The Buddha teaches on attaining the methods of textual analysis, presenting a fivefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 5.86 Attaining the Methods of Textual Analysis

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārīnaṁ piyo ca hoti manāpo ca garu ca bhāvanīyo ca. Katamehi pañcahi? Atthapaṭisambhidāpatto hoti, dhammapaṭisambhidāpatto hoti, niruttipaṭisambhidāpatto hoti, paṭibhānapaṭisambhidāpatto hoti, yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni tattha dakkho hoti analaso tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārīnaṁ piyo ca hoti manāpo ca garu ca bhāvanīyo cā”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārīnaṁ piyo ca hoti manāpo ca garu ca bhāvanīyo ca.

“A senior mendicant with five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired.

Katamehi pañcahi?

What five?

Atthapaṭisambhidāpatto hoti, dhammapaṭisambhidāpatto hoti, niruttipaṭisambhidāpatto hoti, paṭibhānapaṭisambhidāpatto hoti,

They have attained the textual analysis of meaning, text, definition, and eloquence.

yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni tattha dakkho hoti analaso tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ

And they are deft and tireless in a diverse spectrum of duties for their spiritual companions, understanding how to go about things in order to complete and organize the work.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu sabrahmacārīnaṁ piyo ca hoti manāpo ca garu ca bhāvanīyo cā”ti.

A senior mendicant with these five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Dearness

Dearness

A mental quality of holding something or someone as 'dear' through attachment, which binds the mind with craving and possessiveness. It is the external fixation upon what the mind clings to, often giving rise to envy, quarrels, and sorrow.

Also known as: beloved, cherished, pleasing
Pāli: piya
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Inspiration

Inspiration

A mental quality characterized by a sudden burst of creative insight or understanding, often leading to innovative ideas or solutions.

Also known as: eloquence, intuition, ingenuity, wit, creativity
Pāli: paṭibhāna
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Investigation

Investigation

Investigation involves the process of a careful inquiry of mental states, qualities, and phenomena, examining their arising, persisting, and ceasing in order to understand their true nature and support the cultivation of wisdom and awakening.

Also known as: inquiry, contemplation, examination, analysis, exploration
Pāli: vicaya, vīmaṃsā, parikkhati
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Last updated on July 27, 2026