Aṅguttara Nikāya
007. Yamakavaggo –– Twin section

1. Avijjāsuttaṃ –– Ignorance

61. Bhikkhus, a beginning to ignorance cannot be pointed out, ‘Before this there was no ignorance, it occured afterwards. Bhikkhus, it is pointed out: On account of this, there is ignorance.

Bhikkhus, I say, ignorance too has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition of ignorance?

The five obstructions is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even the five obstructions have a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the five obstructions? The three misbehaviours is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even the three misbehaviours have a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the three misbehaviours? Lack of restraint in the mental faculties is the reply Bhikkhus, I say, even the lack of restraint in the mental faculties has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the lack of restraint in the mental faculties? Lack of mindful awareness is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even the lack of mindful awareness has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the lack of mindful awareness? Unwise attention is the reply.

Bhikkhus, I say, even unwise attention has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for unwise attention? Lack of faith is the reply Bhikkhus, I say, even lack of faith has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for lack of faith? Listening to the incorrect Teaching is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even listening to the incorrect Teaching has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for listening to the incorrect Teaching? Associating non- Great beings is the reply.

Thus bhikkhus, not associating Great beings leads to listening to the incorrect Teaching. Listening to the incorret Teaching leads to lack of faith. Lack of faith leads to unwise attention. Unwise attention leads to lack of mindful awareness Lack of mindful awareness leads to unrestrained mental faculties. Unrestrained mental faculties lead to the three misbehaviours. The three misbehaviours lead to the five obstructions. The five obstructions lead to ignorance. Thus these are the supportive conditions for ignorance.

Bhikkhus, like water from the big drops of rain, that fall on top of the mountains coming down to the lowlands fill up mountain creeks and streams. They in turn fill up the small rivers and the huge rivers and fill up the great ocean. And that water becomes the supportive condition for the ocean.

In the same manner bhikkhus, not associating Great beings leads to listening to the incorrect Teaching. Listening to the incorret Teaching leads to lack of faith. Lack of faith leads to unwsie attention. Unwise attention leads to lack of mindful awareness Lack of mindful awareness leads to unrestrained mental faculties. Unrestrained mental faculties lead to the three misbehaviours. The three misbehaviours lead to the five obstructions. The five obstructions lead to ignorance. Thus these are the supportive conditions for ignorance.

Bhikkhus, I say, knowledge and release too, have a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for knowledge and release? The seven enlightenment factors is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even the seven enlightenment factors have a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the seven enlightenment factors? The four establishments of mindfulness is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even the four establishments of mindfulness have a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the four establishments of mindfulness? The three right behaviours is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even the three right behaviours have a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the three right behaviours? Restraint in the mental faculties is the reply Bhikkhus, I say, even the restraint in the mental faculties have a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the restraint in the mental faculties? Mindful awareness is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even mindful awareness has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for mindful awareness? Wise attention is the reply Bhikkhus, I say, even wise attention has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for wise attention? Faith is the reply Bhikkhus, I say, even faith has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for faith? Listening to the correct Teaching is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even listening to the correct Teaching has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for listening to the correct Teaching? Associating Great beings is the reply.

Thus bhikkhus, associating Great beings leads to listening to the correct Teaching. Listening to the corret Teaching leads to faith. Faith leads to wise attention. Wise attention leads to mindful awareness Mindful awareness leads to restrained mental faculties. Restrained mental faculties lead to the three right behaviours. The three right behaviours lead to the four establishments of mindfulness. The four establishments of mindfulness lead to the seven enlightenment factors. The seven enlightenment factors lead to knowledge and release. Thus these are the supportive conditions for knowledge and release.

Bhikkhus, like water from the big drops of rain, that fall on top of the mountains coming down to the lowlands fill up mountain creeks and streams. They in turn fill up the small rivers and the huge rivers and fill up the great ocean. And that water becomes the supportive condition for the ocean.

In the same manner bhikkhus, associating Great beings leads to listening to the correct Teaching. Listening to the correct Teaching leads to faith. Faith leads to wsie attention. Wise attention leads to mindful awareness Mindful awareness leads to restrained mental faculties. Restrained mental faculties lead to the three right behaviours. The three right behaviours lead to the four establishments of mindfulness. The four establishments of mindfulness lead to the seven enlightenment factorsṬhe seven enlightenment factors lead to knowledge and release. Thus these are the supportive conditions for knowledge and release.

