Reading guide
Four combinations, one ideal fifth
Someone who transgresses and regrets it; someone who transgresses and doesn't regret it; someone who doesn't transgress yet still regrets; and someone who neither transgresses nor regrets — four possible combinations, all four of which still fail to understand where arisen unskillful qualities cease without remainder. Only a fifth type, who neither transgresses nor regrets and does understand that liberation, is the genuine ideal.
Neither absence of wrongdoing nor mere regret is sufficient
The matrix makes an important point plain: not committing wrongdoing (the fourth type) isn't enough on its own if genuine liberating understanding is still absent; and feeling regret (the third type) doesn't indicate virtue either, without that same understanding.
Individually tailored counseling
Each of the four lesser types is given specific, quoted advice matched exactly to their combination: the first is told their transgression-born and regret-born defilements are both present and growing, and advised to give up both; the second, whose regret doesn't grow, is advised to give up only the transgression-born defilements; the third, who has no transgression-born defilements but whose regret grows, is advised to get rid of just the regret; the fourth, who has neither, is simply advised to develop mind and wisdom directly.
The same closing formula, every time
Each piece of advice closes with the identical promise: ‘in this way you'll become just like the fifth individual’ — framing the whole exercise as a genuinely pastoral, individualized path toward the same shared goal.
What comes next
AN 5.143 shifts entirely to a vivid narrative: the Buddha's encounter with the Licchavis at the Sārandada Shrine.
Key terms
The text
Five individuals
§1“Mendicants, these five individuals are found in the world. What five? One individual transgresses and regrets it. And they don’t truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where those arisen bad, unskillful qualities cease without remainder. One individual transgresses and doesn’t regret it. And they don’t understand … One individual doesn’t transgress yet still feels regret. And they don’t understand … One individual neither transgresses nor regrets. But they don’t understand … One individual neither transgresses nor regrets. And they do understand where those arisen bad, unskillful qualities cease without remainder.
Counseling the first: transgresses and regrets
§2Take the case of the individual who transgresses and regrets it. And they don’t truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where those arisen bad, unskillful qualities cease without remainder. They should be told: ‘Venerable, the defilements born of transgression are found in you, and the defilements born of regret grow. You would do well to give up the defilements born of transgression and get rid of the defilements born of regret, and then develop the mind and wisdom. In this way you’ll become just like the fifth individual.’
Counseling the second: transgresses without regret
§3Take the case of the individual who transgresses and doesn’t regret it. And they don’t understand… They should be told: ‘Venerable, the defilements born of transgression are found in you, but the defilements born of regret don’t grow. You would do well to give up the defilements born of transgression, and then develop the mind and wisdom. In this way you’ll become just like the fifth individual.’
Counseling the third: doesn't transgress, yet regrets
§4Take the case of the individual who doesn’t transgress yet feels regret. And they don’t understand… They should be told: ‘Venerable, the defilements born of transgression are not found in you, yet the defilements born of regret grow. You would do well to get rid of the defilements born of regret, and then develop the mind and wisdom. In this way you’ll become just like the fifth individual.’
Counseling the fourth: neither transgresses nor regrets
§5Take the case of the individual who neither transgresses nor regrets. But they don’t understand… They should be told: ‘Venerable, the defilements born of transgression are not found in you, and the defilements born of regret don’t grow. You would do well to develop the mind and wisdom. In this way you’ll become just like the fifth individual.’ And so, mendicants, when these four individuals are advised and instructed by comparison with the fifth individual, they gradually attain the ending of defilements.”
Self-check quiz
Ten questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.