The Buddha explains that one lacking integrity cannot discern the true nature of others, while a person of integrity discerns both the good and the bad. The discourse contrasts their ethics, views, and associations, revealing their vastly different karmic destinations.

MN 110  Cūḷapuṇṇama sutta - The Shorter Discourse on the Full Moon Night

Evaṁ me sutaṁ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde.

Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in the Eastern Park, at |Migāramātā’s mansion::name of a monastery outside Sāvatthī, built by Visākhā; lit. Migāra’s Mother’s Hall [migāramātupāsāda]|.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā tadahuposathe pannarase puṇṇāya puṇṇamāya rattiyā bhikkhusaṅghaparivuto abbhokāse nisinno hoti. Atha kho bhagavā tuṇhībhūtaṁ tuṇhībhūtaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ anuviloketvā bhikkhū āmantesi: “jāneyya nu kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisaṁ: ‘asappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’”ti?

Now on that occasion, the Blessed One was seated in the open air, surrounded by the |Saṅgha::The community of monks and nuns practicing in line with the Buddha’s teachings. In the broader sense, this is the community of disciples who have realized the noble path and fruition through the Buddha’s teachings [saṅgha]| of bhikkhus on the |Uposatha::Occurring on specific lunar days such as the full moon, new moon, and quarter moons, this is a time for renewing virtue, deepening practice, and purifying the mind. [uposatha]| day of the fifteenth, on the night of the full moon. Then, having surveyed the completely silent Saṅgha of bhikkhus, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, could a |person without integrity::unethical person, inferior person [asappurisa]| know a person without integrity: ‘This fellow is a person without integrity’?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, venerable sir.”

“Sādhu, bhikkhave; aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ asappuriso asappurisaṁ jāneyya: ‘asappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’ti. Jāneyya pana, bhikkhave, asappuriso sappurisaṁ: ‘sappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’”ti?

“Good, bhikkhus. It is impossible, it cannot happen, that a person without integrity could recognize a person without integrity: ‘This fellow is a person without integrity.’ But, bhikkhus, could a person without integrity recognize a |person of integrity::virtuous person [sappurisa]|: ‘This fellow is a person of integrity’?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, venerable sir.”

“Sādhu, bhikkhave; etampi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhānaṁ anavakāso yaṁ asappuriso sappurisaṁ jāneyya: ‘sappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’ti. Asappuriso, bhikkhave, assaddhammasamannāgato hoti, asappurisabhatti hoti, asappurisacintī hoti, asappurisamantī hoti, asappurisavāco hoti, asappurisakammanto hoti, asappurisadiṭṭhi hoti; asappurisadānaṁ deti.

“Good, bhikkhus. This too is impossible, it cannot happen, that a person without integrity could recognize a person of integrity: ‘This fellow is a person of integrity.’ Bhikkhus, a person without integrity is possessed of bad qualities, associates with people without integrity, thinks unethical thoughts, counsels like a person without integrity, speaks unethically, acts in an unethical manner, holds views like a person without integrity, and gives gifts like a person without integrity.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso assaddhammasamannāgato hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso assaddho hoti, ahiriko hoti, anottappī hoti, appassuto hoti, kusīto hoti, muṭṭhassati hoti, duppañño hoti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso assaddhammasamannāgato hoti.

And how, bhikkhus, is a person without integrity possessed of bad qualities? Here, bhikkhus, a person without integrity is |faithless::without confidence, without conviction [assaddha]|, |lacking sense of right and wrong::shamelessness, lacking conscience [ahirika]|, |morally reckless::fearless regarding wrongdoing, lacking prudence [anottappa]|, of |little learning::ignorant, uneducated [appassuta]|, |lazy::procrastinating, inactive person, indolent [kusīta]|, |muddle-minded::forgetful, not mindful [muṭṭhassatī]|, and |undiscerning::without wisdom [duppañña]|. That is how a person without integrity is possessed of bad qualities.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisabhatti hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappurisassa ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā assaddhā ahirikā anottappino appassutā kusītā muṭṭhassatino duppaññā tyāssa mittā honti te sahāyā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisabhatti hoti.