2. Ṭaṇhāsuttaṃ –– Craving

62. Bhikkhus, a beginning to the craving ‘to be’ cannot be pointed out.-’Before this there was no craving ‘to be’, it occured afterwards. Bhikkhus, it is pointed out: On account of this, there is ‘craving ‘to be’.

Bhikkhus, I say, craving ‘to be’ too has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for craving ‘to be’.? Ignorance is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even ignorance has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for ignorance?

The five obstructions is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even the five obstructions have a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the five obstructions? The three misbehaviours is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even the three misbehaviours have a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the three misbehaviours? Lack of restraint in the mental faculties is the reply Bhikkhus, I say, even the lack of restraint in the mental faculties has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the lack of restraint in the mental faculties? Lack of mindful awareness is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even the lack of mindful awareness has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the lack of mindful awareness? Unwise attention is the reply.

Bhikkhus, I say, even unwise attention has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for unwise attention? Lack of faith is the reply Bhikkhus, I say, even lack of faith has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for lack of faith? Listening to the incorrect Teaching is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even listening to the incorrect Teaching has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for listening to the incorrect Teaching? Associating non- Great beings is the reply.

Thus bhikkhus, associating non-Great beings leads to listening to the incorrect Teaching. Listening to the incorret Teaching leads to lack of faith. Lack of faith leads to unwise attention. Unwise attention leads to lack of mindful awareness Lack of mindful awareness leads to unrestrained mental faculties. Unrestrained mental faculties lead to the three misbehaviours. The three misbehaviours lead to the five obstructions. The five obstructions lead to ignorance and ignorance leads to the craving ‘to be’. Thus these are the supportive conditions for the craving ‘to be’.

Bhikkhus, like water from the big drops of rain, that fall on top of the mountains coming down to the lowlands fill up mountain creeks and streams. They in turn fill up the small rivers and the huge rivers and fill up the great ocean. And that water becomes the supportive condition for the ocean.

In the same manner bhikkhus, not associating Great beings leads to listening to the incorrect Teaching. Listening to the incorret Teaching leads to lack of faith. Lack of faith leads to unwsie attention. Unwise attention leads to lack of mindful awareness Lack of mindful awareness leads to unrestrained mental faculties. Unrestrained mental faculties lead to the three misbehaviours. The three misbehaviours lead to the five obstructions. The five obstructions lead to ignorance and ignorance leads to the craving ‘to be.’Thus these are the supportive conditions for the craving ‘to be.’

Bhikkhus, I say, knowledge and release too, have a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for knowledge and release? The seven enlightenment factors is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even the seven enlightenment factors have a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the seven enlightenment factors? The four establishments of mindfulness is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even the four establishments of mindfulness have a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the four establishments of mindfulness? The three right behaviours is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even the three right behaviours have a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the three right behaviours? Restraint in the mental faculties is the reply Bhikkhus, I say, even the restraint in the mental faculties have a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for the restraint in the mental faculties? Mindful awareness is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even mindful awareness has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for mindful awareness? Wise attention is the reply Bhikkhus, I say, even wise attention has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for wise attention? Faith is the reply Bhikkhus, I say, even faith has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for faith? Listening to the correct Teaching is the reply. Bhikkhus, I say, even listening to the correct Teaching has a supportive condition. What is the supportive condition for listening to the correct Teaching? Associating Great beings is the reply.

Thus bhikkhus, associating Great beings leads to listening to the correct Teaching. Listening to the corret Teaching leads to faith. Faith leads to wise attention. Wise attention leads to mindful awareness Mindful awareness leads to restrained mental faculties. Restrained mental faculties lead to the three right behaviours. The three right behaviours lead to the four establishments of mindfulness. The four establishments of mindfulness lead to the seven enlightenment factors. The seven enlightenment factors lead to knowledge and release. Thus these are the supportive conditions for knowledge and release.

Bhikkhus, like water from the big drops of rain, that fall on top of the mountains coming down to the lowlands fill up mountain creeks and streams. They in turn fill up the small rivers and the huge rivers and fill up the great ocean. And that water becomes the supportive condition for the ocean.

In the same manner bhikkhus, associating Great beings leads to listening to the correct Teaching. Listening to the correct Teaching leads to faith. Faith leads to wise attention. Wise attention leads to mindful awareness Mindful awareness leads to restrained mental faculties. Restrained mental faculties lead to the three right behaviours. The three right behaviours lead to the four establishments of mindfulness. The four establishments of mindfulness lead to the seven enlightenment factorsṬhe seven enlightenment factors lead to knowledge and release. Thus these are the supportive conditions for knowledge and release .

