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AN 8.78PTS AN 4.3284 min read

Good Enough

Alaṁsutta

Eight sets of qualities pertain to benefiting oneself and others, explained by Sāriputta.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.78Numbered Discourses 8.78
  • 0.28. Yamakavagga8. Pairs

0.3AlaṁsuttaGood Enough

1.1Tatra kho āyasmā sāriputto bhikkhū āmantesi …pe…There Sāriputta addressed the mendicants:1.2chahāvuso, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ attano, alaṁ paresaṁ.“Reverends, a mendicant with six qualities is good enough for themselves and others.1.3Katamehi chahi?What six?1.4Idhāvuso, bhikkhu khippanisanti ca hoti kusalesu dhammesu;A mendicant is quick-witted when it comes to skillful teachings.1.5sutānañca dhammānaṁ dhāraṇajātiko hoti;They readily memorize the teachings they’ve heard.1.6dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthūpaparikkhitā hoti;They examine the meaning of teachings they’ve memorized.1.7atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno ca hoti;Understanding the meaning and the teaching, they practice in line with the teaching.1.8kalyāṇavāco ca hoti kalyāṇavākkaraṇo, poriyā vācāya samannāgato vissaṭṭhāya anelagaḷāya atthassa viññāpaniyā;They’re a good speaker who enunciates well. Their voice is polished, clear, articulate, and expresses the meaning.1.9sandassako ca hoti samādapako samuttejako sampahaṁsako sabrahmacārīnaṁ.They educate, encourage, fire up, and inspire their spiritual companions.1.10Imehi kho, āvuso, chahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ attano, alaṁ paresaṁ.A mendicant with these six qualities is good enough for themselves and others.

2.1PTS 4.329Pañcahāvuso, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ attano, alaṁ paresaṁ.A mendicant with five qualities is good enough for themselves and others.2.2Katamehi pañcahi?What five?2.3Idhāvuso, bhikkhu na heva kho khippanisanti ca hoti kusalesu dhammesu;A mendicant is not quick-witted when it comes to skillful teachings.2.4sutānañca dhammānaṁ dhāraṇajātiko hoti;They readily memorize the teachings they’ve heard.2.5dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthūpaparikkhitā hoti;They examine the meaning of teachings they’ve memorized.2.6atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno ca hoti;Understanding the meaning and the teaching, they practice in line with the teaching.2.7kalyāṇavāco ca hoti …pe…They’re a good speaker. Their voice is polished, clear, articulate, and expresses the meaning.2.8sandassako ca hoti …pe… sabrahmacārīnaṁ.They educate, encourage, fire up, and inspire their spiritual companions.2.9Imehi kho, āvuso, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ attano, alaṁ paresaṁ.A mendicant with these five qualities is good enough for themselves and others.

3.1Catūhāvuso, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ attano, nālaṁ paresaṁ.A mendicant with four qualities is good enough for themselves but not for others.3.2Katamehi catūhi?What four?3.3Idhāvuso, bhikkhu khippanisanti ca hoti kusalesu dhammesu;A mendicant is quick-witted when it comes to skillful teachings.3.4sutānañca dhammānaṁ dhāraṇajātiko hoti;They readily memorize the teachings they’ve heard.3.5dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthūpaparikkhitā hoti;They examine the meaning of teachings they’ve memorized.3.6atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno ca hoti;Understanding the meaning and the teaching, they practice in line with the teaching.3.7no ca kalyāṇavāco hoti …pe…They’re not a good speaker. Their voice isn’t polished, clear, articulate, and doesn’t express the meaning.3.8no ca sandassako hoti …pe… sabrahmacārīnaṁ.They don’t educate, encourage, fire up, and inspire their spiritual companions.3.9Imehi kho, āvuso, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ attano, nālaṁ paresaṁ.A mendicant with these four qualities is good enough for themselves but not for others.

4.1Catūhāvuso, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ paresaṁ, nālaṁ attano.A mendicant with four qualities is good enough for others but not for themselves.4.2Katamehi catūhi?What four?4.3Idhāvuso, bhikkhu khippanisanti ca hoti kusalesu dhammesu;A mendicant is quick-witted when it comes to skillful teachings.4.4sutānañca dhammānaṁ dhāraṇajātiko hoti;They readily memorize the teachings they’ve heard.4.5no ca dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthūpaparikkhitā hoti;But they don’t examine the meaning of teachings they’ve memorized.4.6no ca atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno hoti;Not understanding the meaning and the teaching, they don’t practice in line with the teaching.4.7kalyāṇavāco ca hoti …pe…They’re a good speaker. Their voice is polished, clear, articulate, and expresses the meaning.4.8sandassako ca hoti …pe… sabrahmacārīnaṁ.They educate, encourage, fire up, and inspire their spiritual companions.4.9Imehi kho, āvuso, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ paresaṁ, nālaṁ attano.A mendicant with these four qualities is good enough for others but not for themselves.

