Reading guide
The teaching in one sentence
A family that doesn't rise politely, hide what they have, give little even when they have much, give coarse things even when they have fine ones, give carelessly, or listen to the teachings is not worth visiting; a family that does the reverse in each respect is.
Nine factors, then their mirror image
The discourse states the nine unworthy factors first, in a compact list running from a cold reception through hidden and grudging giving to inattention during teaching, then restates every one in reverse to name the worthy family: warm reception, openness, generosity proportionate to means, and genuine attentiveness.
Practical hospitality and generosity, not doctrine
Unlike much of this chapter, this discourse concerns concrete social conduct — how a household receives a visiting mendicant, whether it shares what it has, and whether it actually listens when the teachings are spoken — rather than meditative attainment or philosophical argument.
A near neighbor worth distinguishing from AN 9.19
AN 9.19, three discourses on, tells of deities recounting a similar-sounding graduated list of duties toward visiting renunciates — rising, bowing, offering a seat, sharing, and engaging with the teaching. The two lists overlap in their opening gestures but are not the same list; AN 9.19's is a narrative of deities' own past failures and successes, not this discourse's bare double list of family factors.
Key terms
The text
Nine factors: not worth visiting
§1“Mendicants, visiting a family with nine factors is not worthwhile, or if you’ve already arrived, sitting down is not worthwhile. What nine? They don’t politely rise, bow, or offer a seat. They hide what they have. Even when they have much they give little. Even when they have fine things they give coarse things. They give carelessly, not carefully. They don’t sit nearby to listen to the teachings. When you’re speaking, they don’t listen well. Visiting a family with these nine factors is not worthwhile, or if you’ve already arrived, sitting down is not worthwhile.
Nine factors, reversed: worth visiting
§2Visiting a family with nine factors is worthwhile, or if you’ve already arrived, sitting down is worthwhile. What nine? They politely rise, bow, and offer a seat. They don’t hide what they have. When they have much they give much. When they have refined things they give refined things. They give carefully, not carelessly. They sit nearby to listen to the teachings. When you’re speaking, they listen well. Visiting a family with these nine factors is worthwhile, or if you’ve already arrived, sitting down is worthwhile.”
Self-check quiz
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