3. Niṭṭhaṇgatasuttaṃ –– Attained perfection

63. “Bhikkhus, all those who have become perfect in this dispensation have come to right view. Of those come to right view, five are perfect in this same life, five become perfect abandonng this life. Which five are perfect in this same life?

One born seven times the most, one going from clan to clan, one with another single birth, the once returner and the perfect one in this very life. These five are perfect in this very life. Which five perfect abandoning this life. One who extinguishes in the middle of his life span in some heaven, one in the visinity of extinction, one extinguishing without substratum, one extinguishing with substratum, and the one going up stream up to the highest world of brahma. These five abandon this life and become perfect. Of those come to right view, five are perfect in this same life, five become perfect abandonng this life.

4. Aveccappasannasuttaṃ –– Unwavering faith

64. “Bhikkhus, whoever have unwavering faith in me, all of them have entered the stream of the Teaching. Of those entered the stream, five are perfect in this same life, five become perfect abandonng this life. Which five are perfect in this same life?

One born seven times the most, one going from clan to clan, one with another single birth, the once returner and the perfect one in this very life. These five are perfect in this very life. Which five perfect abandoning this life. One who extinguishes in the middle of his life span in some heaven, one in the visinity of extinction, one extinguishing without substratum, one extinguishing with substratum, and the one going up stream up to the highest world of brahma. These five abandon this life and become perfect. Of those who have entered the stream of the Teaching, five are perfect in this same life, five become perfect abandonng this life.

5. Paṭhamasukhasuttaṃ –– First on pleasantness

65. Once venerable Sāriputta was living in a village of reeds in Magadha. Then the wandering ascetic Samandaka, approached venerable Sāriputta, exchanged friendly greetings, sat on a side and said:

“Friend, Sāriputta, what is pleasant and what is unpleasant?

“Friend, future birth is unpleasant and no birth in the future is pleasant .

Friend, when there is future birth, these unpleasantnesses should be expected.-Cold, heat, hunger, thirst, excrement, urination, the touch of fire, punishment, the touch of a weapon, relations and friends get together and make a fuss Friend, when there is future birth, these unpleasantnesses should be expected.

Friend, when there is no future birth, these pleasantnesses should be expected.-Not cold, no heat, not hungry, not thirsty, no excrement, no urination, not the touch of fire, no punishments, not the touch of a weapon, and relations and friends do not get together and make a fuss Friend, when there is no future birth, these pleasantnesses should be expected.

6. Dutiyasukhasuttaṃ –– Second on pleasantness

66. Once venerable Sāriputta was living in a village of reeds in Magadha. Then the wandering ascetic Samandaka, approached venerable Sāriputta, exchanged friendly greetings, sat on a side and said:

“Friend, Sāriputta, what is pleasant in this dispensation and what is unpleasant?

“Friend, non-attachment to the dispenation is unpleasant and attachment to the dispensation is pleasant. Friend, when there is non attachment to the dispensation these unpleasantnesses should be expected. Even when going pleasantness and agreeability does not get established, even when standing, ... re ... sitting, ... re ... lying ... re ... going to the village, ... re ... going to the forest, ... re ... going to the root of a tree, ... re ... to an empty house, ... re ... in open space, ... re ... even in the presence of the bhikkhus.

Friend, when there is attachment to the dispensation these pleasantnesses should be expected. Even when going, pleasantness and agreeability get established, even when standing, ... re ... sitting, ... re ... lying ... re ... going to the village, ... re ... going to the forest, ... re ... going to the root of a tree, ... re ... to an empty house, ... re ... in open space, ... re ... even in the presence of the bhikkhus. Friend, when there is attachment to the dispensation these pleasantnesses should be expected.

7. Paṭhamanalakapānasuttaṃ –– First in Nalakapana. associatīng

67. At one time The Blessed One was touring the country of Kosala with a large Community of bhikkhus and entered the hamlet Nalakapana, in the country of Kosala. There The Blessed One lived in a thicket. On that full moon day The Blessed One was seated surrounded by the Community of bhikkhus and advised, incited and made the hearts light with a talk. Then The Blessed One observed the silent Community of bhikkhu and addressed venerable Sāriputta:

“Sāriputta, the Community of bhikkhus is free of sloth and torpor, advise the bhikkhus, my back aches and I will lie. Venerable Sāriputta agreed.

