Saṁyutta Nikāya,
V: Mahā-Vagga
56. Sacca Saṁyutta
I. Samādhi Vaggo

Part V: The Great Chapter
56: Kindred Sayings about the Truths
I. Concentration

Sutta 9

Viggāhika-Kathā Suttaṁ

Wordy Warfare

 

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Thus have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Monks, wage not wordy warfare,¹
thus:

'You know not about this Norm-discipline.

I do know about this Norm-discipline.

How could you know about it?

You have fallen on wrong views.

I have come by right views.

You spoke last what should come first,
and first what should come last.

I am speaking to the point,
you are not.

What you have thought out so long² is quite upset.

Your view is confuted.

Go, explain yourself.

You are shown up.

Clear yourself if you can!'

Why do I say this?

Because, monks,
such talk is not concerned with profit,
they are not the rudiments of the holy life,
they conduce not to revulsion,
to dispassion,
to cessation,
to tranquillity,
to full understanding,
to the perfect wisdom,
they conduce not to Nibbāna.

 

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When ye talk, monks, talk about:

'This is ill.

This is the arising of ill.

This is the ceasing of ill.

This is the practice
that leads to the ceasing of ill.'

Why do I say this?

Because, monks,
such talk is concerned with profit,
they are rudiments of the holy life,
they conduce to revulsion,
to dispassion,
to cessation,
to tranquillity,
to full understanding,
to the perfect wisdom,
they conduce to Nibbāna.

Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:

'This is ill.'

'This is the arising of ill.'

'This is the ceasing of ill.'

'This is the practice
that leads to the ceasing of ill.'"

 

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¹ Cf. D. iii, 117; K.S. iii, 13 n.; DA. 1, 91.

² Reading (as at S. ii, 12) adhiciṇṇaṅ, text's v.l. for āciṇṇaṅ.