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Aṅguttara Nikāya · Discourse 5.121

Sick

Gilānasutta — Gilānavagga — the thirteenth chapter of the Fives

Setting
Vesālī, the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof — a new setting, stated explicitly
Speakers
The Buddha, addressing the mendicants after visiting the infirmary
Form
a narrative opening, then a single five-item list reused from earlier in this nipāta
Length
~2 minutes to read
Northern parallel
not identified in this collection
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — a vivid, grounded scene

Why this discourse

This chapter's title discourse opens with the Buddha visiting a monastic infirmary in person, seeing a specific weak and sick mendicant, and commending to the assembled mendicants a familiar five-part practice — the same one used at AN 5.69–71 — now specifically for someone already ill.

Reading guide

A vivid, embodied opening scene

Rather than an abstract teaching setting, this discourse opens with the Buddha coming out of retreat in the late afternoon, walking to the infirmary, and seeing a particular weak and sick mendicant before sitting down and addressing the others present.

The familiar five, reused once more

Observing the body's ugliness, perceiving food's repulsiveness, perceiving dissatisfaction with the whole world, observing the impermanence of all conditions, and having well established the perception of one's own death — the exact five practices already used at AN 5.69–71, cited here rather than re-explained.

Why this list, for someone already sick

It's striking that a set of contemplations often associated with renunciation and disillusionment is commended here specifically to someone weak and unwell — suggesting these practices aren't reserved for the healthy or comfortable. Illness itself doesn't disqualify someone from this practice, and may even sharpen it.

The expected result

If a weak and sick mendicant doesn't neglect these five things, the discourse says it can be expected that they will soon realize freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom through the ending of defilements — the collection's standard formula for full liberation.

What comes next

AN 5.122 restates a related formula, explicitly addressed to ‘any monk or nun’ rather than a specifically sick individual, with one item of the five changed.

Key terms

gilāna — “sick” — this chapter's title term and this discourse's subject.
gilānasālā — the infirmary, where the Buddha finds the sick mendicant.
asubhānupassī — observing the ugliness of the body — the first of the five practices, reused from AN 5.69–71.
maraṇasaññā — the perception of one's own death — the fifth practice.
āsavakkhaya — the ending of defilements, the expected outcome of this practice.

The text

The discourse in full: the Buddha's visit to the infirmary, and the five practices commended even to a sick mendicant. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).

The Buddha's visit

§1At 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 and went to the infirmary, where he saw a certain mendicant who was weak and sick. He sat down on the seat spread out, and addressed the mendicants:

Five things not to neglect

§2“Mendicants, if a weak and sick mendicant does not neglect five things, it can be expected that they will soon realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements. What five? 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. If a weak and sick mendicant does not neglect these five things, it can be expected that they will soon realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements.”

· · ·

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
Where is this discourse set?
Correct: B. A new setting, stated explicitly.
Question 2 of 10
What prompts this discourse?
Correct: B. A vivid, embodied opening scene.
Question 3 of 10
What five practices does the Buddha commend?
Correct: A. Body's ugliness, food's repulsiveness, world-dissatisfaction, impermanence, death-perception.
Question 4 of 10
Who is this practice specifically commended to in this discourse?
Correct: B. Illness doesn't disqualify one from this practice.
Question 5 of 10
What does the discourse suggest about illness and this practice?
Correct: B. Commended specifically to someone weak and unwell.
Question 6 of 10
What result is expected if these five things aren't neglected?
Correct: B. The collection's standard formula for full liberation.
Question 7 of 10
What is the fifth of the five practices?
Correct: B. Maraṇasaññā, closing the list.
Question 8 of 10
Where did this exact five-item list previously appear in this nipāta?
Correct: B. Reused here without re-explanation.
Question 9 of 10
What chapter does this discourse open?
Correct: B. The thirteenth chapter of the Fives, 'Sick'.
Question 10 of 10
What does AN 5.122 do with a related formula?
Correct: B. A broader, gender-inclusive address.
Answered 0 of 10 · Correct 0

Further reading

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