The Blessed One folded the robe in four, laid it on the ground, turned to his right side, made the lion’s posture keeping one foot over the other and attending to the perception of rising lay down with mindful awareness.

Then venerable Sāriputta addressed the bhikkhus:

“Friends, when there is no faith in meritorious things to someone ... re ... no shame, ... re ... no remorse, ... re ... no effort, ... re ... no wisdom, in meritorious things he should expect decrease by night or by day Like the moon on the waning side should expect decrease in colour, in the orbit, in radiance and overall appearance by night or by day. In the same manner friends, when there is no faith in meritorious things to someone ... re ... no shame, ... re ... no remorse, ... re ... no effort, ... re ... no wisdom, in meritorious things he should expect decrease by night or by day.

Friends, a person lacking in faith is decreasing, a person lacking in shame is decreasing, a person lacking remorse is decreasing, a lazy person is decreasing, a person lacking in wisdom is decreasing, an angry person is decreasing, a grudging person is decreasing, a person with evil desires is decreasing, a person with evil friendship is decreasing, a person with wrong view is decreasing.

Friends, when there is faith in meritorious things to someone ... re ... shame, ... re ... remorse, ... re ... effort, ... re ... wisdom, in meritorious things he should expect increase by night or by day Like the moon on the waxing side should expect increase in colour, in the orbit, in radiance and overall appearance by night or by day. In the same manner friends, when there is faith in meritorious things to someone ... re ... shame, ... re ... remorse, ... re ... effort, ... re ... wisdom, in meritorious things he should expect increase by night or by day.

Friends, a person endowed with faith is increasing, a person endowed with shame is increasing, a person endowed with remorse is increasing, a person with aroused effort is increasing, a person endowed with wisdom is increasing, a not angry person is increasing, a non grudging person is increasing, a person with few desires is increasing, a person with spiritual friendship is increasing and a person with right view is increasing.

Then The Blessed One got up and addressed venerable Sāriputta:

“Good! Sāriputta. when there is no faith in meritorious things to someone ... re ... no shame, ... re ... no remorse, ... re ... no effort, ... re ... no wisdom, in meritorious things he should expect decrease by night or by day Like the moon on the waning side should expect decrease in colour, in the orbit, in radiance and overall appearance by night or by day. In the same manner Sāriputta, when there is no faith in meritorious things to someone ... re ... no shame, ... re ... no remorse, ... re ... no effort, ... re ... no wisdom, in meritorious things he should expect decrease by night or by day.

Sāriputta, a person lacking in faith is decreasing, a person lacking in shame is decreasing, a person lacking remorse is decreasing, a lazy person is decreasing, a person lacking in wisdom is decreasing, an angry person is decreasing, a grudging person is decreasing, a person with evil desires is decreasing, a person with evil friendship is decreasing, a person with wrong view is decreasing.

Sāriputta, when there is faith in meritorious things to someone ... re ... shame, ... re ... remorse, ... re ... effort, ... re ... wisdom, in meritorious things he should expect increase by night or by day Like the moon on the waxing side should expect increase in colour, in the orbit, in radiance and overall appearance by night or by day. In the same manner Sāriputta, when there is faith in meritorious things to someone ... re ... shame, ... re ... remorse, ... re ... effort, ... re ... wisdom, in meritorious things he should expect increase by night or by day.

Sāriputta, a person endowed with faith is increasing, a person endowed with shame is increasing, a person endowed with remorse is increasing, a person with aroused effort is increasing, a person endowed with wisdom is increasing, a not angry person is increasing, a non grudging person is increasing, a person with few desires is increasing, a person with spiritual friendship is increasing and a person with right view is increasing.

8. Dutiyanalakapānasuttaṃ –– Second in Nalakapana

68. At one time The Blessed One was touring the country of Kosala with a large Community of bhikkhus and entered the hamlet Nalakapana, in the country of Kosala. There The Blessed One lived in a thicket. On that full moon day The Blessed One was seated surrounded by the Community of bhikkhus and advised, incited and made the hearts light with a talk. Then The Blessed One observed the silent Community of bhikkhus and addressed venerable Sāriputta:

“Sāriputta, the Community of bhikkhus is free of sloth and torpor, advise the bhikkhus, my back aches and I will lie. Venerable Sāriputta agreed.

