Sīlavantsutta — Theravagga — the ninth 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
a single five-item positive list, building toward complete liberation, with no paired negative counterpart
Length
~2 minutes to read
Northern parallel
not identified in this collection
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — a familiar, cumulative monastic portrait
Why this discourse
The fullest positive list in this chapter so far: five qualities building toward complete accomplishment — ethical conduct, deep learning, skilled speech, effortless mastery of the four absorptions, and full liberation, realized through the ending of defilements in this very life.
Reading guide
Five qualities, one cumulative portrait
Unlike AN 5.86's two-part list, this discourse names five qualities in sequence, each building on the last, culminating in complete liberation — the fullest positive portrait this chapter offers.
Ethical conduct, in full
Sīlavā, restrained by the monastic code, conducting oneself well, seeing danger in the slightest fault — the standard formula for exemplary discipline, named first.
Deep learning, in full
Bahussuta, remembering and reciting a well-rounded body of teaching described as ‘good in the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end’ — a stock phrase describing the Dhamma's own completeness, used widely across the canon to characterize genuine, thorough learning rather than mere memorization.
Skilled speech and effortless absorption
Kalyāṇavāco, a well-spoken, articulate speaker, is paired with mastery of the four absorptions attained ‘when they want, without trouble or difficulty’ (nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī) — a stock phrase for effortless meditative accomplishment used at several points across the canon.
The culmination
The list closes with realizing the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom (cetovimutti, paññāvimutti) through the ending of defilements, ‘in this very life’, with direct personal insight — the same twofold freedom named at the head of AN 5.71–72, here given its fullest unpacking anywhere in this chapter.
What's absent, once more
Like AN 5.86, no negative counterpart is given; this discourse simply names the complete positive ideal, unmirrored.
Key terms
sīlavā — “ethical” — restrained by the monastic code, the first quality.
bahussuta — “very learned” — one who has heard much, remembering and reciting a well-rounded body of teaching.
kalyāṇavāco — “a good, articulate speaker” — the third quality.
nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī — “attaining at will, without trouble, without difficulty” — the stock phrase for effortless mastery of the four absorptions.
āsavakkhaya — “ending of defilements” — this discourse's culminating attainment.
The text
The discourse in full: a five-part cumulative portrait, from ethical conduct to complete liberation. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
The complete portrait
§1“A senior mendicant with five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired. What five? They’re ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken. They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, rehearsing them, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically. They’re a good speaker who enunciates well, with a polished, clear, and articulate voice that expresses the meaning. They get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty. They realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements. A senior mendicant with these five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired.”
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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 qualities does this discourse's list contain?
Correct: C. A five-part cumulative portrait.
Question 2 of 10
Is this list paired with a negative counterpart, like AN 5.81–85?
Correct: B. The second consecutive single-list discourse.
Question 3 of 10
What does 'sīlavā' describe?
Correct: A. The first quality named.
Question 4 of 10
What does 'bahussuta' mean?
Correct: A. The second quality, on deep learning.
Question 5 of 10
What phrase describes the Dhamma's own completeness, quoted in the learning quality?
Correct: B. A stock phrase used widely to characterize thorough learning of genuine teaching.
Question 6 of 10
What does 'kalyāṇavāco' describe?
Correct: B. The third quality, on speech.
Question 7 of 10
What stock phrase describes this mendicant's mastery of the four absorptions?
Correct: A. Nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.
Question 8 of 10
What twofold freedom does this discourse's final quality culminate in?
Correct: A. Cetovimutti and paññāvimutti, realized through the ending of defilements.
Question 9 of 10
Where did this same twofold freedom first appear as a named fruit earlier in this chapter's larger nipāta?
Correct: B. The fortress-epithet pair opening the Warriors chapter.
Question 10 of 10
What is unusual about AN 5.87's list compared to the rest of this chapter?
Correct: B. The chapter's fullest single positive portrait.
