Paṭhamadīghacārikasutta — Dīghacārikavagga — the twenty-third 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, drawbacks then benefits
Length
~1 minute to read
Northern parallel
not identified in this collection
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — short, opening a new chapter with practical guidance
Why this discourse
This chapter opens with a genuinely balanced piece of practical guidance: not a condemnation of wandering itself, but a measured case for moderation, naming what's lost by wandering constantly and aimlessly, and what's gained by a reasonable amount instead.
Reading guide
A new chapter on the practicalities of travel
The Dīghacārikavagga (“Long Wandering”) opens a chapter concerned with the practical costs and benefits of how a mendicant moves through the world — travel, dwelling length, and the social entanglements each brings.
Five drawbacks of constant wandering
Not learning new things; not clarifying what's already learned; lacking confidence in some of what's learned; contracting severe illness; and having no friends — a picture of instability undermining both intellectual and social continuity.
Five matching benefits
The positive mirror: learning new things, clarifying what's known, gaining confidence in what's learned, avoiding severe illness, and having friends — the rewards of samavatthacāra, a reasonable, measured amount of travel.
Not a case against wandering, but against excess
The title's careful phrasing — dīghacārikaṁ anavatthacārikaṁ, ‘long and aimless wandering’ — makes clear the concern isn't travel itself, which the wandering mendicant tradition depends on, but travel without purpose or settled rhythm.
What follows
AN 5.222 restates this same basic structure with a different middle emphasis, shifting from learning to spiritual achievement — a matched pair, in the same style as this nipāta's earlier paired discourses.
Key terms
dīghacārikaṁ anavatthacārikaṁ — “long and aimless wandering” — this discourse's title concept, the negative behavior described.
samavatthacāra — “a reasonable, measured amount of wandering” — the positive counterpart.
assutaṁ na suṇāti — “doesn't learn new things” — the first drawback of constant wandering.
gāḷhaṁ rogātaṅkaṁ phusati — “contracts a severe illness” — a physical cost of instability, appearing in both this discourse and AN 5.222.
mittavā — “having friends” — the final benefit of moderate wandering, closing the list.
The text
The discourse in full: five drawbacks of constant wandering, and five benefits of a reasonable amount. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Five drawbacks of long, aimless wandering
§1“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks for someone who likes long and aimless wandering. What five? You don’t learn new things. You don’t clarify what you’ve learned. You lack confidence in some things you have learned. You contract a severe illness. You don’t have any friends. These are the five drawbacks for someone who likes long and aimless wandering.
Five benefits of a reasonable amount of wandering
§2There are these five benefits of a reasonable amount of wandering. What five? You learn new things. You clarify what you’ve learned. You have confidence in some things you have learned. You don’t contract severe illness. You have friends. These are the five benefits of a reasonable amount of wandering.”
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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 chapter does this discourse open?
Correct: A. This session's twenty-third chapter.
Question 2 of 10
What five drawbacks does this discourse name for constant, aimless wandering?
Correct: A. A picture of instability undermining intellectual and social continuity.
Question 3 of 10
What does the discourse's careful phrasing, 'long AND aimless wandering', suggest?
Correct: A. The wandering mendicant tradition depends on travel; this discourse targets excess.
Question 4 of 10
What does 'samavatthacāra' mean?
Correct: A. The positive counterpart to constant, aimless wandering.
Question 5 of 10
What is the final benefit named for a reasonable amount of wandering?
Correct: A. Closing the list of five benefits.
Question 6 of 10
What does 'gāḷhaṁ rogātaṅkaṁ phusati' mean?
Correct: A. A physical cost of instability, shared with AN 5.222.
Question 7 of 10
What discourse follows, restating this structure with a different emphasis?
Correct: A. Shifting from learning to spiritual achievement.
Question 8 of 10
What does 'assutaṁ na suṇāti' mean?
Correct: A. The first drawback of constant wandering.
Question 9 of 10
What structural form does this discourse take?
Correct: A. A balanced, measured teaching.
Question 10 of 10
What broader concern does this chapter address, beginning with this discourse?
Correct: A. Travel, dwelling length, and social entanglements.
