The Buddha describes the five qualities is not fit to live apart from a saṅgha community—it’s when a mendicant is not content with any kind of robe, almsfood, lodging, and medicines and supplies for the sick. and they have a lot of sensual thoughts, a mendicant with these five qualities is not fit to live apart from a saṅgha community, a mendicant with five qualities is fit to live apart from a saṅgha community, and what five?, and it’s when a mendicant is content with any kind of robe, almsfood, lodging, and medicines and supplies for the sick. and they think a lot about renunciation.

AN 5.127 Living Apart

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu nālaṁ saṅghamhā vapakāsituṁ. Katamehi pañcahi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena cīvarena, asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena piṇḍapātena, asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena senāsanena, asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena, kāmasaṅkappabahulo ca viharati. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu nālaṁ saṅghamhā vapakāsituṁ.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ saṅghamhā vapakāsituṁ. Katamehi pañcahi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena cīvarena, santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena piṇḍapātena, santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena senāsanena, santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena, nekkhammasaṅkappabahulo ca viharati. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ saṅghamhā vapakāsitun”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu nālaṁ saṅghamhā vapakāsituṁ.

“Mendicants, a mendicant with five qualities is not fit to live apart from a Saṅgha community.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena cīvarena, asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena piṇḍapātena, asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena senāsanena, asantuṭṭho hoti itarītarena gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena, kāmasaṅkappabahulo ca viharati.

It’s when a mendicant is not content with any kind of robe, almsfood, lodging, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And they have a lot of sensual thoughts.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu nālaṁ saṅghamhā vapakāsituṁ.

A mendicant with these five qualities is not fit to live apart from a Saṅgha community.

Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ saṅghamhā vapakāsituṁ.

A mendicant with five qualities is fit to live apart from a Saṅgha community.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena cīvarena, santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena piṇḍapātena, santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena senāsanena, santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena, nekkhammasaṅkappabahulo ca viharati.

It’s when a mendicant is content with any kind of robe, almsfood, lodging, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And they think a lot about renunciation.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ saṅghamhā vapakāsitun”ti.

A mendicant with these five qualities is fit to live apart from a Saṅgha community.”

Sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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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