Micchādiṭṭhikasutta — 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; introduces a systematic new pattern
Why this discourse
A shift into doctrinal territory: this discourse's varying middle names wrong view and wrong intention — the first two factors of the eightfold path, recognizable by name — opening a pattern that continues through the rest of this run.
Reading guide
The fixed frame, continued
As at AN 5.116–117, this discourse opens with unexamined praise and criticism and closes with wasted gifts given in faith, varying only its middle two items.
Wrong view, wrong intention
Micchādiṭṭhi (wrong view) and micchāsaṅkappa (wrong intention/purpose) are, by name, the first two factors of the eightfold path in their negative form — a direct, explicit link to that structure, made here for the first time in this run.
A systematic pattern beginning
This discourse opens a sequence that continues through AN 5.119–120: each discourse's varying middle names one consecutive pair of the eightfold path's eight factors, in their wrong and right forms.
The mirrored positive
Right view (sammādiṭṭhi) and right intention (sammāsaṅkappa), alongside judgment made with examination and gifts not wasted.
What comes next
AN 5.119 continues the pattern with the path's third and fourth factors: right speech and right action.
Key terms
micchādiṭṭhi / sammādiṭṭhi — wrong view / right view — the eightfold path's first factor.
micchāsaṅkappa / sammāsaṅkappa — wrong intention / right intention — the second factor.
magga — the path — the eightfold structure this discourse begins to work through.
ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā — the fixed opening qualifier, shared across this whole run.
saddhādeyyaṁ vinipāteti — the fixed closing item, unchanged across this whole run.
The text
The discourse in full: unexamined judgment, wrong view and intention, 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 has wrong view and wrong purpose, 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 has right view and right purpose, and doesn’t waste gifts given in faith. A nun with these five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”
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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 two items fill this discourse's varying middle?
Correct: A. The eightfold path's first factor pair, in negative form.
Question 2 of 10
What structure do these two items belong to, named explicitly for the first time in this run?
Correct: B. Right view and right intention, the path's first two factors.
Question 3 of 10
What pattern does this discourse begin, continuing through AN 5.119–120?
Correct: B. Working systematically through the path's structure.
Question 4 of 10
What does 'micchādiṭṭhi' mean?
Correct: A. The negative form of the path's first factor.
Question 5 of 10
What does 'micchāsaṅkappa' mean?
Correct: A. The negative form of the path's second factor.
Question 6 of 10
What two elements remain fixed, unchanged from AN 5.116–117?
Correct: A. The frame established earlier in this run.
Question 7 of 10
What are the positive counterparts named in the heaven-bound version?
Correct: A. Sammādiṭṭhi and sammāsaṅkappa.
Question 8 of 10
What does AN 5.119 continue this pattern with?
Correct: A. Continuing systematically through the path.
Question 9 of 10
What is the fixed closing item shared across this whole run?