5.1PTS 4.330Tīhāvuso, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ attano, nālaṁ paresaṁ.A mendicant with three qualities is good enough for themselves but not for others.5.2Katamehi tīhi?What three?5.3Idhāvuso, bhikkhu na heva kho khippanisanti ca hoti kusalesu dhammesu;A mendicant is not quick-witted when it comes to skillful teachings.5.4sutānañca dhammānaṁ dhāraṇajātiko hoti;They readily memorize the teachings they’ve heard.5.5dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthūpaparikkhitā hoti;They examine the meaning of teachings they’ve memorized.5.6atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno ca hoti;Understanding the meaning and the teaching, they practice in line with the teaching.5.7no ca kalyāṇavāco hoti …pe…They’re not a good speaker. Their voice isn’t polished, clear, articulate, and doesn’t express the meaning.5.8no ca sandassako hoti …pe… sabrahmacārīnaṁ.They don’t educate, encourage, fire up, and inspire their spiritual companions.5.9Imehi kho, āvuso, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ attano, nālaṁ paresaṁ.A mendicant with these three qualities is good enough for themselves but not for others.

6.1Tīhāvuso, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ paresaṁ, nālaṁ attano.A mendicant with three qualities is good enough for others but not for themselves.6.2Katamehi tīhi?What three?6.3Idhāvuso, bhikkhu na heva kho khippanisanti ca hoti kusalesu dhammesu;A mendicant is not quick-witted when it comes to skillful teachings.6.4sutānañca dhammānaṁ dhāraṇajātiko hoti;They readily memorize the teachings they’ve heard.6.5no ca dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthūpaparikkhitā hoti;But they don’t examine the meaning of teachings they’ve memorized.6.6no ca atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno hoti;Not understanding the meaning and the teaching, they don’t practice in line with the teaching.6.7kalyāṇavāco ca hoti …pe… atthassa viññāpaniyā,They’re a good speaker. Their voice is polished, clear, articulate, and expresses the meaning.6.8sandassako ca hoti …pe… sabrahmacārīnaṁ.They educate, encourage, fire up, and inspire their spiritual companions.6.9Imehi kho, āvuso, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ paresaṁ, nālaṁ attano.A mendicant with these three qualities is good enough for others but not for themselves.

7.1Dvīhāvuso, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ attano, nālaṁ paresaṁ.A mendicant with two qualities is good enough for themselves but not for others.7.2Katamehi dvīhi?What two?7.3Idhāvuso, bhikkhu na heva kho khippanisanti ca hoti kusalesu dhammesu;A mendicant is not quick-witted when it comes to skillful teachings.7.4no ca sutānaṁ dhammānaṁ dhāraṇajātiko hoti;And they don’t readily memorize the teachings they’ve heard.7.5dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthūpaparikkhitā hoti;They examine the meaning of teachings they’ve memorized.7.6atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno ca hoti;Understanding the meaning and the teaching, they practice in line with the teaching.7.7no ca kalyāṇavāco hoti …pe…They’re not a good speaker. Their voice isn’t polished, clear, articulate, and doesn’t express the meaning.7.8no ca sandassako hoti …pe… sabrahmacārīnaṁ.They don’t educate, encourage, fire up, and inspire their spiritual companions.7.9Imehi kho, āvuso, dvīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ attano, nālaṁ paresaṁ.A mendicant with these two qualities is good enough for themselves but not for others.

8.1PTS 4.331Dvīhāvuso, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ paresaṁ, nālaṁ attano.A mendicant with two qualities is good enough for others but not for themselves.8.2Katamehi dvīhi?What two?8.3Idhāvuso, bhikkhu na heva kho khippanisanti ca hoti kusalesu dhammesu;A mendicant is not quick-witted when it comes to skillful teachings.8.4no ca sutānaṁ dhammānaṁ dhāraṇajātiko hoti;And they don’t readily memorize the teachings they’ve heard.8.5no ca dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthūpaparikkhitā hoti;Nor do they examine the meaning of teachings they’ve memorized.8.6no ca atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno hoti;Not understanding the meaning and the teaching, they don’t practice in line with the teaching.8.7kalyāṇavāco ca hoti kalyāṇavākkaraṇo, poriyā vācāya samannāgato vissaṭṭhāya anelagaḷāya atthassa viññāpaniyā;They’re a good speaker who enunciates well. Their voice is polished, clear, articulate, and expresses the meaning.8.8sandassako ca hoti samādapako samuttejako sampahaṁsako sabrahmacārīnaṁ.They educate, encourage, fire up, and inspire their spiritual companions.8.9Imehi kho, āvuso, dvīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu alaṁ paresaṁ, nālaṁ attano”ti.A mendicant with these two qualities is good enough for others but not for themselves.”

8.10Aṭṭhamaṁ.