Aṅguttara-Nikāya
Pañcaka-Nipāta
23. Dīgha-Cārika Vagga

The Book of the Fives

Chapter XXIII: Wandering Afield

Sutta 223

Paṭhama Ati-Nivāsa Suttaṃ

Staying Too Long1 (a)

 


[189]

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, there are these five disadvantages
from staying too long in a place.

What five?

Many belongings and their massing;
much medicine and its massing;
many duties2
and things to be done
and their concern;3
one lives with householders and wanderers,
mixing with them,
not averse from laymen's company;
when one leaves that place,
one leaves it with regret.

Monks, these are the five disadvantages
from staying too long in a place.

 

§

 

Monks, there are these five advantages
from staying for equal periods at places.

What five?

Not many belongings and their massing;
not much medicine and its massing;
not many duties
no things to be done
or their concern;
one does not live with householders nor wanderers,
or mix with them,
and is averse from laymen's company;
when one leaves that place,
one leaves it with no regret.

 


1 Ati-nivāsa and sama-vattha-vāsa

2 Cf. § 90

3 Text reads a-vyatto (inept); v.l. S.e. and Comy. vyatto-ti vyāsatto.