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Here, brahmin, a bhikkhu is virtuous, he dwells restrained by the Pātimokkha restraint, endowed with good conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults, he undertakes and trains in the training rules. He is learned, a holder of what he has heard, a collector of what he has heard, those teachings which are good in the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end, with meaning and with phrasing, declaring the utterly complete and purified holy life; such teachings are much heard by him, held, familiarized by speech, examined by mind, and well-penetrated by view. Thus, brahmin, the Venerable Ānanda Thera, the Treasurer of the Dhamma, declared ten inspiring qualities there. Which were taught by that Blessed One, the Knower, the Seer, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One. With which qualities bhikkhus nowadays would honor, respect, revere, and venerate a bhikkhu, and dwell in reliance on him, having honored and respected him. Question: When this was said, friend, what words of praise did Vassakāra, the brahmin, the chief minister of Magadha, utter? And how did the Venerable Ānanda Thera, the Treasurer of the Dhamma, refute and declare that statement? Answer: When this was said And Vassakāra the brahmin, the chief minister of Magadha, addressed General Upananda: "What do you think, sir general? If these sirs honor what should be honored, respect what should be respected, esteem what should be esteemed, venerate what should be venerated..." He spoke such words of praise. And Venerable Ānanda, sir, having corrected that statement, declared: "Indeed, brahmin, the Blessed One did not praise all jhānas, nor did the Blessed One not praise all jhānas." The Greater Full Moon Discourse Question: Now, friend, where was the Greater Full Moon Discourse spoken by the Blessed One? Concerning whom? And on what occasion? Answer: In Sāvatthī, sir, it was spoken concerning a certain elder monk, one of sixty striving monks. A certain, sir, elder monk, one of sixty striving monks, rose from his seat, arranged his outer robe over one shoulder, and, having saluted the Blessed One with clasped hands, said to the Blessed One: "I would like to ask the Blessed One something, sir, if the Blessed One would grant me the opportunity to answer a question." It was spoken, sir, on that occasion. The Shorter Full Moon Discourse Question: Now, friend, where was the Shorter Full Moon Discourse spoken by the Blessed One? And concerning whom? Answer: In Sāvatthī, sir, it was spoken concerning many monks. Question: And how, friend, were the qualities of an ignoble person analyzed and declared there by the Blessed One? Answer: "Monks, an ignoble person is endowed with ignoble qualities, has ignoble devotion, has ignoble thoughts, has ignoble counsel, has ignoble speech, has ignoble actions, has ignoble views, and gives ignoble gifts." In this way, sir, the Blessed One analyzed and declared the eight qualities of an ignoble person there. Question: And how, friend, were the qualities of a noble person analyzed and declared there by the Blessed One? Answer: A noble person... A good person, monks, is endowed with the good Dhamma, has devotion to good people, thinks good thoughts, counsels good counsel, speaks good words, performs good actions, has good view, gives good gifts. In this way, venerable sir, the Blessed One taught there by analyzing eight kinds of qualities of a good person. Anupada Sutta Question: The Anupada Sutta, friends, by the Blessed One, where, concerning whom, and on what occasion was it spoken? Answer: In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, it was spoken concerning many monks. Many monks, venerable sir, who were companions of the venerable Sāriputta, the General of the Dhamma, gathered together at that time. On that occasion, venerable sir, it was spoken. Question: And how, friends, did the Blessed One there concerning the venerable Sāriputta, the General of the Dhamma, teach and explain in detail the step-by-step insight into the Dhamma? Answer: Sāriputta, monks, is wise. Sāriputta, monks, has great wisdom. Sāriputta, monks, has extensive wisdom. Sāriputta, monks, has joyful wisdom. Sāriputta, monks, has sharp wisdom. Sāriputta, monks, has swift wisdom. Sāriputta, monks, has penetrating wisdom. Sāriputta, monks, practiced step-by-step insight into the Dhamma for half a month. In this way, venerable sir, the Blessed One there taught in detail the step-by-step insight into the Dhamma of the venerable Sāriputta, the General of the Dhamma. Chabbisodhana Sutta Question: By that, friends... ...the Perfectly Self-Awakened One, where and concerning whom was the Chabbisodhana Sutta spoken? Answer: In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, it was spoken concerning many monks. Sappurisa Sutta Question: The Sappurisa Sutta, friends, by the Blessed One, where and concerning whom was it spoken? Answer: In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, it was spoken concerning many monks. Sevitabbāsevitabba Sutta Question: