Dutiyavinayadharasutta — Vinayavagga — the eighth chapter of the Sevens
Setting
None stated in the source
Speakers
The Buddha alone, addressing the mendicants
Form
A single-paragraph bare list, sharing four opening items and a closing pair with AN 7.75, differing only in its fifth item
Length
under 1 minute to read
Part of a set of eight
This discourse gives the second of four content variants for the fifth item in AN 7.75-82's set, here mastery of both monastic codes
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — brief and formulaic, best read alongside AN 7.75 for the shared structure
Why this discourse
AN 7.76 restates AN 7.75's structure with a different fifth item: instead of ethical restraint, this discourse specifies that both monastic codes have been passed down in detail, well analyzed, well mastered, and well evaluated, both in their rules and accompanying material.
Reading guide
The teaching in one sentence
A mendicant who knows the four categories of offense, has thoroughly mastered both monastic codes in detail, gets the four absorptions at will, and realizes undefiled freedom in this very life is an expert in the monastic law.
The same four opening items as AN 7.75
Knowing what is an offense, what is not, what is light, and what is serious open this discourse identically to AN 7.75 and every other discourse in this set of eight — the shared technical foundation this chapter builds each variant on top of.
This variant's own fifth item: mastery of both codes
Where AN 7.75 named ethical restraint, this discourse instead specifies textual mastery: both monastic codes — for monks and for nuns — passed down in detail, well analyzed, well mastered, and well evaluated, in both their rules and their accompanying explanatory material. This shifts the emphasis from lived restraint toward comprehensive textual command of the law itself.
The same closing pair as AN 7.75
Getting the four absorptions at will and realizing undefiled freedom of heart and wisdom in this very life close this discourse exactly as they closed AN 7.75, confirming that whichever fifth item a version of this set names, the requirement for genuine meditative and liberating attainment stays constant.
Key terms
āpatti, anāpatti, lahukā āpatti, garukā āpatti — “an offense, not an offense, a light offense, a serious offense” — the four opening items shared with AN 7.75 and every other discourse in this set.
ubhayāni pātimokkhāni vitthārena svāgatāni — “both monastic codes... passed down in detail” — this discourse's own variant for the fifth item, specifying textual mastery.
suvibhattāni, suppavattīni, suvinicchitāni — “well analyzed, well mastered, well evaluated” — the threefold description of how thoroughly both codes must be known.
suttaso anubyañjanaso — “in both the rules and accompanying material” — specifying that mastery extends beyond the bare rules themselves to their explanatory detail.
catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ... nikāmalābhī — “gets the four absorptions... when they want” — the shared sixth item, identical to AN 7.75's.
The text
The discourse in full, a single bare list. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Seven qualities of an expert in the monastic law
§1“Mendicants, a mendicant with seven qualities is an expert in the monastic law. What seven? They know what is an offense. They know what is not an offense. They know what is a light offense. They know what is a serious offense. Both monastic codes have been passed down to them in detail, well analyzed, well mastered, well evaluated in both the rules and accompanying material. 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 live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements. A mendicant with these seven qualities is an expert in the monastic law.”
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Self-check quiz
6 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 6
How does this discourse's fifth item differ from AN 7.75's?
Correct: B. A shift from lived restraint to comprehensive textual mastery.
Question 2 of 6
What does "both monastic codes" refer to?
Correct: B. The parallel codes governing the two branches of the monastic community.
Question 3 of 6
What three qualities describe how thoroughly both codes must be known, according to this discourse?
Correct: B. A threefold description of comprehensive textual command.
Question 4 of 6
Do the four opening items and closing pair differ from AN 7.75's?
Correct: B. A shared frame across the set, with only the middle item varying.
Question 5 of 6
What does "in both the rules and accompanying material" specify about this mastery?
Correct: B. A comprehensive standard, not limited to the rules alone.
Question 6 of 6
What is this discourse's relationship to AN 7.80?
Correct: B. The same variant, appearing a second time with a different framing verb.
