The Buddha teaches on a second monk, presenting a fivefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 5.112 A Second Monk

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato pacchāsamaṇo na ādātabbo. Katamehi pañcahi? Atidūre gacchati accāsanne vā, na pattapariyāpannaṁ gaṇhati, āpattisāmantā bhaṇamānaṁ na nivāreti, bhaṇamānassa antarantarā kathaṁ opāteti, duppañño hoti jaḷo eḷamūgo. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato pacchāsamaṇo na ādātabbo.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato pacchāsamaṇo ādātabbo. Katamehi pañcahi? Nātidūre gacchati na accāsanne, pattapariyāpannaṁ gaṇhati, āpattisāmantā bhaṇamānaṁ nivāreti, bhaṇamānassa na antarantarā kathaṁ opāteti, paññavā hoti ajaḷo aneḷamūgo. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato pacchāsamaṇo ādātabbo”ti.

Dutiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato pacchāsamaṇo na ādātabbo.

“Mendicants, you shouldn’t take a second monk with five qualities.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Atidūre gacchati accāsanne vā, na pattapariyāpannaṁ gaṇhati, āpattisāmantā bhaṇamānaṁ na nivāreti, bhaṇamānassa antarantarā kathaṁ opāteti, duppañño hoti jaḷo eḷamūgo.

They walk too far away or too close behind. They don’t take your bowl when it’s full. They don’t warn you when your speech is bordering on an offense. They keep on interrupting while you’re speaking. And they’re witless, dull, and idiotic.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato pacchāsamaṇo na ādātabbo.

You shouldn’t take a second monk these five qualities.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato pacchāsamaṇo ādātabbo.

You should take a second monk with five qualities.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Nātidūre gacchati na accāsanne, pattapariyāpannaṁ gaṇhati, āpattisāmantā bhaṇamānaṁ nivāreti, bhaṇamānassa na antarantarā kathaṁ opāteti, paññavā hoti ajaḷo aneḷamūgo.

They don’t walk too far away or too close behind. They take your bowl when it is full. They warn you when your speech is bordering on an offense. They don’t interrupt while you’re speaking. And they’re wise, bright, and clever.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato pacchāsamaṇo ādātabbo”ti.

You should take a second monk with these five qualities.”

Dutiyaṁ.

Qualities:

Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026