Āvāsikasutta — Āvāsikavagga — the twenty-fourth 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, unadmirable then admirable
Length
~1.5 minutes to read
Northern parallel
not identified in this collection
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — short, opening a new chapter on residential leadership
Why this discourse
This chapter opens by naming a specific monastic role — the āvāsika, a mendicant who resides at and helps steward a particular monastery — and asking directly what makes someone in that role genuinely admirable, or genuinely not.
Reading guide
A new chapter on residential stewardship
The Āvāsikavagga (“A Resident Mendicant”) turns from this collection's recent concern with travel and dwelling length to a specific role: the mendicant who resides semi-permanently at one monastery, with responsibilities distinct from a purely wandering practitioner's.
Five qualities of an unadmirable resident
Not accomplished in presentation and duties; not learned, and not remembering what's learned; not self-effacing, and not enjoying self-effacement; not a good, articulate speaker; and witless, dull, and idiotic — a picture of someone simply unequipped for the role, in ability and in temperament alike.
Five matching qualities of an admirable resident
The clean mirror: accomplished in presentation and duties, learned and retentive, self-effacing and genuinely drawn to self-effacement, an articulate speaker, and wise, bright, and clever.
Presentation and duties, an unusual opening item
The first quality — being ‘accomplished in presentation’ (ākappasampanna) alongside diligent in duties — is a notably practical, less-doctrinal starting point, worth noticing precisely because a residential steward's role has a visible, public dimension a purely wandering mendicant's doesn't.
What follows
AN 5.232 shifts from bare admirability to something more specific: what makes a resident mendicant genuinely dear and beloved to their spiritual companions.
Key terms
āvāsika — “a resident mendicant” — this chapter's title concept, one who resides and helps steward a particular monastery.
ākappasampanna, vattasampanna — “accomplished in presentation, accomplished in duties” — the first quality, notably practical rather than purely doctrinal.
bahussuto, sutadharo — “very learned, retentive of what's learned” — the second quality.
paṭisallekhitā, paṭisallānārāmo — “self-effacing, delighting in self-effacement” — the third quality.
bhāvanīya, abhāvanīya — “admirable” and “not admirable” — this discourse's central distinction.
The text
The discourse in full: five qualities of an unadmirable resident mendicant, and five of an admirable one. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Five qualities of an unadmirable resident mendicant
§1“Mendicants, a resident mendicant with five qualities is not admirable. What five? They’re not accomplished in being well-presented and doing their duties. They’re not very learned and don’t remember what they’ve learned. They’re not self-effacing and don’t enjoy self-effacement. They’re not a good speaker and do not enunciate well. They’re witless, dull, and idiotic. A resident mendicant with these five qualities is not admirable.
Five qualities of an admirable resident mendicant
§2A resident mendicant with these five qualities is admirable. What five? They’re accomplished in being well-presented and doing their duties. They’re very learned and remember what they’ve learned. They’re self-effacing and enjoy self-effacement. They’re a good speaker who enunciates well. They’re wise, bright, and clever. A resident mendicant with these five qualities is admirable.”
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Self-check quiz
Nine questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 9
What chapter does this discourse open?
Correct: A. This session's twenty-fourth chapter.
Question 2 of 9
What role does 'āvāsika' name?
Correct: A. Distinct from a purely wandering practitioner's role.
Question 3 of 9
What five qualities make a resident mendicant unadmirable?
Correct: A. A picture of being unequipped in ability and temperament alike.
Question 4 of 9
What is notable about the first quality named, 'ākappasampanna'?
Correct: A. A residential steward's role has a visible, public dimension.
Question 5 of 9
What does 'paṭisallekhitā, paṭisallānārāmo' mean?
Correct: A. The third quality of an admirable resident mendicant.
Question 6 of 9
What does 'bahussuto, sutadharo' mean?
Correct: A. The second quality named in both lists.
Question 7 of 9
What discourse follows, shifting to a more specific concern?
Correct: A. Moving from bare admirability to being genuinely beloved.
Question 8 of 9
What does 'bhāvanīya' mean?
Correct: A. This discourse's central positive quality.
Question 9 of 9
What does this chapter turn to, compared to the previous chapter's concern with travel?
Correct: A. The āvāsika, distinct from a wandering mendicant.
