English
and the Blessed One approves of that. "Even if you hold ten lamps, Kassapa, he will not see forms; he has no eye." Moreover, just as a messenger instructs people with the king's word, so a follower teaches the unknown message to others. A discourse that is approved and acceptable should be taken. One that is not approved and acceptable should not be taken. Among these, what is the confusion of discourses? There are five kinds of discourses: those leading to defilement, those leading to the eradication of latent tendencies, those leading to insight, those leading to development, and those leading to the state of an Asekha. One may intend one thing but teach another, or explain the meaning of one discourse in another discourse. Or one may explain the meaning of a discourse in many ways. One may explain the meaning in the attainment of the Noble Dhamma. One may explain the meaning of those leading to the eradication of latent tendencies in those leading to insight. One may explain the meaning of the lower fetters in the higher fetters. One may explain the meaning of soft and moderate faculties in discourses for those with keen faculties. Thus, this is a confusion of discourses, and by reason of... By outflow and by result, by designation and by mildness, middlingness, and keenness, by meaning and by expression, that which is mixed, this is called Sutta-confusion. That which is unmixed, this is called Sutta-discrimination. Therein is this summary verse: The unbrokenness of the former, the condition of what is as it is; Outflow, accumulation of tendencies, permission, Sutta-confusion. Of the Elder Mahākaccāyana: Sutta-discrimination is the fourth stage.