English
were sitting together, assembled in the service hall, engaged in… we dwell engaged in various kinds of animal talk, such as— talk of kings, talk of robbers, ... talk of existence in this world and the next. This is not fitting for you, monks, for sons of good families who have gone forth from home to homelessness out of faith, that you should dwell engaged in various kinds of animal talk, such as— talk of kings, talk of robbers, talk of ministers, talk of armies, talk of fear, talk of war, talk of food, talk of drink, talk of clothes, talk of beds, talk of garlands, talk of perfumes, talk of relatives, talk of vehicles, talk of villages, talk of market towns, talk of cities, talk of countries, talk of women, talk of heroes, talk of streets, talk of watering places, talk of departed spirits, talk of diversity, talk of the world, talk of the ocean, talk of existence in this world and the next. These, monks, are ten topics of discussion. Which ten? Talk on fewness of wishes, talk on contentment, talk on seclusion, talk on non-entanglement, talk on arousal of energy, talk on virtue, talk on concentration, talk on wisdom, talk on liberation, talk on the knowledge and vision of liberation— These, monks, are the ten topics of discussion. If you, monks, were to speak on these ten topics of discussion, taking them up again and again, you would overpower the splendor of even these moon and sun, so mighty in power, so mighty in majesty; what then of other sectarians, the wandering ascetics! The Ninth. 10. The Second Discourse on Topics of Discussion At one time the Blessed One was staying at Savatthi, in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Now at that time, a number of monks, after their meal, on returning from their alms round, were sitting together in the service hall, engaged in various kinds of animal talk, such as— talk of kings, talk of robbers, talk of ministers, ... talk of existence in this world and the next. These, monks, are ten praiseworthy states. Which ten? Here, monks, Monks, a monk himself has few wishes, and speaks to monks about having few wishes. ‘A monk who has few wishes and speaks to monks about having few wishes’— this is a praiseworthy state. A monk himself is contented, and speaks to monks about contentment. ‘A monk who is contented and speaks to monks about contentment’— this is a praiseworthy state. A monk himself is secluded, and speaks to monks about seclusion. ‘A monk who is secluded and speaks to monks about seclusion’— this is a praiseworthy state. A monk himself is unentangled, and speaks to monks about non-entanglement. ‘A monk who is unentangled and speaks to monks about non-entanglement’— this is a praiseworthy state. A monk himself has aroused effort, and speaks to monks about arousing effort. ‘A monk who has aroused effort and speaks to monks about arousing effort’— this is a praiseworthy state. A monk himself is accomplished in virtue, and speaks to monks about accomplishment in virtue. ‘A monk who is accomplished in virtue and speaks to monks about accomplishment in virtue’— this is a praiseworthy state. A monk himself is accomplished in concentration, and speaks to monks about accomplishment in concentration. ‘A monk who is accomplished in concentration and speaks to monks about accomplishment in concentration’— this is a praiseworthy state. A monk himself is accomplished in wisdom, and speaks to monks about accomplishment in wisdom. ‘A monk who is accomplished in wisdom and speaks to monks about accomplishment in wisdom’— this is a praiseworthy state. A monk himself is accomplished in liberation, and speaks to monks about accomplishment in liberation. ‘A monk who is accomplished in liberation and speaks to monks about accomplishment in liberation’— this is a praiseworthy state. A monk himself is accomplished in the knowledge and vision of liberation, and speaks to monks about accomplishment in the knowledge and vision of liberation. ‘A monk who is accomplished in the knowledge and vision of liberation and speaks to monks about accomplishment in the knowledge and vision of liberation The doer of evil deeds, this is a praiseworthy state. Indeed, monks, these are the ten praiseworthy positions. The Tenth. The Chapter of Pairs, the second. Its Summary – Ignorance, and Craving, and Completion; Two on Certainty, and two on Happiness; Two spoken on Naḷakapāna, And two others on Kathāvatthu.