The Book of the Fives

Chapter XIII: The Sick

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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, not from these five things
shall health¹ spring forth.

What five?

He treats not himself with physic;

metes out physic without intelligence;

eats unripe things;

goes about at unseemly times;

and walks not the godly² way.

Verily, monks, not from these five shall health spring forth.'

"Monks, from these five things
shall health spring forth.

What five?

He treats himself with physic;

metes out physic with intelligence;

does not eat unripe things;

does not go about at unseemly times;

and he walks the godly way.

Verily, monks, from these five shall health spring forth.'

¹ Āyussa, leading to health or vitality, life; Comy. āyuvaḍhana.

² A-brahma-cārī, not a god-way-er.