And how, bhikkhus, does a person without integrity associate with people without integrity? Here, bhikkhus, those ascetics and brahmins who are faithless, lacking sense of right and wrong, morally reckless, of little learning, lazy, muddle-minded, and undiscerning—those are the ones the person without integrity has for his friends and his companions. That is how a person without integrity associates with people without integrity.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisacintī hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso attabyābādhāyapi ceteti, parabyābādhāyapi ceteti, ubhayabyābādhāyapi ceteti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisacintī hoti.

And how, bhikkhus, does a person without integrity think unethical thoughts? Here, bhikkhus, a person without integrity |intends::wills, thinks about [ceteti]| for his own |affliction::harm, injury [byābādha]|, intends for the affliction of another, and intends for the affliction of both. That is how a person without integrity thinks unethical thoughts.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisamantī hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso attabyābādhāyapi manteti, parabyābādhāyapi manteti, ubhayabyābādhāyapi manteti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisamantī hoti.

And how, bhikkhus, does a person without integrity counsel like a person without integrity? Here, bhikkhus, a person without integrity counsels for his own affliction, counsels for the affliction of others, and counsels for the affliction of both. That is how a person without integrity counsels like a person without integrity.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisavāco hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso musāvādī hoti, pisuṇavāco hoti, pharusavāco hoti, samphappalāpī hoti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisavāco hoti.

And how, bhikkhus, does a person without integrity speak unethically? Here, bhikkhus, a person without integrity |speaks falsely::who lies [musāvādī]|, |speaks divisively::who separates others by speech, who sows discord [pisuṇavācā]|, |speaks harshly::who speak using rough words, rudely, or in an unkind manner [pharusavācā]|, and |chatters frivolously::who talk rubbish, who gossip [samphappalāpī]|. That is how a person without integrity speaks unethically.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisakammanto hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso pāṇātipātī hoti, adinnādāyī hoti, kāmesumicchācārī hoti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisakammanto hoti.

And how, bhikkhus, does a person without integrity act in an unethical manner? Here, bhikkhus, a person without integrity kills living beings, takes what is not given, and engages in sexual misconduct. That is how a person without integrity acts in an unethical manner.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisadiṭṭhi hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso evaṁdiṭṭhi hoti: ‘natthi dinnaṁ, natthi yiṭṭhaṁ, natthi hutaṁ, natthi sukatadukkaṭānaṁ kammānaṁ phalaṁ vipāko, natthi ayaṁ loko, natthi paro loko, natthi mātā, natthi pitā, natthi sattā opapātikā, natthi loke samaṇabrāhmaṇā sammaggatā sammāpaṭipannā, ye imañca lokaṁ parañca lokaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedentī’ti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisadiṭṭhi hoti.

And how, bhikkhus, does a person without integrity hold views like a person without integrity? Here, bhikkhus, a person without integrity holds such a view: ‘There is nothing given, nothing offered, nothing sacrificed; no fruit or result of good and bad actions; no this world, no other world; no mother, no father; no beings who are reborn spontaneously; no ascetics and brahmins in the world who are rightly practicing or have rightly practiced, and who, having realized for themselves by |direct knowledge::experiential understanding [abhiññāya]|, declare this world and the other world.’ That is how a person without integrity holds views like a person without integrity.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisadānaṁ deti? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso asakkaccaṁ dānaṁ deti, asahatthā dānaṁ deti, acittīkatvā dānaṁ deti, apaviṭṭhaṁ dānaṁ deti anāgamanadiṭṭhiko dānaṁ deti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappuriso asappurisadānaṁ deti.

And how, bhikkhus, does a person without integrity give gifts like a person without integrity? Here, bhikkhus, a person without integrity gives gifts |disrespectfully::carelessly, inattentively [asakkaccaṁ]|, |not with his own hand::impersonally, by proxy [asahatthā]|, gives what is to be |discarded::lit. thrown away [apaviddha]|, and gives |without regard for its future consequences::with no thought of the results [anāgamanadiṭṭhika]|. That is how a person without integrity gives gifts like a person without integrity.

