Timidity

an / an5

Numbered Discourses 5.158 · 16. The True Teaching

an / an5

Numbered Discourses 5.158 · 16. The True Teaching

“Mendicants, a mendicant with five qualities is overcome by timidity.

What five?

It’s when a mendicant is faithless, unethical, with little learning, lazy, and witless.

A mendicant with these five qualities is overcome by timidity.

A mendicant with five qualities is self-assured.

What five?

It’s when a mendicant is faithful, ethical, learned, energetic, and wise.

A mendicant with these five qualities is self-assured.”

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[1] Bodhi: The commentary explains that the Buddha gave this discourse to cut through the conceit that arose in the five monks because of their arahantship.

[2] Bodhi: The commentary explains that the word "all" (sabba) is used here in a limited sense: that is, it denotes "all that is included in personal identity" (sakkaa-sabba), that is, all states or phenomena (dhamma) included in the five aggregates subject to clinging (khandha) (see MN 28). Supramundane states - paths, fruits, and nibbana - are not included here.

[3] Bodhi: Assutama puthujjana is an ordinary person who has no knowledge of the Dhamma. There are no noble attainments in the Dhamma. The mind is dominated by many defilements and wrong views.