The Buddha describes the sentient beings who lack in wisdom as truly deprived, dwelling in suffering, annoyance, hardship, and distress.

ITI 41  Paññāparihīna sutta - Lacking in Wisdom

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:

“Te, bhikkhave, sattā suparihīnā ye ariyāya paññāya parihīnā. Te diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhaṁ viharanti savighātaṁ saupāyāsaṁ sapariḷāhaṁ; kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā. Te, bhikkhave, sattā aparihīnā ye ariyāya paññāya aparihīnā. Te diṭṭheva dhamme sukhaṁ viharanti avighātaṁ anupāyāsaṁ apariḷāhaṁ; kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugati pāṭikaṅkhā”ti.

“Those sentient beings are truly deprived, bhikkhus, who are lacking in noble wisdom. In this very life, they dwell in |suffering::discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering [dukkha]|, with annoyance, hardship, and distress. After the breaking up of the body, after death, a |bad destination::state of misery [duggati]| is to be expected. Those sentient beings are not deprived who are not lacking in noble wisdom. In this very life, they dwell in |ease::contentment, happiness, pleasant abiding [sukha]|, without annoyance, hardship, or distress. After the breaking up of the body, after death, a |good destination::fortunate condition (of rebirth) [sugati]| is to be expected.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:

“Paññāya parihānena,
passa lokaṁ sadevakaṁ;
Niviṭṭhaṁ nāmarūpasmiṁ,
idaṁ saccanti maññati.

“Due to the decline in wisdom,
look at the world, including the gods—
Entrenched in |name and form::mentality and materiality—the integrated structure of mental capacities (intention, attention, contact, feeling, perception) and physical form that together constitute and sustain an individual being [nāmarūpa]|,
they |think::presume, suppose, imagine, conceive [maññati]| it to be reality.

Paññā hi seṭṭhā lokasmiṁ,
yāyaṁ nibbedhagāminī;
Yāya sammā pajānāti,
jātibhavaparikkhayaṁ.

Wisdom is foremost in the world,
as it culminates in breakthrough;
Through it, one rightly understands,
the |exhaustion of birth and existence::extinction of rebirth and becoming [jātibhavaparikkhaya]|.

Tesaṁ devā manussā ca,
sambuddhānaṁ satīmataṁ;
Pihayanti hāsapaññānaṁ,
sarīrantimadhārinan”ti.

Gods and human long for them,
the Awakened Ones, ever |mindful::attentive, fully present [satīmant]|;
|of joyful wisdom::with an intelligent sense of humor [hāsapañña]|,
who bear their final body.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.

Qualities:

Happiness

Happiness

Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.

Also known as: pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease
Pāli: sukha
View all discourses →
Recollection of the Buddha

Recollection of the Buddha

A mental quality of reflecting on the qualities of the Buddha, which counters doubt and strengthens faith.

Also known as: recollection of Buddha, mindfulness of the Buddha, reflection on the qualities of the Buddha
Pāli: buddhānussati, buddhānusmṛti
View all discourses →
Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, vijjā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita
View all discourses →
Immaturity

Immaturity

A childish lack of discernment that fails to see the results of actions clearly. It delights in surface pleasure and ignores consequence. Immaturity leads to poor choices and association with unwise companions.

Also known as: lacking in discernment, lacking in good sense, child-like in understanding, lack of wisdom, lack of experience, foolishness
Pāli: bāla
View all discourses →
Lack of discernment

Lack of discernment

Failure to understand cause and effect or to recognize wholesome from unwholesome. It clouds judgment and makes the mind easily led by craving and aversion.

Also known as: lack of clear comprehension, lack of wisdom, child-like in understanding
Pāli: asampajañña, bāla, duppañña
View all discourses →
Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
View all discourses →

Last updated on December 13, 2025