Satisūpaṭṭhitasutta — Gilānavagga — the thirteenth 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, explicitly gender-inclusive, naming a twofold possible outcome
Length
~1 minute to read
Northern parallel
not identified in this collection
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — familiar material with two notable changes
Why this discourse
This discourse restates AN 5.121's practice with two notable changes: it's explicitly addressed to ‘any monk or nun’ rather than a specific individual, and it swaps death-perception for an ongoing, general mindfulness of phenomena's arising and passing.
Reading guide
Explicitly addressed to monks and nuns alike
Bhikkhu vā bhikkhunī vā — an explicit gender-inclusive framing, worth noting since much of this nipāta defaults to addressing bhikkhu alone, with the notable exception of AN 5.115–120's nun-specific run.
A twofold outcome, new in this chapter
Rather than a single expected result, this discourse names two possible outcomes: full enlightenment in this very life, or — if any residue of defilement remains — non-return, not being reborn in the sensual realm again.
A modified five, compared to AN 5.121
This discourse swaps out AN 5.121's fifth item, death-perception, for mindfulness well established specifically for understanding the arising and passing of phenomena, while keeping the middle three: body's ugliness, food's repulsiveness, and world-dissatisfaction.
Why this substitution matters
Death-perception is a contemplation of a specific object — one's own mortality. What replaces it here is a more general, ongoing observational capacity — a shift from a specific object of contemplation to a general meditative skill.
What comes next
AN 5.123 turns entirely away from contemplative formulas to something very practical: what makes a patient easy or difficult to care for.
Key terms
bhikkhu vā bhikkhunī vā — “any monk or nun” — this discourse's explicit, gender-inclusive address.
udayatthagāminiyā paññāya — “for understanding the arising and passing of phenomena” — the fifth item, replacing AN 5.121's death-perception.
aññā — full enlightenment, complete knowledge — the first possible outcome.
anāgāmitā — non-return — the second possible outcome, if any residue remains.
upādisese — “with residue remaining” — the condition distinguishing the two possible outcomes.
The text
The discourse in full: a modified five-part practice, and its twofold possible outcome. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Five qualities, and a twofold outcome
§1“Mendicants, any monk or nun who develops and cultivates five qualities can expect one of two results: enlightenment in this very life, or if there’s residue left behind, non-return. What five? It’s when a mendicant has well established mindfulness inside themselves in order to understand the arising and passing away of phenomena, meditates observing the ugliness of the body, perceives the repulsiveness of food, perceives dissatisfaction with the whole world, and observes the impermanence of all conditions. Any monk or nun who develops and cultivates these five qualities can expect one of two results: enlightenment in this very life, or if there’s residue left behind, non-return.”
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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
Who is this discourse explicitly addressed to?
Correct: B. Bhikkhu vā bhikkhunī vā, an explicit gender-inclusive framing.
Question 2 of 10
What twofold outcome does this discourse name?
Correct: B. A twofold, rather than single, expected result.
Question 3 of 10
What item does this discourse swap out from AN 5.121's list?
Correct: B. A shift from a specific object to a general capacity.
Question 4 of 10
What does 'udayatthagāminiyā paññāya' refer to?
Correct: A. This discourse's replacement for death-perception.
Question 5 of 10
What does 'anāgāmitā' mean?
Correct: B. The second of the two possible outcomes.
Question 6 of 10
What condition determines whether the outcome is full enlightenment or non-return?
Correct: B. Upādisese — with residue remaining.
Question 7 of 10
How many of AN 5.121's five items does this discourse keep unchanged?
Correct: B. The middle three items are retained.
Question 8 of 10
Which earlier discourse in this nipāta also addressed both monks and nuns explicitly?
Correct: B. A different, nun-specific pattern, contrasted here with this discourse's inclusive framing.
Question 9 of 10
What does AN 5.123 turn to next?
Correct: B. A shift from contemplative formula to practical care.
Question 10 of 10
What formula, previously used in this nipāta, does this discourse's fruit closely echo?
Correct: B. Associated elsewhere with satipatthāna-related material.