The Blessed One folded the robe in four, laid it on the ground, turned to his right side, made the lion’s posture keeping one foot over the other and attending to the perception of rising lay down with mindful awareness.

Then venerable Sāriputta addressed the bhikkhus:

“Friends, when there is no faith in meritorious things ... re ... no shame, ... re ... no remorse, ... re ... no effort, ... re ... no wisdom, ... re ... has no careful attention, ... re ... does not bear the Teaching, ... re ... does not search for the meanings, ... re ... does not live according to the Teaching, ... re ... is not diligent in meritorious things should expect decrease by night or by day Like the moon on the waning side should expect decrease in colour, in the orbit, in radiance and overall appearance by night or by day. In the same manner friends, when there is no faith in meritorious things ... re ... no shame, ... re ... no remorse, ... re ... no effort, ... re ... no wisdom, no careful attention, ... re ... does not bear the Teaching, ... re ... does not search for the meanings in the Teaching, ... re ... does not live according to the Teaching, ... re ... is not diligent in meritorious things he should expect decrease by night or by day. Like the moon that decreases in colour, the disc, radiance and overall beaut y by day or night in the waning side.

Friends, in the same manner, when there is no faith in meritorious things ... re ... no shame, ... re ... no remorse, ... re ... no effort, ... re ... no wisdom, ... re ... has no careful attention, ... re ... does not bear the Teaching, ... re ... does not search for the meanings, ... re ... does not live according to the Teaching, ... re ... is not diligent in meritorious things should expect decrease by night or by day.

Friends, when there is faith in meritorious things to someone ... re ... shame, ... re ... remorse, ... re ... effort, ... re ... wisdom, ... re ... has careful attention, ... re ... bears the Teaching, ... re ... searches meanings in the Teaching ... re ... lives according to the Teaching and is diligent in meritorious things, he should expect increase by night or by day Like the moon on the waxing side should expect increase in colour, in the orbit, in radiance and overall appearance by night or by day.

Then The Blessed One got up and addressed venerable Sāriputta:

“Good! Sāriputta. when there is no faith in meritorious things ... re ... no shame, ... re ... no remorse, ... re ... no effort, ... re ... no wisdom, ... re ... no careful attention, ... re ... does not bear the Teaching, ... re ... does not search meanings in the Teaching, ... re ... Does not live according to the Teaching, ... re ... and is not diligent in meritorious things he should expect decrease by night or by day Like the moon on the waning side should expect decrease in colour, in the orbit, in radiance and overall appearance by night or by day. In the same manner Sāriputta, when there is no faith in meritorious things ... re ... no shame, ... re ... no remorse, ... re ... no effort, ... re ... no wisdom, ... re ... no careful attention, ... re ... Does not bear the Teaching, ... re ... Does not search meanngs in the Teaching, ... re ... does not live according to the Teaching and not diligent in meritorious things he should expect decrease by night or by day.

Sāriputta, when there is faith in meritorious things ... re ... shame, ... re ... remorse, ... re ... effort, ... re ... wisdom, ... re ... careful attention, ... re ... bears the Teaching, ... re ... searches meanings in the Teaching, ... re ... lives according to the Teaching, ... re ... and is diligent in meritorious things he should expect increase by night or by day Like the moon on the waxing side should expect increase in colour, in the orbit, in radiance and overall appearance by night or by day. In the same manner Sāriputta, when there is faith in meritorious things ... re ... shame, ... re ... remorse, ... re ... effort, ... re ... wisdom, ... re ... careful attention, ... re ... bears the Teaching, ... re ... searches meanings in the Teaching, ... re ... lives according to the Teaching and is diligent in meritorious things he should expect increase by night or by day.

9. Paṭhamakathāvatthusuttaṃ –– First on topics of conversation

69. At one time The Blessed One was abiding in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthi. At that time many bhikkhus after the meal was over, returning from the alms round were assembled and seated in the attendance hall conversing on various childish things such as about royality, robbers, chief ministers, army, talk arousing fear, battles, eatables, drinks, clothes, beds, garlands, scents, relations, conveyances, talk about villages and hamlets, cities and states, about women and heroes, gossip at the junction and well, about the dead, various talk about the end of the world and ocean and talk about this will happen and this will not happen and so on.

In the evening The Blessed One getting up from his seclusion approached the attendance hall and sat on the prepared seat and asked: “Bhikkhus, with what talk were you seated and what was the other conversation?

