The Book of the Fives

Chapter XIII: The Sick

[110]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, possessing five qualities
one who waits on the sick
is not fit to help the sick.

What five?

[111] He cannot prepare medicaments;

does not know physic from what is not physic,
offers what is not,
does not offer what is;

in hope of gain¹ waits on the sick,
not from good-will;

loathes to move excrement,
urine,
puke
and spittle;

nor can he
from time to time
instruct,
rouse,
gladden
and satisfy the sick
with Dhamma-talk.

Monks, possessing these five qualities
one who waits on the sick
is not fit to help the sick.'

"Monks, possessing five qualities
one who waits on the sick
is fit to help the sick.

What five?

He can prepare medicaments;

knows physic from what is not physic,
offers what is,
does not offer what is not;

not in hope of gain waits on the sick,
but from good-will;

does not loathe to move excrement,
urine,
puke
and spittle;

he can
from time to time
instruct,
rouse,
gladden
and satisfy the sick
with Dhamma-talk.

Monks, possessing these five qualities
one who waits on the sick
is fit to help the sick.'

¹ Comy. 'expecting (gifts) of robes, ete.' (forgetting the helper might well be a lay-disciple, e.g. Suppiyā, A. i, 26).