Dear Nina,

thank you. You have given a better description: seeing the negative effects (harms) of akusala, and (at the same time) seeing the benefits (positive effects) of kusala.

The PED has under its entry for ottappa: DhsA 124, 126, I believe DhsA stands for Dhammasangani commentary, the numbers 124 and 126 denote page numbers in the PTS edition, which I do not have. It would be good if there is a table showing PTS page numbers for their publications and its corresponding "global" location in any equivalent texts, be it CSCD, SLTP or others.

I also refer to PTS, and it has

ahirika~nca anottappa~nca: shamelessness and recklessness
hirika~nca ottappa~nca: sense of shame and fear of blame

May I suggest ottappa: discernment for wrong-doing?

metta,
Yong Peng.

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, Nina van Gorkom wrote:

> hirika - sense of shame
> ottappa - remorse for wrong-doing

Ottappa is also translated as fear of blame, fear of the consequences of ill deeds, but also this translation is not ideal. I think we have to remember that hiri and ottappa arise with each kind of kusala: when engaged with daana, with siila, with bhaavanaa. Thus, there is no trace of aversion or any negative element here. One sees the negative effects of evil, both for oneself and others. One sees the benefit of kusala. These two cetasikas support each kusala citta, but at the same time there are many other good qualities as well, such as sati, mindfulness, saddhaa, confidence in kusala, alobha, adosa etc.