English
Therefore, bhikkhus, you should reject this. But here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu might say thus: ‘In a certain dwelling place, there lives an elder bhikkhu, learned, who has come with the tradition, a holder of the Dhamma, a holder of the Vinaya, a holder of the mātikā. From that elder, I have heard it face to face, I have received it face to face – this is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’ Bhikkhus, that bhikkhu’s statement should neither be approved nor rejected. Without approving or rejecting, having thoroughly learned those words and phrases, they should be applied to the Suttas, they should be compared with the Vinaya. If, when being applied to the Suttas and compared with the Vinaya, they fit in with the Suttas and agree with the Vinaya, then this conclusion should be reached – ‘Indeed, this is the word of that Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One; and that elder’s is well-grasped.’ Bhikkhus, you should bear in mind this fourth Great Reference. These, bhikkhus, are the four Great References.” The Tenth. The Third Chapter on Intention. Its summary – Intention, Division, Koṭṭhika, Ānanda, Upavāṇa the fifth; Request, Rāhula, Jambālī, Nibbāna, with the Great Reference.