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B040204Aṅguttaranikāya (pu vi)(numerical collection q and a)

English

Thus, beginning with this, were they spoken by the Blessed One. Sixth Discourse Question – Therein, friend, the sixth discourse and so on, and the first discourse in the group beginning with 'heedlessness', how were they spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – Therein, venerable sir, the sixth discourse and so on, and the first discourse in the group beginning with 'heedlessness', "This, monks, is a small amount of p This is a loss, namely, the loss of relatives. This is the worst, monks, of losses, namely, the loss of wisdom. This is a small growth, monks, namely, the growth of relatives. This is the foremost, monks, of growths, namely, the growth of wisdom. Therefore, monks, you should train yourselves thus: ‘We will grow in the growth of wisdom.’ Thus, monks, you should train yourselves. Thus, venerable sir, were these spoken by the Blessed One. The Chapter on Heedlessness, etc. Question: How, friend, were the second discourse and so on in the Chapter on Heedlessness, etc., spoken by the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One? Answer: Monks, I do not perceive any other single quality that leads to such great harm as does heedlessness. Heedlessness, monks, leads to great harm. Monks, I do not perceive any other single quality that leads to such great benefit as does heedfulness. Heedfulness, monks, leads to great benefit. Thus, venerable sir, were these spoken by the Blessed One. The Second Chapter on Heedlessness, etc. Question: And how, friend, were the first discourse and so on in the Second Chapter on Heedlessness, etc., spoken by the Blessed One? Answer: In the Second Chapter on Heedlessness, etc., venerable sir, Monks, having considered an internal factor, I do not perceive any other single factor that leads to such great harm as does heedlessness. Heedlessness, monks, leads to great harm. Monks, having considered an internal factor, I do not perceive any other single factor that leads to such great benefit as does heedfulness. Heedfulness, monks, leads to great benefit. Thus, venerable sir, were these spoken by the Blessed One. The Ten Discourses Question: And there, friend, how were the thirty-three discourses and so on, the ten discourses, and the ten discourses in the Chapter on Non-Dhamma, spoken by the Blessed One? Answer: There, venerable sir, the thirty-three discourses and so on, the ten discourses, and the ten discourses in the Chapter on Non-Dhamma, are about those monks, monks, who ad the Dhamma as "Dhamma," those bhikkhus, monks, are practicing for the harm of many people, for the unhappiness of many people, for the disadvantage, for the detriment, for the suffering of many people, of devas and humans. And those bhikkhus, monks, accumulate much demerit, and they cause this true Dhamma to disappear. And in this way, those bhikkhus, monks, who explain the non-Dhamma as "non-Dhamma," those bhikkhus, monks, are practicing for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, for the advantage, for the benefit, for the happiness of many people, of devas and humans. And those bhikkhus, monks, accumulate much merit, and they establish this true Dhamma. Thus, venerable sir, were these things spoken by the Blessed One. Chapter on the Single Person Question: In the chapter on the single person, friend, what kind of Dhamma teachings were taught by the Blessed One? Answer: In the chapter on the single person, venerable sir, the Blessed One taught: "A single person, monks, arising in the world, arises for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the advantage, for the benefit, for the happiness of devas and humans. Who is that single person? The Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One. This, monks, is that single person who, arising in the world, arises for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the advantage, for the benefit, for the happiness of devas and humans." Such were the Dhamma teachings taught by the Blessed One. Chapter on the Foremost Story of Aññāsikoṇḍañña Question: In this chapter, friend, among the forty-one elders who came, how was the Venerable Aññāsikoṇḍañña Thera placed by the Blessed One in the position of foremost? Answer: In the chapter on the foremost, venerable sir, among the forty-one great elders who came, the Blessed One said: "Among my disciples, monks, among the bhikkhus who are long-experienced, the foremost is Aññāsikoṇḍañña." Thus, venerable sir, was the Venerable Aññāsikoṇḍañña Thera placed by the Blessed One in the position of foremost. Story of the Chief Disciples Question: Then, friend, by the Blessed One... ...the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, in the Aṅguttara Nikāya, in the Book of the Ones, in the Chapter on the Foremost, among the forty-one great elders who came, the Venerable And the Elder Sāriputta, the