Araññasutta — Phāsuvihāravagga — the eleventh chapter of the Fives
Setting
None stated; the discourse continues from AN 5.1, whose setting at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove is understood to hold
Speakers
The Buddha alone, addressing the mendicants
Form
a single five-item list, two qualities elided as identical to earlier formulas, closing the chapter's own colophon
Length
~1 minute to read
Northern parallel
not identified in this collection
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — familiar formula, closing the chapter
Why this discourse
The chapter's closing discourse narrows AN 5.109's ‘any quarter’ formula specifically to readiness for wilderness dwelling, swapping in roused, staunch energy in place of contentment — before closing the chapter with its own colophon and mnemonic verse.
Reading guide
The chapter's closing variant
Narrowing AN 5.109's ‘any quarter’ formula specifically to readiness for wilderness dwelling, this discourse swaps in energetic vigor (āraddhavīriya) as its distinguishing element, in place of AN 5.109's contentment.
The five qualities, in sequence
Ethical restraint under the monastic code and deep learning are both given in the source's compressed, elided form, since they're identical to formulas already given in full earlier in this chapter; then energy, described in full: strong, staunchly vigorous, ‘not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities’; then effortless jhāna mastery; then full liberation.
Why energy, specifically, for wilderness readiness
Unlike AN 5.109's contentment, suited to needing nothing from wherever one happens to be, sustained energy suits the specific demands of a genuinely remote, unsupported dwelling, where the ordinary supports and company of a settled community aren't available.
The source's own compression, followed rather than expanded
As at AN 5.108, this reading guide does not invent full text for the two peyyāla-elided qualities, since they duplicate formulas already given in full at earlier points in this chapter.
The chapter's close
The colophon ‘Dasamaṁ. Phāsuvihāravaggo paṭhamo’ — the tenth discourse, the first Phāsuvihāravagga by the traditional count — follows the mechanism explained in full at AN 5.10.
The uddāna's opening lines, glossed
The mnemonic verse names this chapter's discourses by their key terms in order: sārajja (assurance), saṅkita (suspected), cora (thief), sukhumāla (delicate ascetic), phāsu (living comfortably) as the fifth, then Ānanda, ethics, and the adept, trailing into the verse's remaining, untranslated lines.
thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo — “strong, staunchly vigorous” — describing that energy in full.
anikkhittadhuro — “not slacking off, not putting down the load” — completing the energy formula.
alaṁ…paṭisevituṁ — “ready, fit to frequent” — this discourse's central outcome, wilderness readiness.
Phāsuvihāravaggo paṭhamo — “the first Phāsuvihāravagga” — this chapter's closing colophon.
The text
The discourse in full, as the source gives it: two elided qualities, then energy, jhāna mastery, and liberation in full. The chapter's closing colophon and Pāli mnemonic verse are part of the source but are not translated text, and are described rather than reproduced here. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Five qualities for wilderness readiness
§1“Mendicants, when a mendicant has five qualities they’re ready to frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest. What five? It’s when a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken. They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s totally full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reciting them, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically. They live with energy roused up. They’re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. They get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty. They realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements. When a mendicant possesses these five qualities they’re ready to frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest.”
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Self-check quiz
Ten questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 10
What outcome does this discourse's five qualities produce?
Correct: A. This discourse's specific, narrowed outcome.
Question 2 of 10
Which two of the five qualities are given in the source's compressed, elided form?
Correct: B. Identical to formulas already given in full earlier in this chapter.
Question 3 of 10
What is the third quality, given in full?
Correct: B. Āraddhavīriya, this discourse's distinguishing element.
Question 4 of 10
What three phrases describe this discourse's energy quality in full?
Correct: B. Thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro.
Question 5 of 10
Why might energy specifically suit wilderness readiness, unlike AN 5.109's contentment?
Correct: B. A different quality suited to a more specific, demanding circumstance.
Question 6 of 10
Does this reading guide invent full text to fill the elided portions?
Correct: B. Consistent with this project's standing practice at AN 5.108 and elsewhere.
Question 7 of 10
What are the fourth and fifth qualities?
Correct: B. The standard closing pair of this chapter's complete-portrait discourses.
Question 8 of 10
What colophon closes this chapter?
Correct: B. The tenth discourse, the first Phāsuvihāravagga.
Question 9 of 10
What does the chapter's mnemonic verse name in its opening lines?
Correct: B. Sārajja, saṅkita, cora, sukhumāla, phāsu, and further terms.
Question 10 of 10
What chapter comes next in the Fives, after this one closes?
