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← Aṅguttara Nikāya

Should Not Associate, Etc.

AN 10.199-210 · Nasevitabbādisutta

A pale lotus among green leaves and reflections on a misty pond.

“Mendicants, you should not associate with an individual who possesses ten qualities. What ten? They kill living creatures, steal, and commit sexual misconduct. They use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re covetous, malicious, with wrong view. You should not associate with an individual who possesses these ten qualities.

You should associate with an individual who possesses ten qualities. What ten? They don’t kill living creatures, steal, or commit sexual misconduct. They don’t use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. They’re contented, kind-hearted, with right view. You should associate with an individual who possesses these ten qualities.”

“Mendicants, you should not frequent an individual who possesses ten qualities … You should frequent …” “You should not pay homage … You should pay homage …” “You should not venerate … You should venerate …” “You should not praise … You should praise …” “You should not revere … You should revere …” “You should not defer to … You should defer to …” “Someone is not a success … Someone is a success …” “Someone is not pure … Someone is pure …” “Someone does not win over conceit … Someone wins over conceit …” “Someone does not grow in wisdom … Someone grows in wisdom …”

“An individual who possesses these ten qualities brims with much wickedness. … An individual who possesses these ten qualities brims with much merit. What ten? They don’t kill living creatures, steal, or commit sexual misconduct. They don’t use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. They’re contented, kind-hearted, with right view. An individual who possesses these ten qualities brims with much merit.”

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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. This source combines a range of related numbered discourses.

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