So, bhikkhave, asappuriso evaṁ assaddhammasamannāgato, evaṁ asappurisabhatti, evaṁ asappurisacintī, evaṁ asappurisamantī, evaṁ asappurisavāco, evaṁ asappurisakammanto, evaṁ asappurisadiṭṭhi; evaṁ asappurisadānaṁ datvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā asappurisānaṁ gati tattha upapajjati. ca, bhikkhave, asappurisānaṁ gati? Nirayo tiracchānayoni vā.

That person without integrity, bhikkhus—being thus possessed of bad qualities, thus associating with people without integrity, thus thinking like a person without integrity, thus counseling like a person without integrity, thus speaking unethically, thus acting in an unethical manner, thus holding views like a person without integrity; having given gifts like a person without integrity—with the breakup of the body, after death, reappears in the destination of persons without integrity. And what, bhikkhus, is the destination of persons without integrity? |Hell::a place of intense suffering, lit. no good fortune [niraya]| or the animal realm.

Jāneyya nu kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisaṁ: ‘sappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’”ti?

Bhikkhus, could a person of integrity know a person of integrity: ‘This fellow is a person of integrity’?”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Yes, venerable sir.”

“Sādhu, bhikkhave; ṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ sappuriso sappurisaṁ jāneyya: ‘sappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’ti. Jāneyya pana, bhikkhave, sappuriso asappurisaṁ: ‘asappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’”ti?

“Good, bhikkhus. It is possible, it can happen, that a person of integrity could recognize a person of integrity: ‘This fellow is a person of integrity.’ But, bhikkhus, could a person of integrity recognize a person without integrity: ‘This fellow is a person without integrity’?”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Yes, venerable sir.”

“Sādhu, bhikkhave; etampi kho, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ vijjati yaṁ sappuriso asappurisaṁ jāneyya: ‘asappuriso ayaṁ bhavan’ti. Sappuriso, bhikkhave, saddhammasamannāgato hoti, sappurisabhatti hoti, sappurisacintī hoti, sappurisamantī hoti, sappurisavāco hoti, sappurisakammanto hoti, sappurisadiṭṭhi hoti; sappurisadānaṁ deti.

“Good, bhikkhus. This too is possible, it can happen, that a person of integrity could recognize a person without integrity: ‘This fellow is a person without integrity.’ Bhikkhus, a person of integrity is possessed of good qualities, associates with people of integrity, thinks ethical thoughts, counsels like a person of integrity, speaks ethically, acts in an ethical manner, holds views like a person of integrity, and gives gifts like a person of integrity.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso saddhammasamannāgato hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappuriso saddho hoti, hirimā hoti, ottappī hoti, bahussuto hoti, āraddhavīriyo hoti, upaṭṭhitassati hoti, paññavā hoti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso saddhammasamannāgato hoti.

And how, bhikkhus, is a person of integrity possessed of good qualities? Here, bhikkhus, a person of integrity has faith, has a |sense of right and wrong::sense of shame, conscience, modesty [hirī]|, has |moral dread::fear of wrongdoing out of regard for others [ottappa]|, is |very learned::well educated, knowledgeable [bahussuta]|, is |energetic::with energy aroused, with initiative [āraddhavīriya]|, is one who |attends mindfully::is with presence of mind [upaṭṭhitassatī]|, and is |wise::intelligent, discerning, insightful, percipient [paññava]|. That is how a person of integrity is possessed of good qualities.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisabhatti hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappurisassa ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā saddhā hirimanto ottappino bahussutā āraddhavīriyā upaṭṭhitassatino paññavanto tyāssa mittā honti, te sahāyā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisabhatti hoti.

