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Hidden, god-dependent; Path, and battle, water-ford, These eight should be avoided.’’ Eight places to be avoided for counsel. Eight persons who destroy counsel ‘‘Venerable Nāgasena, these eight persons, when counselling, spoil the counselled matter. Which eight? One of lustful conduct, one of hateful conduct, one of deluded conduct, one of conceited conduct, one greedy, one lazy, one single-minded, and one foolish. These eight persons spoil the counselled matter.’’ The Elder said, ‘‘What is their fault?’’ ‘‘One of lustful conduct, Venerable Nāgasena, spoils the counselled matter through lust; one of hateful conduct spoils the counselled matter through hate; one of deluded conduct spoils the counselled matter through delusion; one of conceited conduct spoils the counselled matter through conceit; one greedy spoils the counselled matter through greed; one lazy spoils the counselled matter through laziness; one single-minded spoils the counselled matter through single-mindedness; one foolish spoils the counselled matter through foolishness. Here it is said – ‘‘Attached, hateful, and deluded, Conceited, greedy, and lazy too; Single-minded, and foolish, These are destroyers of meaning.’’ Eight persons who destroy counsel. Nine destroyers of secret counsel ‘‘Venerable Nāgasena, these nine persons reveal a counselled secret and do not keep it. Which nine? One of lustful conduct, one of hateful conduct, one of deluded conduct, one fearful, one fond of gain, a woman, a drunkard, an eunuch, a child.’’ The Elder said, ‘‘What is their fault?’’ ‘‘One of lustful conduct, Venerable Nāgasena, reveals a counselled secret through lust and does not keep it; one of hateful conduct, Venerable , the one who is impassioned, due to passion, reveals a secret counsel, does not keep it; the one who is hateful, due to hatred, reveals a secret counsel, does not keep it; the one who is deluded, due to delusion, reveals a secret counsel, does not keep it; the one who is fearful, due to fear, reveals a secret counsel, does not keep it; the one who is greedy for gain, for the sake of gain, reveals a secret counsel, does not keep it; a woman, due to her short-sighted wisdom, reveals a secret counsel, does not keep it; a drunkard, due to his craving for liquor, reveals a secret counsel, does not keep it; a eunuch, due to his indecisiveness, reveals a secret counsel, does not keep it; a child, due to its fickleness, reveals a secret counsel, does not keep it. It is said here: “The impassioned, the hateful, and the deluded, The fearful, the greedy for gain; A woman, a drunkard, and a eunuch, The ninth is a child. These nine individuals in the world Are short-sighted, wavering, unstable; A secret counsel with these Quickly becomes manifest.” Nine individuals who destroy secret counsel. Eight Causes for Attaining Wisdom “Venerable Nāgasena, wisdom matures and ripens due to eight causes. Which eight? Wisdom matures and ripens due to the ripening of age; wisdom matures and ripens due to the ripening of fame; wisdom matures and ripens due to extensive questioning; wisdom matures and ripens due to dwelling with teachers; wisdom matures and ripens due to proper attention; wisdom matures and ripens due to discussion; wisdom matures and ripens due to serving those who are dear; wisdom matures and ripens due to dwelling in a suitable country. It is said here: “By age, by fame, by questioning, By dwelling with teachers, by proper attention; By discussion, by serving those who are dear, And by dwelling in a suitable country. These are the eight factors, Causes for the clarity of wisdom; For whom these are present, Their wisdom shines forth.” Eight causes for attaining wisdom. The Qualities of a Teacher “Venerable Nāgasena, this land is free from eight faults of counsel, and I am supreme in the world I am a secret-keeper, and I will keep secrets as long as I live. And my wisdom has matured for eight reasons. Rare is an apprentice like me nowadays. Towards apprentices who practice correctly, the twenty-five qualities of a teacher, with these qualities, a teacher should practice correctly. What are these twenty-five qualities? “Here, venerable Nāgasena, by the teacher, constant and continuous protection should be established for the apprentice. Association and non-association should be known. The heedful and the heedless should be known. The time for rest should be known. Illness should be known. The getting and not getting of food should be known. Distinction should be known. What is in the bowl should be shared. He should be reassured: ‘Do not fear, your purpose is advancing.’ ‘This person associates with this one’— the association should be known. Association in the village should be known. Association in the monastery should be known. No joking or levity should be made with him. Conversation should be made with him. Seeing a fault, it should be endured. One should be diligent. One should be complete in action. One should not act secretly. One should act without reservation. ‘I will make him skilled in crafts’— the thought of generating should be established. ‘How will he not decline?’— the thought of growth should be established. ‘I will make him strong with the strength of training’— this thought should be established. The thought of loving-kindness should be established. In misfortunes, he should not be abandoned. In duties, one should not be negligent. When he stumbles, he should be supported by the Dhamma. These, venerable sir, are the twenty-five qualities of a teacher. With these qualities, practice correctly towards me. A doubt has arisen in me, venerable sir. There are questions about the ram, spoken by the Conqueror. In the future, a dispute will arise concerning them. And in the future, wise ones like you will be rare. Regarding these questions, my eye Give us the means for the refutation of other views. The Qualities of a Lay Follower The Elder, saying "Good!", accepted, and expounded ten qualities of a lay follower. "These are the ten qualities, O Great King, of a lay follower. Which are these ten? Here, O Great King, a lay follower shares the joys and sorrows of the Saṅgha, has the Dhamma as his master, delights in sharing according to his ability, seeing the decline of the Buddha's Dispensation, strives for its growth. He is of right view, free from superstitious rites and ceremonies, even for the sake of his life, he does not designate another teacher, his bodily and verbal actions are guarded, he delights in harmony, he rejoices in harmony, he is not envious, and does not act deceitfully in the Dispensation, he has gone for refuge to the Buddha, he has gone for refuge to the Dhamma, he has gone for refuge to the Saṅgha. These, O Great King, are the ten qualities of a lay follower, all these qualities are found in you, it is fitting for you, proper, suitable, and appropriate, that seeing the decline of the Buddha's Dispensation, you desire its growth. I grant you the opportunity, ask me as you please." The Introduction to the Questions of Meṇḍaka is concluded.