Dutiyaapāsādikasutta — Akkosakavagga — the twenty-second 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, an entirely different content from AN 5.217
Length
~1.5 minutes to read
Northern parallel
not identified in this collection
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — short, the fifth appearance of a familiar mechanism
Why this discourse
Sharing its title but not its content with AN 5.217, this discourse measures unimpressive conduct entirely by its effect on others: confidence lost or gained, the Teacher's instructions followed or ignored, and imitation — the same mechanism already seen four times across this nipāta.
Reading guide
Same title, entirely different content
Unlike AN 5.215–216's close pairing (same frame, one item varied), this discourse shares only its title with AN 5.217 — the actual five items named are entirely different, concerned with effect on others rather than on oneself.
Five drawbacks, all about others' confidence
Not inspiring confidence in those who lack it; causing some who have confidence to lose it; not following the Teacher's instructions; being imitated by those who come after; and one's own mind failing to become clear.
Imitation, a fifth time
The fourth drawback names diṭṭhānugati, ‘falling into imitation’ — the same mechanism already seen at AN 5.79, AN 5.88, AN 5.156, and AN 5.209. Notably, here it's listed as a drawback regardless of direction: unimpressive conduct gets imitated too, spreading the problem rather than correcting it.
Five matching benefits
Inspiring confidence in those who lack it; increasing confidence in those who already have it; following the Teacher's instructions; being imitated in a positive direction; and one's own mind becoming clear — the exact mirror.
Closing a matched pair with a genuinely different lens
Read alongside AN 5.217, this discourse completes a fuller picture of ‘impressive conduct’: not only its effect on the person themselves (self-blame, reputation, rebirth), but its effect on the wider community's confidence and behavior — a genuinely distinct concern, not a redundant repetition.
Key terms
appasannā nappasīdanti — “doesn't inspire confidence in those without it” — the first drawback, an effect on others.
satthusāsanaṁ akataṁ — “the Teacher's instructions not followed” — the third drawback.
pacchimā janatā diṭṭhānugatiṁ āpajjati — “those who come after fall into imitation” — the same mechanism named at AN 5.79, 5.88, 5.156, and 5.209.
cittamassa nappasīdati — “one's own mind doesn't become clear” — the fifth drawback, an internal consequence closing the list.
apāsādika — “unimpressive conduct” — the shared title concept with AN 5.217, though the two discourses' content differs entirely.
The text
The discourse in full: five drawbacks of unimpressive conduct, measured by their effect on others. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Five drawbacks of unimpressive conduct
§1“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of unimpressive conduct. What five? You don’t inspire confidence in those without it. You cause some with confidence to change their minds. You don’t follow the Teacher’s instructions. Those who come after you follow your example. And your mind doesn’t become clear. These are the five drawbacks of unimpressive conduct.
Five benefits of impressive conduct
§2There are these five benefits of impressive conduct. What five? You inspire confidence in those without it. You increase confidence in those who have it. You follow the Teacher’s instructions. Those who come after you follow your example. And your mind becomes clear. These are the five benefits of impressive conduct.”
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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
How does this discourse relate to AN 5.217, which shares its title?
Correct: A. Same title, entirely different content.
Question 2 of 10
What five drawbacks does this discourse name?
Correct: A. All concerned with effect on others and the community.
Question 3 of 10
Where else in this nipāta does 'diṭṭhānugati' (falling into imitation) appear?
Correct: A. The fifth appearance of this recurring mechanism.
Question 4 of 10
What is notable about how imitation functions in this discourse's negative list?
Correct: A. Listed as a drawback regardless of direction.
Question 5 of 10
What does 'satthusāsanaṁ akataṁ' mean?
Correct: A. The third drawback named.
Question 6 of 10
What does this discourse add to AN 5.217's picture of 'impressive conduct'?
Correct: A. A genuinely distinct, complementary concern.
Question 7 of 10
What does 'cittamassa nappasīdati' mean?
Correct: A. The fifth drawback, an internal consequence.
Question 8 of 10
What does the positive mirror of this discourse's fourth item describe?
Correct: A. The clean negation of negative imitation.
Question 9 of 10
What does 'appasannā nappasīdanti' mean?
Correct: A. The first drawback, an effect on others' confidence.
Question 10 of 10
What chapter does this discourse belong to?
Correct: A. 'Abuse', this session's twenty-second chapter.
