Verified
Grammatical Analysis
Anottappa: [nt.] moral recklessness; fearlessness of wrongdoing; lack of dread. Formed by negative prefix an (not) + ottappa (fear of consequences).
Orthodox Definition
Anottappa is the inseparable twin of ahirika and serves as a universal unwholesome mental factor (sabbākusalasādhāraṇa). It is the complete absence of fear regarding the catastrophic consequences of evil actions.
A person dominated by anottappa does not fear karmic retribution, rebirth in the lower realms (apāya), legal punishment, or the censure of the wise. The Abhidhammatthasaṅgaha compares this mental factor to a moth flying blindly into a flame; the moth does not fear the fire because it does not understand the danger.
In Theravāda psychology, bravery in the face of evil is not a virtue; it is blind, reckless delusion (moha). The failure to dread the results of unwholesome kamma guarantees the continuous generation of suffering.
Quote
Tattha gūthato gāmasūkaro viya kāyaduccaritādito ajigucchanalakkhaṇaṃ ahirikaṃ, aggito salabho viya tato anuttāsalakkhaṇaṃ anottappaṃ.
Among these, ahirikaṃ is characterized by not being disgusted by evil actions of body, etc., like a village pig is not disgusted by filth. Anottappaṃ is characterized by not being afraid of such actions, like a moth is not afraid of fire.Tenāhu porāṇā –
Therefore, the ancients said:‘‘Jigucchati nāhiriko, pāpā gūthāva sūkaro;
“The shameless one is not disgusted by evil, just as a pig by filth;Na bhāyati anottappī, salabho viya pāvakā’’ti.
The undaunted one fears not, like a moth before a flame.”— Abhidhammatthasaṅgaha (Chapter II, Cetasikavibhāgo)
Textual References
- Sutta: Bāla Vagga (Dhammapada Chapter 5) – Emphasizing how the fool fears no evil until the karmic fruit ripens.
- Abhidhamma: Dhammasaṅgaṇī (Analysis of unwholesome concomitants).
- Commentary: Abhidhammatthasaṅgaha – Defining anottappa with the moth simile; Atthasālinī – The definitive simile comparing recklessness to a moth diving into a bonfire.