Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
VII: Saññā Vagga

The Book of the Fives

VII: Thoughts

Sutta 66

Alaṃ-Sājīva Suttaṃ

An Example¹

 

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[67]

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, a monk endowed with five qualities,
is a fitting example
to his fellows in the godly life.

What five?^ed1

Monks, herein a monk
in himself has achieved virtue
and explains a question prepared
by a talk on the achieving of virtue;

So too, a monk in himself has achieved concentration
and explains a question prepared
by a talk on the achieving of concentration;

So too, a monk in himself has achieved insight
and explains a question prepared
by a talk on the achieving of insight;

So too, a monk in himself has achieved emancipation
and explains a question prepared
by a talk on the achieving of insight;

So too, a monk in himself has achieved the knowledge and insight of emancipation
and explains a question prepared
by a talk on the achieving of knowledge and insight of emancipation.

Verily, monks, endowed with these five qualities,
is a fitting example
to his fellows in the godly life.'

 

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¹ Sajīvan. This word is explained at Vin. iii, 24 as sikkhāpadaṃ, a precept or rule of training. Cf. St. Paul to Timothy (I, iv, 12): 'Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.' these suttas are preached by Sāriputta (below V, §§ 163 - 164).

² Comy. glosses: abhisaṅkhataṃ, prepared.

 

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^ed1 Hare abridges the rest of this sutta with: "The reply is as in § 65, but kataṃ² is used for āgataṃ."