Paṭhamamacchariyasutta — 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, hell then heaven
Length
~1.5 minutes to read
Northern parallel
not identified in this collection
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — the first of a closing pair
Why this discourse
This discourse marks the structural turn this chapter's trio had been building toward: the careless-judgment items disappear entirely, and stinginess — now covering four of the five classical domains — stands entirely on its own.
Reading guide
Judgment items dropped, stinginess alone
Unlike AN 5.236–238, this discourse names no careless praise or criticism at all — its full five items concern stinginess and a single related consequence, nothing else.
Four of the five classical stinginess domains
Stinginess regarding monasteries, families, material things, and now praise (vaṇṇamacchariya) — four of the five domains from AN 5.223–224's classical formula, one short of the complete list.
A closing item retained from the earlier trio
Wasting a gift given in faith closes this discourse's list, exactly as in AN 5.236–238 — the one element carried through every discourse across this chapter's second half.
A four-domain stinginess, one domain short
The single classical domain still missing here is stinginess with the teaching itself (dhammamacchariya) — already flagged in this project as the most surprising item in the full formula, since it treats hoarding spiritual knowledge as comparable to hoarding possessions.
One discourse remains to complete the set
AN 5.240, this chapter's closing discourse, adds exactly that missing domain, completing the full classical five-part stinginess formula this whole trio-and-pair sequence has been building toward.
Key terms
āvāsamacchariya, kulamacchariya, lābhamacchariya — “stinginess over monasteries, families, and material things” — the first three domains, carried over from AN 5.237–238.
vaṇṇamacchariya — “stinginess over praise” — the fourth domain, newly added in this discourse.
dhammamacchariya — “stinginess over the teaching” — the one classical domain still missing here, added only at AN 5.240.
saddhādeyyaṁ vinipāteti — “wastes a gift given in faith” — the closing item, retained from the earlier trio.
macchariya — “stinginess” — now the sole organizing theme of this discourse's list, with careless judgment dropped entirely.
The text
The discourse in full: four domains of stinginess, standing on their own. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Five qualities placed in hell
§1“Mendicants, a resident mendicant with five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What five? They’re stingy regarding monasteries, families, material things, and praise. And they waste a gift given in faith. A resident mendicant with these five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.
Five qualities placed in heaven
§2A resident mendicant with five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there. What five? They’re not stingy regarding monasteries, families, material things, and praise. And they don’t waste a gift given in faith. A resident mendicant with these five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”
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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 structural change does this discourse make, compared to AN 5.236-238?
Correct: A. A structural turn this chapter's trio had been building toward.
Question 2 of 10
How many of the five classical stinginess domains does this discourse cover?
Correct: A. One domain short of the complete classical formula.
Question 3 of 10
What domain does this discourse newly add, beyond AN 5.237-238's items?
Correct: A. The fourth of five classical stinginess domains.
Question 4 of 10
What domain is still missing from this discourse's list?
Correct: A. Added only at AN 5.240, completing the classical formula.
Question 5 of 10
What item closes this discourse's list, carried over from the earlier trio?
Correct: A. The one element carried through every discourse across this chapter's second half.
Question 6 of 10
What was previously flagged as the most surprising domain in this classical formula?
Correct: A. Already noted at AN 5.224, this project's earlier full treatment.
Question 7 of 10
What discourse completes the missing fifth domain?
Correct: A. Finishing the full classical five-part stinginess formula.
Question 8 of 10
What does 'vaṇṇamacchariya' mean?
Correct: A. The newly added fourth domain in this discourse.
Question 9 of 10
What consequence does this discourse's negative list lead to?
Correct: A. Matching the pattern of the preceding trio.
Question 10 of 10
What chapter does this discourse belong to?
Correct: A. 'A Resident Mendicant', this session's twenty-fourth chapter.