General of the Dhamma, the first chief disciple, And the Venerable Elder Mahāmoggallāna, the second chief disciple, How were they placed in this foremost position? Answer – Venerable sir, the Venerable Elder Sāriputta, the General of the Dhamma, [was declared]: "Among my disciples, monks, who are great in wisdom, foremost is Sāriputta." And the Venerable Elder Mahāmoggallāna [was declared]: "Among my disciples, monks, who are endowed with psychic power, foremost is Mahāmoggallāna." Thus, venerable sir, they were placed in this foremost position by the Blessed One. This seat, O hero, Is prepared for you, fitting for you; Delighting my mind, Sit upon this flower-seat. Indeed, those in the world who are Arahants Or who have attained the path to Arahantship, This monk is one of them. What if I were to approach this monk And ask him a question? Whatever phenomena arise from a cause, Their cause the Tathāgata Has declared, and also their cessation. Such is the teaching of the Great Ascetic. May we, venerable sir, obtain ordination In the presence of the Blessed One; May we obtain full admission. Among my disciples, monks, who are great in wisdom, Foremost is Sāriputta. Among my disciples, monks, who are endowed with psychic power, Foremost is Mahāmoggallāna. Story of Mahākassapa Question – But how, friend, was the Venerable Elder Mahākassapa, Who was the chief leader of the Saṅgha during the First Great Council, Placed in this foremost position by the Blessed One? Answer – Venerable sir, the Venerable Elder Mahākassapa, Who was the chief of the Saṅgha during the First Great Council, [was declared]: "Among my disciples, monks, who are strict in ascetic practices, Foremost is Mahākassapa." Thus, venerable sir, he was placed in this foremost position by the Blessed One. Story of Elder Anuruddha Question – By that, friend... (and so on)... the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, Among the forty-one great elders mentioned in the Etadagga Section Of the Eka-nipāta of the Aṅguttara Nikāya, How was the Venerable Elder Anuruddha placed in this foremost position? Answer – Venerable sir, the Elder Anuruddha was thus placed by the Blessed One in the foremost position, saying: "Monks, among my disciple monks who possess the divine eye, Anuruddha is the foremost." Sīvali's Story Question – But friend, how was the Venerable Elder Sīvali placed by the Blessed One in the foremost position? Answer – Venerable sir, the Elder Sīvali was thus placed by the Blessed One in the foremost position, saying: "Monks, among my disciple monks who are recipients of offerings, Sīvali is the foremost." Truly, that Blessed One is a Perfectly Enlightened One, who teaches the Dhamma for the abandoning of such suffering. Truly, well-practiced is the Sangha of disciples of that Blessed One, who are practicing for the abandoning of such suffering. Truly, Nibbāna is most pleasant, where such suffering is not found – "Monks, among my disciple monks who are recipients of offerings, Sīvali is the foremost!" Ānanda's Story Question – But friend, how was the Venerable Elder Ānanda, the treasurer of the Dhamma, who was the elder expounding the Dhamma at the time of the First Great Council, placed by the Blessed One in the foremost position? Answer – Venerable sir, the Elder Ānanda, the treasurer of the Dhamma, who was the expounder of the Dhamma at the time of the First Great Council, was thus placed by the Blessed One in five foremost positions, saying: "Monks, among my disciple monks who are learned, Ānanda is the foremost. Monks, among my disciple monks who are mindful, Ānanda is the foremost. Monks, among my disciple monks who are resolute, Ānanda is the foremost. Monks, among my disciple monks who are steadfast, Ānanda is the foremost. Monks, among my disciple monks who are attendants, Ānanda is the foremost." With a hundred thousand it was bought by me, With a hundred thousand it was made; An excellent garden it is called; Accept it, Great Sage – "Foremost among... Among my disciple monks who are learned. Mindful. Intelligent. Resolute. Attendants, that is Ananda. The Story of Upāli Question – Friend, how was the venerable Elder Upāli, who was the expounder of the Vinaya at the time of the First Great Council, established in this foremost position by the Blessed One... the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, among the forty-one great elders mentioned in the Foremost Section of the Book of Ones in the Aṅguttara Nikāya? Answer – Venerable sir, the venerable Elder Upāli, who was the expounder of the Vinaya at the time of the First Great Council, was established in this foremost position by the Blessed One thus: "Monks, among my disciple monks who are holders of the Vinaya, that is Upāli." The Vinaya is my dwelling, The Vinaya is my standing and walking; I make my dwelling in the Vinaya, The Vinaya is my domain. The Story of Elder Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī