Topics of Discussion (2nd)Dutiyakathāvatthusutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Now at that time, after the meal, on return from almsround, several mendicants sat together in the assembly hall.Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā upaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ sannisinnā sannipatitā anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ anuyuttā viharanti, seyyathidaṁ— They engaged in all kinds of low talk, such as talk about kings, bandits, and chief ministers; talk about armies, threats, and wars; talk about food, drink, clothes, and beds; talk about garlands and fragrances; talk about family, vehicles, villages, towns, cities, and countries; talk about women and heroes; street talk and well talk; talk about the departed; motley talk; tales of land and sea; and talk about being reborn in this or that state of existence.rājakathaṁ corakathaṁ mahāmattakathaṁ …pe… itibhavābhavakathaṁ iti vāti.

“Mendicants, there are ten grounds for praise.“Dasayimāni, bhikkhave, pāsaṁsāni ṭhānāni. What ten?Katamāni dasa? It’s when a mendicant personally has few wishes, and speaks to the mendicants on having few wishes.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu attanā ca appiccho hoti, appicchakathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā hoti. This is a ground for praise.‘Appiccho bhikkhu appicchakathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā’ti pāsaṁsametaṁ ṭhānaṁ.

A mendicant personally is content, and speaks to the mendicants on contentment.Attanā ca santuṭṭho hoti, santuṭṭhikathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā hoti. This is a ground for praise.‘Santuṭṭho bhikkhu santuṭṭhikathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā’ti pāsaṁsametaṁ ṭhānaṁ.

A mendicant personally is secluded, and speaks to the mendicants on seclusion.Attanā ca pavivitto hoti, pavivekakathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā hoti. This is a ground for praise.‘Pavivitto bhikkhu pavivekakathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā’ti pāsaṁsametaṁ ṭhānaṁ.

A mendicant personally doesn’t mix closely with others, and speaks to the mendicants on not mixing closely with others.Attanā ca asaṁsaṭṭho hoti, asaṁsaṭṭhakathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā hoti. This is a ground for praise.‘Asaṁsaṭṭho bhikkhu asaṁsaṭṭhakathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā’ti pāsaṁsametaṁ ṭhānaṁ.

A mendicant personally is energetic, and speaks to the mendicants on rousing energy.Attanā ca āraddhavīriyo hoti, vīriyārambhakathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā hoti. This is a ground for praise.‘Āraddhavīriyo bhikkhu vīriyārambhakathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā’ti pāsaṁsametaṁ ṭhānaṁ.

A mendicant personally is accomplished in ethics, and speaks to the mendicants on being accomplished in ethics.Attanā ca sīlasampanno hoti, sīlasampadākathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā hoti. This is a ground for praise.‘Sīlasampanno bhikkhu sīlasampadākathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā’ti pāsaṁsametaṁ ṭhānaṁ.

A mendicant personally is accomplished in immersion, and speaks to the mendicants on being accomplished in immersion.Attanā ca samādhisampanno hoti, samādhisampadākathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā hoti. This is a ground for praise.‘Samādhisampanno bhikkhu samādhisampadākathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā’ti pāsaṁsametaṁ ṭhānaṁ.

A mendicant personally is accomplished in wisdom, and speaks to the mendicants on being accomplished in wisdom.Attanā ca paññāsampanno hoti, paññāsampadākathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā hoti. This is a ground for praise.‘Paññāsampanno bhikkhu paññāsampadākathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā’ti pāsaṁsametaṁ ṭhānaṁ.

A mendicant personally is accomplished in freedom, and speaks to the mendicants on being accomplished in freedom.Attanā ca vimuttisampanno hoti, vimuttisampadākathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā hoti. This is a ground for praise.‘Vimuttisampanno bhikkhu vimuttisampadākathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā’ti pāsaṁsametaṁ ṭhānaṁ.

A mendicant personally is accomplished in the knowledge and vision of freedom, and speaks to the mendicants on being accomplished in the knowledge and vision of freedom.Attanā ca vimuttiñāṇadassanasampanno hoti, vimuttiñāṇadassanasampadākathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā hoti. This is a ground for praise.‘Vimuttiñāṇadassanasampanno bhikkhu vimuttiñāṇadassanasampadākathañca bhikkhūnaṁ kattā’ti pāsaṁsametaṁ ṭhānaṁ.

These are the ten grounds for praise.”Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dasa pāsaṁsāni ṭhānānī”ti.