanāpo ca agaru ca abhāvanīyo ca.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārīnaṁ piyo ca hoti manāpo ca garu ca bhāvanīyo ca. Katamehi pañcahi? Khamo hoti rūpānaṁ, khamo saddānaṁ, khamo gandhānaṁ, khamo rasānaṁ, khamo phoṭṭhabbānaṁ imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārīnaṁ piyo ca hoti manāpo ca garu ca bhāvanīyo cā”ti.

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārīnaṁ appiyo ca hoti amanāpo ca agaru ca abhāvanīyo ca.

“Mendicants, a senior mendicant with five qualities is unlikable and disagreeable to their spiritual companions, not respected or admired.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Akkhamo hoti rūpānaṁ, akkhamo saddānaṁ, akkhamo gandhānaṁ, akkhamo rasānaṁ, akkhamo phoṭṭhabbānaṁ

They can’t endure sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārīnaṁ appiyo ca hoti amanāpo ca agaru ca abhāvanīyo ca.

A senior mendicant with these five qualities is unlikable and disagreeable to their spiritual companions, not respected or admired.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārīnaṁ piyo ca hoti manāpo ca garu ca bhāvanīyo ca.

A senior mendicant with five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Khamo hoti rūpānaṁ, khamo saddānaṁ, khamo gandhānaṁ, khamo rasānaṁ, khamo phoṭṭhabbānaṁ

They can endure sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārīnaṁ piyo ca hoti manāpo ca garu ca bhāvanīyo cā”ti.

A senior mendicant with these five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired.”

Pañcamaṁ.

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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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