AN 1.82
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very harmful as negligence. Negligence is very harmful.”
AN 1.83
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very beneficial as diligence. Diligence is very beneficial.”
AN 1.84
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very harmful as laziness. Laziness is very harmful.”
AN 1.85
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very beneficial as arousing energy. Arousing energy is very beneficial.”
AN 1.86
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very harmful as having many wishes. Having many wishes is very harmful.”
AN 1.87
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very beneficial as having few wishes. Having few wishes is very beneficial.”
AN 1.88
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very harmful as lack of contentment. Lack of contentment is very harmful.”
AN 1.89
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very beneficial as contentment. Contentment is very beneficial.”
AN 1.90
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very harmful as irrational application of mind. Irrational application of mind is very harmful.”
AN 1.91
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very beneficial as rational application of mind. Rational application of mind is very beneficial.”
AN 1.92
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very harmful as lack of situational awareness. Lack of situational awareness is very harmful.”
AN 1.93
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very beneficial as situational awareness. Situational awareness is very beneficial.”
AN 1.94
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very harmful as bad friends. Bad friends are very harmful.”
AN 1.95
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very beneficial as good friends. Good friends are very beneficial.”
AN 1.96
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very harmful as pursuing bad habits and not good habits. Pursuing bad habits and not good habits is very harmful.”
AN 1.97
“Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that is so very beneficial as pursuing good habits and not bad habits. Pursuing good habits and not bad habits is very beneficial.”
In this teaching on contrasting pairs, the Buddha shares that harmful qualities when pursued, lead to one’s decline in morality, generosity, faith, concentration, and wisdom.
In contrast, the beneficial qualities when pursued, cultivated, and developed, lead to one’s growth in morality, generosity, faith, concentration and wisdom.
Of these pairs, the only exterior factor is good friends. The Buddha has elsewhere shared that this is the single factor, the choice of good / wise company, when pursued, leads one to develop, cultivate, and grow in the rest of the beneficial qualities and to awakening to the truth of enlightenment.
| Harmful Qualities | Beneficial Qualities |
|---|---|
| Negligence | Diligence |
| Laziness | Arousing energy |
| Having many wishes | Having few wishes |
| Lack of contentment | Contentment |
| Irrational application of mind | Rational application of mind |
| Lack of situational awareness | Situational awareness |
| Bad friends | Good friends |
| Pursuing bad habits | Pursuing good habits |
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