The Buddha teaches on a trainee (2nd), presenting a fivefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 5.90 A Trainee (2nd)

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti. Katame pañca?

Idha, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu bahukicco hoti bahukaraṇīyo viyatto kiṅkaraṇīyesu; riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu appamattakena kammena divasaṁ atināmeti; riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu saṁsaṭṭho viharati gahaṭṭhapabbajitehi ananulomikena gihisaṁsaggena; riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu akālena gāmaṁ pavisati, atidivā paṭikkamati; riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu yāyaṁ kathā ābhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ appicchakathā santuṭṭhikathā pavivekakathā asaṁsaggakathā vīriyārambhakathā sīlakathā samādhikathā paññākathā vimuttikathā vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpiyā kathāya na nikāmalābhī hoti na akicchalābhī na akasiralābhī; riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti.

Pañcime, bhikkhave, dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti. Katame pañca?

Idha, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu na bahukicco hoti na bahukaraṇīyo viyatto kiṅkaraṇīyesu; na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu na appamattakena kammena divasaṁ atināmeti; na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu asaṁsaṭṭho viharati gahaṭṭhapabbajitehi ananulomikena gihisaṁsaggena; na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu na atikālena gāmaṁ pavisati, nātidivā paṭikkamati; na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu yāyaṁ kathā ābhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ appicchakathā santuṭṭhikathā pavivekakathā asaṁsaggakathā vīriyārambhakathā sīlakathā samādhikathā paññākathā vimuttikathā vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpiyā kathāya nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī; na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Theravaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Rajanīyo vītarāgo,
kuhakāssaddhaakkhamā;
Paṭisambhidā ca sīlena,
thero sekhā pare duveti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti.

“These five things lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Idha, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu bahukicco hoti bahukaraṇīyo viyatto kiṅkaraṇīyesu;

Firstly, a mendicant trainee has many duties and responsibilities, and is competent in many tasks.

riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.

They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.

This is the first thing that leads to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu appamattakena kammena divasaṁ atināmeti;

Furthermore, a mendicant trainee spends too much time doing trivial work.

riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.

They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.

This is the second thing that leads to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu saṁsaṭṭho viharati gahaṭṭhapabbajitehi ananulomikena gihisaṁsaggena;

Furthermore, a mendicant trainee mixes closely with laypeople and renunciates, socializing inappropriately like a layperson.

riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.

They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.

This is the third thing that leads to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu akālena gāmaṁ pavisati, atidivā paṭikkamati;

Furthermore, a mendicant trainee enters the town at the wrong time, and returns too late in the day.

riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.

They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.

This is the fourth thing that leads to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu yāyaṁ kathā ābhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ

Furthermore, a mendicant trainee doesn’t get to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart, when they want, without trouble or difficulty. That is,

appicchakathā santuṭṭhikathā pavivekakathā asaṁsaggakathā vīriyārambhakathā sīlakathā samādhikathā paññākathā vimuttikathā vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpiyā kathāya na nikāmalābhī hoti na akicchalābhī na akasiralābhī;

talk about fewness of wishes, contentment, seclusion, aloofness, arousing energy, ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom.

riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.

They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.

This is the fifth thing that leads to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti.

These five things lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Pañcime, bhikkhave, dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti.

These five things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Idha, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu na bahukicco hoti na bahukaraṇīyo viyatto kiṅkaraṇīyesu;

Firstly, a mendicant trainee doesn’t have many duties and responsibilities, even though they are competent in many tasks.

na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.

They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.

This is the first thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu na appamattakena kammena divasaṁ atināmeti;

Furthermore, a mendicant trainee doesn’t waste their day doing trivial work.

na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.

They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.

This is the second thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu asaṁsaṭṭho viharati gahaṭṭhapabbajitehi ananulomikena gihisaṁsaggena;

Furthermore, a mendicant trainee doesn’t mix closely with laypeople and renunciates, socializing inappropriately like a layperson.

na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.

They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.

This is the third thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu na atikālena gāmaṁ pavisati, nātidivā paṭikkamati;

Furthermore, a mendicant trainee doesn’t enter the village too early or return too late in the day.

na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.

They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.

This is the fourth thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu yāyaṁ kathā ābhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ

Furthermore, a mendicant trainee gets to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart, when they want, without trouble or difficulty. That is,

appicchakathā santuṭṭhikathā pavivekakathā asaṁsaggakathā vīriyārambhakathā sīlakathā samādhikathā paññākathā vimuttikathā vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpiyā kathāya nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī;

talk about fewness of wishes, contentment, seclusion, aloofness, arousing energy, ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom.

na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.

They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.

This is the fifth thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

These five things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.”

Dasamaṁ.

Theravaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Rajanīyo vītarāgo,

kuhakāssaddhaakkhamā;

Paṭisambhidā ca sīlena,

thero sekhā pare duveti.

Topics & Qualities:

Contentment

Contentment

The quality of being satisfied with the requisites one has and with the present conditions, resulting in having few desires and being free from agitation.

Also known as: fewness of wishes, having few desires, satisfaction, sense of ease
Pāli: santutthi, appicchatā, tuṭṭha, tosana
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Liberation

Liberation

Liberation can imply a temporary release of the mind, i.e. liberated from certain unwholesome mental qualities or complete liberation from all unwholesome qualities of the mind, i.e. Nibbāna.

Also known as: freedom, release, emancipation, deliverance
Pāli: vimutti, vimokkha, cetovimutti, paññāvimutti, akuppā cetovimutti
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Solitude

Solitude

Physical seclusion from crowds and mental seclusion from unwholesome states. It provides the quietude necessary for the mind to settle, detach from worldly entanglements, and develop deep collectedness.

Also known as: seclusion, privacy, aloofness, non-association
Pāli: viveka, asaṃsaṭṭha
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Tranquility

Tranquility

A mental quality of calm and stillness that arises when the body and mind are unburdened by agitation.

Also known as: calmness, peacefulness, serenity
Pāli: passaddhi, santi, upasama, upasanta
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Vision

Vision

The corrective clarity that clearly sees into the true nature of things as they actually are.

Also known as: knowledge and vision, seeing clearly, seeing things as they are, seeing the truth, seeing the dhamma
Pāli: dassana, ñāṇadassana, yathābhūtañāṇadassana
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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