Aṅguttara Nikāya
VIII. Aṭṭhaka Nipāta
I: Mettā Vagga

VIII. The Book of the Eights

I. On Amity

Sutta 4

Dutiya Piya Suttaṃ

Qualities not Endearing (b)

[156] [107]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, a monk possessed of eight qualities
is neither dear,
nor pleasing to,
nor honoured,
by his fellows in the godly life,
nor what he ought to become.

What eight?

Herein a monk longs for possessions;
he longs for honour;
he longs for distinction¹
he does not know the proper times;
he knows no moderation;
he is impure;
he is garrulous;
and he insults and abuses his fellows in the godly life.

Monks, possessed of these eight qualities
a monk is neither dear,
nor pleasing to,
nor honoured by his fellows in the godly life,
nor what he ought to become.

²'Monks, a monk possessed of eight qualities
is dear,
pleasing to,
honoured,
by his fellows in the godly life,
and is what he ought to become.

What eight?

Herein a monk does not long for possessions;
he does not long for honour;
he does not long for distinction
he knows the proper times;
he knows moderation;
he is not impure;
he is not garrulous;
and he does not insult and abuse his fellows in the godly life.

Monks, possessed of these eight qualities
a monk is dear,
pleasing to,
honoured by his fellows in the godly life,
and is what he ought to become.

¹ Bhāvanīyo. Cf. p. 1.