And how, bhikkhus, does a person of integrity associate with people of integrity? Here, bhikkhus, those ascetics and brahmins who have faith, have a sense of right and wrong, have moral dread, are very learned, are energetic, are those who attend mindfully, and are wise—those are the ones the person without integrity has for his friends and his companions. That is how a person of integrity associates with people of integrity.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisacintī hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappuriso nevattabyābādhāya ceteti, na parabyābādhāya ceteti, na ubhayabyābādhāya ceteti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisacintī hoti.

And how, bhikkhus, does a person of integrity think ethical thoughts? Here, bhikkhus, a person of integrity does not intend for his own affliction, does not intend for the affliction of others, and does not intend for the affliction of both. That is how a person of integrity thinks ethical thoughts.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisamantī hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappuriso nevattabyābādhāya manteti, na parabyābādhāya manteti, na ubhayabyābādhāya manteti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisamantī hoti.

And how, bhikkhus, does a person of integrity counsel like a person of integrity? Here, bhikkhus, a person of integrity does not counsel for his own affliction, does not counsel for the affliction of others, and does not counsel for the affliction of both. That is how a person of integrity counsels like a person of integrity.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisavāco hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappuriso musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, pisuṇāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, pharusāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, samphappalāpā paṭivirato hoti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisavāco hoti.

And how, bhikkhus, does a person of integrity speak ethically? Here, bhikkhus, a person of integrity abstains from false speech, abstains from divisive speech, abstains from harsh speech, and abstains from frivolous chatter. That is how a person of integrity speaks ethically.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisakammanto hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappuriso pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisakammanto hoti.

And how, bhikkhus, does a person of integrity act in an ethical manner? Here, bhikkhus, a person of integrity abstains from killing living beings, abstains from taking what is not given, and abstains from sexual misconduct. That is how a person of integrity acts in an ethical manner.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisadiṭṭhi hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappuriso evaṁdiṭṭhi hoti: ‘atthi dinnaṁ, atthi yiṭṭhaṁ, atthi hutaṁ, atthi sukatadukkaṭānaṁ kammānaṁ phalaṁ vipāko, atthi ayaṁ loko, atthi paro loko, atthi mātā, atthi pitā, atthi sattā opapātikā, atthi loke samaṇabrāhmaṇā sammaggatā sammāpaṭipannā ye imañca lokaṁ parañca lokaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedentī’ti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisadiṭṭhi hoti.

And how, bhikkhus, does a person of integrity hold views like a person of integrity? Here, bhikkhus, a person of integrity holds such a view: ‘There is what is given, what is offered, what is sacrificed; there is fruit and result of good and bad actions; there is this world, there is the next world; there is mother, there is father; there are spontaneously reborn beings; there are recluses and brahmins in the world who are rightly conducted and rightly practicing, who, having realized this world and the next world for themselves by direct knowledge, make them known.’ That is how a person of integrity holds views like a person of integrity.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisadānaṁ deti? Idha, bhikkhave, sappuriso sakkaccaṁ dānaṁ deti, sahatthā dānaṁ deti, cittīkatvā dānaṁ deti, anapaviṭṭhaṁ dānaṁ deti, āgamanadiṭṭhiko dānaṁ deti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappuriso sappurisadānaṁ deti.

And how, bhikkhus, does a person of integrity give gifts like a person of integrity? Here, bhikkhus, a person of integrity gives respectfully, gives with his own hand, gives considerately, gives what is not to be discarded, and gives with the view that something will come back. That is how a person of integrity gives gifts like a person of integrity.

So, bhikkhave, sappuriso evaṁ saddhammasamannāgato, evaṁ sappurisabhatti, evaṁ sappurisacintī, evaṁ sappurisamantī, evaṁ sappurisavāco, evaṁ sappurisakammanto, evaṁ sappurisadiṭṭhi; evaṁ sappurisadānaṁ datvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sappurisānaṁ gati tattha upapajjati. ca, bhikkhave, sappurisānaṁ gati? Devamahattatā manussamahattatā vā”ti.

