Akuppasutta — Kakudhavagga — the tenth 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 bare five-item list, with no elaboration
Length
~1 minute to read
Northern parallel
not identified in this collection
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — short, recombining familiar material
Why this discourse
This discourse's five items are, item for item, AN 5.86's four kinds of textual analysis plus AN 5.89's fifth decline-preventing factor — reviewing the extent of one's own mind's freedom — the same five qualities named across two earlier discourses, now recombined and reframed as conditions for soon ‘penetrating the unshakable’.
Reading guide
Two earlier fives, recombined
This discourse's list is, term for term, AN 5.86's four paṭisambhidā (meaning, text, definition, eloquence) plus AN 5.89's reviewing of one's own mind's freedom — the same five qualities named across two different earlier discourses, now assembled together under a new outcome.
What 'the unshakable' names
Akuppa, a term for a stable, unshakable attainment, is named here as something a mendicant with these five qualities ‘soon penetrates’; the discourse itself doesn't define the term any further beyond naming it as an outcome.
Why recombine these particular five
AN 5.86 named the four kinds of textual analysis as making a senior mendicant beloved by companions; AN 5.89 named reviewing one's freedom as preventing a trainee's decline. Here, the same five qualities — four analytical, one reflective — are reframed once more, this time as conditions for rapid attainment of stability.
A running thread in this chapter
This is the first of four discourses in this chapter to build toward ‘penetrating the unshakable’: this one, plus AN 5.96–98, which follow with variations built around mindfulness of breathing.
What comes next
AN 5.96 begins a run of three closely related discourses, each adding this same akuppa-formula onto a description of a mendicant engaged with mindfulness of breathing.
Key terms
akuppa — “unshakable, unmoved” — this discourse's central attainment.
paṭisambhidā — the fourfold textual mastery, reused here from AN 5.86.
yathāvimuttaṁ cittaṁ paccavekkhati — “reviewing the extent of one's mind's freedom”, reused here from AN 5.89.
paṭivijjhati — “to penetrate, to break through to” — the verb describing attaining akuppa.
nacirasseva — “soon, before long” — qualifying how quickly this attainment follows.
The text
The discourse in full: two earlier discourses' qualities, recombined under a new outcome. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Five things, and the unshakable
§1“Mendicants, a mendicant who has five things will soon penetrate the unshakable. What five? It’s when a mendicant has attained the textual analysis of meaning, text, definition, and eloquence, and they review the extent of their mind’s freedom. A mendicant who has these five things will soon penetrate the unshakable.”
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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 five qualities does this discourse list?
Correct: A. Recombining AN 5.86 and AN 5.89's material.
Question 2 of 10
Where did the first four of these five qualities previously appear together?
Correct: B. The four paṭisambhidā, first named there.
Question 3 of 10
Where did the fifth quality previously appear?
Correct: A. Reviewing the extent of one's mind's freedom, first named there.
Question 4 of 10
What outcome is named for a mendicant with these five qualities?
Correct: B. Akuppa, attained soon (nacirasseva).
Question 5 of 10
What does 'akuppa' mean?
Correct: B. A stable, unshakable attainment.
Question 6 of 10
Does this discourse define 'akuppa' further, beyond naming it?
Correct: B. No further elaboration is given.
Question 7 of 10
What verb describes how a mendicant comes to have this attainment?
Correct: A. To break through to, or penetrate.
Question 8 of 10
What word qualifies how quickly this happens?
Correct: B. Soon, before long.
Question 9 of 10
What cluster of discourses does this one open within this chapter?
Correct: B. This discourse plus AN 5.96–98.
Question 10 of 10
What do AN 5.96–98 add to this same 'unshakable' formula?
Correct: B. Three variations built around ānāpānassati.
