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Numbered Discourses · AN 5.121

  • Numbered Discourses 5.121Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.121
  • 13. Sick13. Gilānavagga

SickGilānasutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to the infirmary, whereAtha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena gilānasālā tenupasaṅkami. he saw a certain mendicant who was weak and sick.Addasā kho bhagavā aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ dubbalaṁ gilānakaṁ; He sat down on the seat spread out,disvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. and addressed the mendicants:Nisajja kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

“Mendicants, if a weak and sick mendicant does not neglect five things, it can be expected that“Yaṁ kiñci, bhikkhave, bhikkhuṁ dubbalaṁ gilānakaṁ pañca dhammā na vijahanti, tassetaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ: they will soon realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.‘nacirasseva āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissatī’ti.

What five?Katame pañca? It’s when a mendicant meditates observing the ugliness of the body, perceives the repulsiveness of food, perceives dissatisfaction with the whole world, observes the impermanence of all conditions, and has well established the perception of their own death.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu asubhānupassī kāye viharati, āhāre paṭikūlasaññī, sabbaloke anabhiratasaññī, sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī, maraṇasaññā kho panassa ajjhattaṁ sūpaṭṭhitā hoti. If a weak and sick mendicant does not neglect these five things, it can be expected thatYaṁ kiñci, bhikkhave, bhikkhuṁ dubbalaṁ gilānakaṁ ime pañca dhammā na vijahanti, tassetaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ: they will soon realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.”‘nacirasseva āsavānaṁ khayā …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissatī’”ti.

Similar passages elsewhere

Found by meaning, not by citation: the passages in other texts whose wording sits closest to a passage here.

  1. SN 35.75 Sick (2nd) 0.60near 0.1Linked Discourses 35.75 8. Sick Sick (2nd) Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and asked him, “Sir, in such-and-such monastery there’s a mendicant who is junior and not well-known. He’s sick, suffering, gravely ill.…
  2. SN 35.74 Sick (1st) 0.54near 0.1Linked Discourses 35.74 8. Sick Sick (1st) At Sāvatthī. Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, and said to him, “Sir, in such-and-such monastery there’s a mendicant who is junior and not well-known. He’s sick, suffering…
  3. SN 36.8 The Infirmary (2nd) 0.53near 0.1Linked Discourses 36.8 1. With Verses The Infirmary (2nd) At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat an…
  4. DN 16 The Great Discourse on the Buddha’s Extinguishment 0.53near 0.1and stayed there. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants: “Mendicants, please enter the rainy season residence with whatever friends or acquaintances you have around Vesālī. I’ll commence the rainy season residence ri…
  5. SN 36.7 The Infirmary (1st) 0.52near 0.1Linked Discourses 36.7 1. With Verses The Infirmary (1st) At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat an…