The Buddha teaches on weaknesses in training and effort, presenting a ninefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 9.73 Weaknesses in Training and Effort

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, sikkhādubbalyāni. Katamāni pañca? Pāṇātipāto …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca sikkhādubbalyāni.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ sikkhādubbalyānaṁ pahānāya cattāro sammappadhānā bhāvetabbā. Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati; uppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati; anuppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ uppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati; uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati. Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ sikkhādubbalyānaṁ pahānāya ime cattāro sammappadhānā bhāvetabbā”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, sikkhādubbalyāni.

“Mendicants, there are these five weaknesses when you’re training.

Katamāni pañca?

What five?

Pāṇātipāto …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ

Killing living creatures, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.

imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca sikkhādubbalyāni.

These are the five weaknesses when you’re training.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ sikkhādubbalyānaṁ pahānāya cattāro sammappadhānā bhāvetabbā.

To give up these five weaknesses in your training you should develop the four right efforts.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati;

It’s when a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise.

uppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati;

They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen are given up.

anuppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ uppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati;

They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities arise.

uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.

They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are completed by development.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ sikkhādubbalyānaṁ pahānāya ime cattāro sammappadhānā bhāvetabbā”ti.

To give up these five weaknesses in your training you should develop these four right efforts.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Sexual misconduct

Sexual misconduct

Transgression of boundaries in intimate relations—acting on desire in ways that betray trust, cause harm, or violate the commitments of oneself or others.

Also known as: crossing boundaries, infidelity, inappropriate sexual behavior, unfaithfulness to one's partner
Pāli: kāmesumicchācāra
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Stealing

Stealing

Also known as: theft, taking what is not given, taking what is not offerred, dishonesty regarding possessions
Pāli: adinnādānā
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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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Vigour

Vigour

Energetic effort and resilience in practice. It is the refusal to shrink back, the 'uphill' force that initiates and sustains wholesome actions against the gravity of habit.

Also known as: energy, effort, enthusiasm, zeal, application of will, persistence
Pāli: vīriya
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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026