The Buddha contrasts disrespectful and respectful mendicants, each defined by five qualities—faithlessness, shamelessness, imprudence, laziness, and lack of wisdom versus their opposites.

AN 5.9 Disrespect (1st)

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

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

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

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

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

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Assaddho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu agāravo appatisso cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

A disrespectful and irreverent mendicant who is faithless …

Ahiriko, bhikkhave, bhikkhu agāravo appatisso cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

shameless …

Anottappī, bhikkhave, bhikkhu agāravo appatisso cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

imprudent …

Kusīto, bhikkhave, bhikkhu agāravo appatisso cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

lazy …

Duppañño, bhikkhave, bhikkhu agāravo appatisso cavati, nappatiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

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

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

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

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

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

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Saddho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sagāravo sappatisso na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

A respectful and reverent mendicant who is faithful …

Hirīmā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sagāravo sappatisso na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

conscientious …

Ottappī, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sagāravo sappatisso na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

prudent …

Āraddhavīriyo, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sagāravo sappatisso na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

energetic …

Paññavā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sagāravo sappatisso na cavati, patiṭṭhāti saddhamme.

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

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

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

Navamaṁ.

Qualities:

Contempt

Contempt

A dismissive or belittling attitude that refuses to acknowledge worth or goodness. It closes the heart, undermines gratitude, and prepares the ground for ill will.

Also known as: ungratefulness, depreciation, denigration, disrespect, belittlement, disparagement
Pāli: makkha, vambhaka
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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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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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Unassuming

Unassuming

A gentle, low-profile way of speaking and acting that avoids drawing attention to oneself; restrained in self-display, giving space to others, and simple in manner.

Also known as: courteous, low-key, respectful, not impudent, self-effacing, unpretentious
Pāli: appagabbha, sorata
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Last updated on July 27, 2026