The Sevitabbāsevitabba Sutta, friends, by the Blessed One, where, concerning whom, and with whom was it spoken? Answer – In Savatthi, venerable sir, concerning many bhikkhus, spoken by the venerable Elder Sariputta, the General of the Dhamma. The Discourse on Many Elements Question – Now, friends, the Bahudhātuka Sutta, where was it spoken, concerning whom? Answer – In Savatthi, venerable sir, spoken concerning many bhikkhus. The Discourse on Isigili Question – Now, friends, the Isigili Sutta, by the Blessed One, where was it spoken, concerning whom? Answer – In Rajagaha, venerable sir, on Isigili Mountain, spoken concerning many bhikkhus. The Great Forty Discourse Question – Now, friends, the Mahācattārīsaka Sutta, by the Blessed One, where was it spoken, concerning whom? Answer – In Savatthi, venerable sir, spoken concerning many bhikkhus. The Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing Question – Now, friends, the Ānāpānassati Sutta, by the Blessed One, where was it spoken, concerning whom, and on what occasion? Answer – In Savatthi, venerable sir, spoken concerning many bhikkhus. Venerable sir, elder bhikkhus advise and instruct new bhikkhus. Some elder bhikkhus advise and instruct even ten bhikkhus. Some elder bhikkhus advise and instruct even twenty bhikkhus. Some elder bhikkhus advise and instruct even thirty bhikkhus. Some elder bhikkhus advise and instruct even forty bhikkhus. And those new bhikkhus, venerable sir, being advised and instructed by the elder bhikkhus, understand a great progressive distinction. On that occasion, venerable sir, it was spoken. The Discourse on Mindfulness of the Body Question – Now, friends, the Kāyagatāsati Sutta, by the Blessed One, where was it spoken, concerning whom, and on what occasion? Answer – In Savatthi, venerable sir, spoken concerning many bhikkhus. Venerable sir, for many bhikkhus, after their meal, returning from alms-round, seated and assembled in the service hall, this intermediate talk arose: "Wonderful, friends, amazing, friends..." friend, that the Blessed One, the Knower, the Seer, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One, declared mindfulness of the body, when developed and cultivated, to be of great fruit, of great benefit.” It was spoken, venerable sir, on that matter. Discourse on Rebirth by Volition Question – And where, friend, and concerning whom, was the Discourse on Rebirth by Volition spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – It was spoken, venerable sir, at Sāvatthī, concerning a number of bhikkhus. Question – And how, friend, were rebirths by volition analyzed and expounded by the Blessed One there? Answer – Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is endowed with faith, endowed with virtue, endowed with learning, endowed with generosity, endowed with wisdom. He thinks: “Oh, may I, with the breaking up of the body, after death, be reborn into the companionship of wealthy Khattiyas.” In this way, venerable sir, were rebirths by volition analyzed and expounded by the Blessed One there. The Shorter Discourse on Emptiness Question – And where, friend, and concerning whom, and on what matter, was the Shorter Discourse on Emptiness spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – It was spoken, venerable sir, at Sāvatthī, concerning Venerable Ānanda. Venerable Ānanda, venerable sir, having risen from seclusion in the evening, said this to the Blessed One: “At one time, venerable sir, the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans, at a Sakyan town called Nagaraka. There, venerable sir, I heard from the Blessed One’s own mouth, I received from the Blessed One’s own mouth: ‘I, Ānanda, now mostly dwell in the dwelling of emptiness.’ Was this, venerable sir, well-heard by me, well-grasped, well-attended to, well-considered?” It was spoken, venerable sir, on that matter. The Longer Discourse on Emptiness Question – And where, friend, and concerning whom, and on what matter, was the Longer Discourse on Emptiness spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – It was spoken, venerable sir, among the Sakyans, at Kapilavatthu, concerning Venerable Ānanda. Venerable Ānanda, venerable sir, together with a number of bhikkhus, was dwelling in the Ghaṭā Sakyan monastery. Indeed, he performs robe-making work. It was spoken, venerable sir, concerning that matter. The Discourse on the Wonderful and Amazing Question: Now, friends, the Discourse on the Wonderful and Amazing, by the Blessed One, where, concerning whom, on what occasion, and with whom was it spoken? Answer: In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, concerning many bhikkhus, it was spoken by the Venerable Elder Ānanda, the Treasurer of the Dhamma. For many bhikkhus, venerable sir, after their meal, having returned from their alms round, gathered and seated in the service hall, this conversation arose among them: "Wonderful, friends! Amazing, friends! is the great power and great might of the Tathāgata. For indeed, the Tathāgata concerning past Buddhas, who have attained final Nibbāna, whose proliferation is cut off,