That person of integrity, bhikkhus—being thus possessed of good qualities, thus associating with people of integrity, thus thinking ethical thoughts, thus counseling like a person of integrity, thus speaking ethically, thus acting in an ethical manner, thus holding views like a person of integrity; having given gifts like a person of integrity—with the breakup of the body, after death, reappears in the destination of persons of integrity. And what, bhikkhus, is the destination of persons of integrity? Greatness among the gods or greatness among humans.”

Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

The Blessed One said this. The bhikkhus were delighted and rejoiced in the Blessed One’s words.

Topics & Qualities:

Laziness

Laziness

Unwillingness or lack of energy and motivation to engage in wholesome activities or exert effort, leading to stagnation and missed opportunities for growth.

Also known as: sloth, indolence, sluggishness, idleness, inactivity
Pāli: kosajja, tandī, ālasya, kusīta
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Person of Integrity

Person of Integrity

One whose inner character aligns with their outer conduct—honest about their own faults, appreciative of others' virtues, and grounded in principles that guide action toward what is beneficial.

Also known as: virtuous person, true person
Pāli: sappurisa
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Conscience

Conscience

An inner moral sensitivity that shrinks from wrongdoing out of self-respect and personal integrity. It is the voice within that knows what is beneath one's dignity, guarding conduct through an inward standard of honor.

Also known as: with sense of right and wrong, sense of shame, modesty, (comm) originating from inside
Pāli: hirī
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Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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Contempt

Contempt

A dismissive or belittling attitude that refuses to acknowledge worth or goodness. It closes the heart, undermines gratitude, and prepares the ground for ill will.

Also known as: ungratefulness, depreciation, denigration, disrespect, belittlement, disparagement
Pāli: makkha
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Doubt

Doubt

Paralyzing indecision about the path or practice. Doubt obstructs confidence and clarity.

Also known as: confusion, indecisiveness, uncertainty, wavering, perplexity
Pāli: vicikiccha, kaṅkhā, vimati
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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
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Moral recklessness

Moral recklessness

Acting without moral concern for how one's behavior affects others. The mind sees no reason to hold back from wrongdoing, treating ethical boundaries as irrelevant.

Also known as: fearlessness of wrongdoing, without concern for others, lack of prudence
Pāli: anottappa
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Muddle-mindedness

Muddle-mindedness

Forgetful, scattered awareness where mindfulness is absent or lost. The mind drifts through distraction or dullness, unable to stay with its object or purpose.

Also known as: forgetfulness, not mindful
Pāli: muṭṭhassatī
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Shamelessness

Shamelessness

A lack of inner concern or self-respect that allows a person to do what they understand as wrong without discomfort or restraint.

Also known as: act without thinking about what is right, fair, or appropriate, disregarding one's moral sense of right and wrong, unconscientiousness
Pāli: ahirika
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Unprincipled conduct

Unprincipled conduct

Conduct that disregards moral restraint and ignores the consequences of harm done to oneself or others through body or speech. Such behavior clouds the mind and leads to regret and further decline.

Also known as: lacking in moral principles, lacking in ethics, immoral, wrong action
Pāli: dussīlya, micchākammanta
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Wrong speech

Wrong speech

Speech that deceives, divides, wounds, or wastes. It includes lying, slander, harshness, and idle chatter. Such speech distorts truth, breaks trust, and stirs the mind toward harm and discord.

Also known as: false speech, lying, divisive, slanderous or defamatory or malicious speech, abusive or rude or unkind way of speaking, meaningless talk or idle chatter or gossip
Pāli: musāvāda, pisuṇavācā, pharusāvācā, samphappalāpa
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Wrong view

Wrong view

A distorted understanding that sees permanence in the impermanent, satisfaction in the unsatisfactory, or self in the not-self. Wrong view guides action by delusion, obscuring cause and effect, and closes the door to wisdom and release.

Also known as: distorted or inverted perception, untrue view, false belief
Pāli: micchādiṭṭhi
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Last updated on December 15, 2025