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← Aṅguttara Nikāya

Five Factors

AN 10.12 · Pañcaṅgasutta

A single sharp thorn rises from a weathered twig against a soft woodland background.

“Mendicants, in this teaching and training a mendicant who has given up five factors and possesses five factors is called consummate, accomplished, a supreme person.

And how has a mendicant given up five factors? It’s when a mendicant has given up sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt. That’s how a mendicant has given up five factors.

And how does a mendicant have five factors? It’s when a mendicant has the entire spectrum of an adept’s ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and knowledge and vision of freedom. That’s how a mendicant has five factors.

In this teaching and training a mendicant who has given up five factors and possesses five factors is called consummate, accomplished, a supreme person.

Sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness, and doubt are not found in a mendicant at all.

That sort are accomplished in an adept’s ethics, an adept’s immersion, and freedom and knowledge.

Possessing these five factors, and rid of five factors, in this teaching and training they’re called ‘consummate’.”

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Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.