- - - Home
    - Random sutta
    - Random article
    - Abbreviations
    - Glossary
    - Index
    - Help!
- - Tipitaka
    - Vinaya Pitaka
    - Sutta Pitaka
    - DN
    - MN
    - SN
    - AN
    - KN
    - Khp
    - Dhp
    - Ud
    - Iti
    - Sn
    - Abhidhamma
- Anguttara Nikaya
- Fives

AN 5.165
PTS: A iii 191
Pañhapuccha Sutta: On Asking Questions
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
© 2004

Then Ven. Sariputta addressed the monks: "Friend monks."

"Yes, friend," the monks responded to him.

Ven. Sariputta said: "All those who ask questions of another do so from any one of five motivations. Which five?

"One asks a question of another through stupidity & bewilderment. One asks a question of another through evil desires & overwhelmed with greed. One asks a question of another through contempt. One asks a question of another when desiring knowledge. Or one asks a question with this thought,[1] 'If, when asked, he answers correctly, well & good. If not, then I will answer correctly [for him].'

"All those who ask questions of another do so from any one of these five motivations. And as for me, when I ask a question of another, it's with this thought: 'If, when asked, he answers correctly, well & good. If not, then I will answer correctly [for him].'

# Note

1.
  Reading panevam-citto with the Thai edition. The PTS reading — pakuppanto citto, "with a provoked heart" — does not fit the context at all.

See also: AN 3.67; AN 4.42