Ru-Yi Meditation Center
Aṅguttara Nikāya · Discourse 5.117

Jealous

Issukinīsutta — Andhakavindavagga — the twelfth 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
two paired five-item lists, addressed to nuns, using this run's fixed opening and closing frame
Length
under 1 minute to read
Northern parallel
not identified in this collection
Difficulty
★★☆☆☆ — addressed specifically to nuns; handled here plainly

Why this discourse

The second discourse to use AN 5.116's fixed frame — the unexamined praise and criticism opening, and the wasted-gifts closing — with jealousy and stinginess filling the varying middle.

Reading guide

The fixed frame, continued

As at AN 5.116, this discourse opens with unexamined false praise and criticism, and closes with wasting gifts given in faith. What varies is the middle: jealousy and stinginess.

A natural interpersonal pairing

Jealousy (issukinī) and stinginess (maccharinī, already the subject of AN 5.115 in its own five-domain form) form a natural cluster of interpersonal vices — contrasted with AN 5.116's discernment-focused cluster and the doctrinal/ethical clusters to come at AN 5.118–120.

The mirrored positive

Judgment made with examination, freedom from jealousy and stinginess, and gifts not wasted.

What comes next

AN 5.118 shifts to a doctrinal register, pairing the first two factors of the eightfold path — right view and right intention — as its varying middle items.

Key terms

issukinī — jealous — the first of this discourse's two varying items.
maccharinī — stingy — reused from AN 5.115's own five-domain treatment.
ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā — “without examining or scrutinizing” — the fixed opening, shared with AN 5.116.
saddhādeyyaṁ vinipāteti — “wastes gifts given in faith” — the fixed closing item.
yathābhataṁ nikkhittā — “placed there as if delivered” — the recurring verdict.

The text

The discourse in full: unexamined judgment, jealousy, stinginess, and wasted gifts, then their correction. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).

Placed in hell

§1“Mendicants, a nun with five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What five? Without examining or scrutinizing, she praises those deserving of criticism, and criticizes those deserving of praise. She is jealous, stingy, and wastes gifts given in faith. A nun with these five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Placed in heaven

§2A nun with five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there. What five? After examining and scrutinizing, she criticizes those deserving of criticism, and praises those deserving of praise. She is not jealous, or stingy, and doesn’t waste gifts given in faith. A nun with these five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

· · ·

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 two items vary in this discourse's middle, within the fixed frame from AN 5.116?
Correct: A. This discourse's specific pair.
Question 2 of 10
What two elements stay fixed, shared with AN 5.116?
Correct: A. The frame established at AN 5.116.
Question 3 of 10
Where did stinginess previously appear as this run's central subject?
Correct: B. In its own five-domain treatment.
Question 4 of 10
What does 'issukinī' mean?
Correct: A. This discourse's title term.
Question 5 of 10
What kind of vice-cluster does jealousy and stinginess form, contrasted with AN 5.116's?
Correct: B. Contrasted with AN 5.116's judgment-focused pair.
Question 6 of 10
What verdict formula closes both the hell and heaven versions of this discourse?
Correct: B. The recurring stock phrase across this whole run.
Question 7 of 10
How is the heaven-bound version constructed?
Correct: B. Judgment made with examination, and freedom from both vices.
Question 8 of 10
What does AN 5.118 shift to as its varying middle items?
Correct: A. A doctrinal register begins.
Question 9 of 10
What is the fixed closing item shared across this whole run?
Correct: A. Saddhādeyyaṁ vinipāteti, unchanged through AN 5.120.
Question 10 of 10
Who is this discourse addressed to, like the rest of this run?
Correct: B. Continuing the nun-specific address begun at AN 5.115.
Answered 0 of 10 · Correct 0

Further reading

← PreviousAN 5.116 · Praise