Bhikkhunīsuttādi — a merged page, continuing the twenty-eighth 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
the same paired five-item formula as AN 5.286, run across six named categories — representing six individually numbered discourses
Length
under 1 minute to read
Northern parallel
not identified in this collection
Difficulty
★★☆☆☆ — compressed, extending AN 5.286 across the fourfold assembly
Why this discourse
Six discourses stand behind one file. AN 5.286 named a monk alone; this page runs the identical five-precept formula across a nun, a trainee nun, a novice monk, a novice nun, a layman, and a laywoman — covering the entire fourfold assembly of monks and nuns, laymen and laywomen, plus the two intermediate trainee stages specific to women's ordination.
Reading guide
The teaching, run across six categories
The identical five precepts from AN 5.286 — not killing, stealing, engaging in sexual misconduct, lying, or consuming intoxicants — restated once for each of six categories: nun, trainee nun, novice monk, novice nun, layman, and laywoman.
The fourfold assembly, plus two trainee stages
Together with AN 5.286's monk, this page's six categories complete the standard fourfold assembly of the tradition — monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen — and add the two intermediate ordination stages specific to women training toward full ordination: novice nun and probationary trainee nun (sikkhamānā), a stage with no exact male equivalent in this formula.
One term change for lay and female-monastic categories
Where AN 5.286 used abrahmacārī, covering any sexual activity at all under a monk's full celibate vows, this page's categories use kāmesumicchācārinī, ‘sexual misconduct’ specifically — the narrower standard appropriate to those not bound by full monastic celibacy.
The source's own compression, and this page's choice
The Pali source states the formula in full only for the final category, laywoman, eliding the preceding five with its peyyāla mark; this page's English text follows Sujato's translation, which likewise gives the explicit wording only for laywoman while naming all six categories in the discourse's opening line.
What follows
AN 5.293 turns outside the Buddhist community entirely, to an Ājīvaka ascetic — and, notably, states only the hell half of the formula, with no matching heaven statement.
Key terms
bhikkhunī, sikkhamānā — nun, and probationary trainee nun — the intermediate ordination stage specific to women, with no exact male equivalent in this formula.
sāmaṇera, sāmaṇerī — novice monk and novice nun — the junior monastic categories this page adds.
upāsaka, upāsikā — layman and laywoman — completing the fourfold assembly alongside monk and nun.
kāmesumicchācārinī — “sexual misconduct” — the narrower standard used for these six categories, distinct from a fully ordained monk's abrahmacārī.
yathābhataṁ nikkhittā — “placed as if delivered there”, in feminine grammatical form — the same verdict image as AN 5.286, agreeing with the female subjects this page explicitly states in full.
The text
The formula as the source states it: the six categories named, with laywoman given in explicit full wording. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Six categories that lead to hell
§1“A nun … trainee nun … novice monk … novice nun … layman … laywoman … with five qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What five? They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. With these five qualities they’re placed in hell as if delivered there.
Six categories that lead to heaven
§2A nun … trainee nun … novice monk … novice nun … layman … laywoman … with five qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there. What five? They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. With these five qualities they’re 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
How many individually numbered discourses does this one page represent?
Correct: A. Confirmed by the six categories named in the discourse's opening line.
Question 2 of 10
What six categories does this page cover?
Correct: A. Together with AN 5.286's monk, completing the fourfold assembly plus two trainee stages.
Question 3 of 10
What does 'sikkhamānā' name, and what does the guide note about it?
Correct: A. One of the two women-specific trainee stages this page adds to AN 5.286's single category.
Question 4 of 10
What term change distinguishes this page's formula from AN 5.286's?
Correct: A. Reflecting the narrower standard for those not bound by full monastic celibacy.
Question 5 of 10
How does the Pali source state this six-category formula?
Correct: A. This page's English follows Sujato's translation, matching that same compression.
Question 6 of 10
What does AN 5.293 do differently from this page and AN 5.286?
Correct: A. Turning outside the Buddhist community to an Ājīvaka ascetic, next in this chapter.
Question 7 of 10
What four groups make up the traditional 'fourfold assembly' this page helps complete?
Correct: A. Together with AN 5.286's monk, this page's six categories cover it, plus two additional trainee stages.
Question 8 of 10
What verdict image closes each half of this page's formula?
Correct: A. The same image as AN 5.286, agreeing grammatically with the female subjects stated in full.
Question 9 of 10
How is AN 5.287 through AN 5.292 represented in bilara-data?
Correct: A. The source's own compression, followed here exactly.
Question 10 of 10
What five precepts does this page's formula name, in violated form?
Correct: A. Identical in substance to AN 5.286 and AN 5.145, with one term adjusted.
