Ru-Yi Meditation Center
Aṅguttara Nikāya · Discourse 5.83

Deceiver

Kuhakasutta — Theravagga — the ninth chapter of the Fives

Setting
None stated; the discourse continues from AN 5.1, whose setting at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove is understood to hold
Speakers
The Buddha alone, addressing the mendicants
Form
two paired five-item lists, matching this chapter's running structure
Length
~1 minute to read
Northern parallel
not identified in this collection
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — five distinct terms for one behavioral cluster

Why this discourse

A well-known stock formula for scheming, acquisitive conduct, found at several points across the early canon: deceit, flattery, hinting, belittling, and using gains already received to chase further gains — five distinct faces of the same underlying manipulation aimed at material support.

Reading guide

Five terms, one behavioral cluster

Unlike AN 5.81's basic reactivity or AN 5.82's roots-plus-interpersonal-faults, this discourse's five terms are entirely about manipulative pursuit of material support — a single behavioral cluster viewed from five angles.

Kuhaka and lapaka

Kuhaka names a deceiver, one who fakes spiritual qualities to attract support. Lapaka names a flatterer, one who ingratiates through talk.

Nemittika and nippesika

Nemittika names a hinter, one who drops hints designed to extract gifts without asking outright. Nippesika names a belittler, one who undermines others by comparison in order to look better.

Using gains to chase further gains

The fifth item, lābhena lābhaṁ nijigīsitā, names a specific tactic: using a gift already received to angle for a larger one in return — giving a small offering, for instance, in order to prompt a bigger one back.

The mirrored positive

As at AN 5.81–82, the beloved senior mendicant is described simply by the negation of all five terms, with nothing further added.

What comes next

AN 5.84 restates a five-item list already familiar from this nipāta's very opening: faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom.

Key terms

kuhaka — “a deceiver” — one who fakes spiritual qualities to gain support.
lapaka — “a flatterer” — one who ingratiates through talk.
nemittika — “a hinter” — one who drops hints to extract gifts without asking outright.
nippesika — “a belittler” — one who undermines others by comparison.
lābhena lābhaṁ nijigīsitā — “using gains to chase further gains” — using a gift already received to angle for a larger one.

The text

The discourse in full: five faces of manipulative pursuit of support, then their negation. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).

Unlikable

§1“Mendicants, a senior mendicant with five qualities is unlikable and disagreeable to their spiritual companions, not respected or admired. What five? They use deceit, flattery, hinting, and belittling, and they use material things to chase after other material things. A senior mendicant with these five qualities is unlikable and disagreeable to their spiritual companions, not respected or admired.

Dear and beloved

§2A senior mendicant with five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired. What five? They don’t use deceit, flattery, hinting, or belittling, and they don’t use material things to chase after other material things. A senior mendicant with these five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired.”

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Self-check quiz

Ten questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.

Question 1 of 10
What single behavioral cluster does this discourse's list center on?
Correct: B. Five distinct terms, one underlying pattern.
Question 2 of 10
What does 'kuhaka' mean?
Correct: A. The discourse's title term.
Question 3 of 10
What does 'lapaka' mean?
Correct: B. The second of the five terms.
Question 4 of 10
What does 'nemittika' mean?
Correct: A. Extracting gifts through hints rather than direct requests.
Question 5 of 10
What does 'nippesika' mean?
Correct: A. Undermining rivals to look better by contrast.
Question 6 of 10
What does 'using gains to chase further gains' describe?
Correct: B. A specific manipulative tactic, the fifth term.
Question 7 of 10
Is this five-term list a well-known formula elsewhere in the canon, or unique to this discourse?
Correct: B. A recognizable, recurring formula for scheming conduct.
Question 8 of 10
How is the 'beloved' list constructed relative to the 'unlikable' list?
Correct: B. Matching AN 5.81–82's pattern.
Question 9 of 10
What broad category of monastic misconduct does this list belong to?
Correct: B. A stock formula for wrong, manipulative livelihood.
Question 10 of 10
What familiar five-item list does AN 5.84 restate next?
Correct: B. The sekhabala pentad, returning in this chapter.
Answered 0 of 10 · Correct 0

Further reading

← PreviousAN 5.82 · Free of Greed