Reading guide
From nursing to longevity in general
AN 5.123–124 concerned a specific relationship, patient and carer. This discourse steps back to a broader question: what factors generally shorten or lengthen a life.
Five things that impede longevity
Doing what is unsuitable; not knowing moderation in what is suitable; eating food unfit for consumption; activity at unsuitable times; and unchastity.
A direct reuse from AN 5.123
The first two items — doing what is unsuitable, and not knowing moderation — are the identical opening pair from AN 5.123's ‘hard to care for’ list, now recontextualized as general causes of a shortened life rather than specifically patient behavior.
The mirrored positive
Doing what is suitable, knowing moderation, eating fit food, suitable timing, and chastity.
What comes next
AN 5.126 restates the identical first three items, but swaps the final two for ethical conduct and the quality of one's friendships.
Key terms
The text
Things that impede longevity
§1“Mendicants, these five things impede longevity. What five? Doing what is unsuitable, not knowing moderation in what is suitable, eating food unfit for consumption, activity at unsuitable times, and unchastity. These are the five things that impede longevity.
Things that promote longevity
§2These five things promote longevity. What five? Doing what is suitable, knowing moderation in what is suitable, eating food fit for consumption, activity at suitable times, and chastity. These are the five things that promote longevity.”
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