“Here, venerable sir, after the meal was over, returning from the alms round we were assembled and seated in the attendance hall conversing on various childish things such as about royality, robbers, chief ministers, army, talk arousing fear, battles, eatables, drinks, clothes, beds, garlands, scents, relations, conveyances, talk about villages and hamlets, cities and states, about women and heroes, gossip at the junction and well, about the dead, various talk about the end of the world and ocean and talk about this will happen and this will not happen and so on.

“Bhikkhus, it is not suitable for clansmen like you who have left the household and gone forth out of faith to be conversing on various childish things such as about royality, robbers, chief ministers, army, talk arousing fear, battles, eatables, drinks, clothes, beds, garlands, scents, relations, conveyances, talk about villages and hamlets, cities and states, about women and heroes, gossip at the junction and well, about the dead, various talk about the end of the world and ocean and talk about this will happen and this will not happen and so on.

Bhikkhus, these ten are the topics of conversation What ten?

Talk about wanting little, satisfaction, seclusion, withdrawing from the company, arousing effort, virtues, concentration, wisdom, release and knowledge and vision of release. Bhikkhus, these ten are the topics of conversation.

Bhikkhus, talk on these ten topics of conversation over and over again. Give up talking even about the moon and sun. Let the wandering ascetics of other sects do it.

10. Dutiya kathāvatthusuttaṃ –– Second on the topics of convrsation

70. At one time The Blessed One was abiding in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthi. At that time many bhikkhus after the meal was over, returning from the alms round were assembled and seated in the attendance hall conversing on various childish things such as about royality, robbers, chief ministers, army, talk arousing fear, battles, eatables, drinks, clothes, beds, garlands, scents, relations, conveyances, talk about villages and hamlets, cities and states, about women and heroes, gossip at the junction and well, about the dead, various talk about the end of the world and ocean and talk about this will happen and this will not happen and so on.

In the evening The Blessed One getting up from his seclusion approached the attendance hall and sat on the prepared seat and asked: “Bhikkhus, with what talk were you seated and what was the other conversation?

“Here, venerable sir, after the meal was over, returning from the alms round we were assembled and seated in the attendance hall conversing on various childish things such as about royality, robbers, chief ministers, army, talk arousing fear, battles, eatables, drinks, clothes, beds, garlands, scents, relations, conveyances, talk about villages and hamlets, cities and states, about women and heroes, gossip at the junction and well, about the dead, various talk about the end of the world and ocean and talk about this will happen and this will not happen and so on.

“Bhikkhus, it is not suitable for clansmen like you who have left the household and gone forth out of faith to be conversing on various childish things such as about royality, robbers, chief ministers, ... re ... and this will not happen and so on.

Bhikkhus, these ten things are praiseworthy. What ten?

Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has few desires and converses with the bhikkhus on few desires. The bhikkhu with few desires, talking to the bhikkhus on few desires is a praiseworthy thing.

A satisfied bhikkhu converses with the bhikkhus on satisfaction. The satisfied bhikkhu talking to the bhikkhus on satisfaction, is a praiseworthy thing.

A bhikkhu is secluded and converses with the bhikkhus on seclusion. The secluded bhikkhu talking to the bhikkhus on seclusion is a praiseworthy thing.

A bhikkhu not fond of company converses with the bhikkhus on withdrawing from company. The bhikkhu not fond of company talking to the bhikkhus on withdrawing from the company is a praiseworthy thing.

A bhikkhu with aroused effort converses with the bhikkhus on arousing effort. The bhikkhu with aroused effort talking to the bhikkhus on arousing effort is a praiseworthy thing.

A virtuous bhikkhu converses with the bhikkhus on virtues. The virtuous bhikkhu talking to the bhikkhus on virtues is a praiseworthy thing.

A concentrated bhikkhu, converses with the bhikkhus on concentration. The concentrated bhikkhu talking to the bhikkhus on concentration is a praiseworthy thing.

A wise bhikkhu converses with the bhikkhus on wisdom. The wise bhikkhu conversing with the bhikkhus on wisdom is a praiseworthy thing.

A released bhikkhu converses with the bhikkhus on release. The released bhikkhu conversing with the bhikkhus on release is a praiseworthy thing.

A bhikkhu endowed with knowledge and vision of release, converses with the bhikkhus on knowledge and vision of release. The bhikkhu endowed with knowledge and vision of release conversing with the bhikkhus on knowledge and vision of release is a praiseworthy thing. Bhikkhus, these ten things are praiseworthy.