Aṇguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
8. Yodhājīva Vagga
Sutta 74
Dutiya Dhamma-Viharin Suttaṃ
Dwelling in the Dhamma (2)
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Sourced from the edition at dhammatalks.org
For free distribution only.
[1][pts][olds] Then a certain monk went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side.
As he was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One, "Lord, 'One dwelling in the Dhamma, one dwelling in the Dhamma,' it is said.
To what extent is a monk dwelling in the Dhamma?"
"There is the case, monk, where a monk has mastered the Dhamma: dialogues, narratives of mixed prose and verse, explanations, verses, spontaneous exclamations, quotations, birth stories, amazing events, question and answer sessions [the earliest classifications of the Buddha's teachings].
He spends the day in that mastery of the Dhamma, but he doesn't, with his discernment, discern its higher meaning/goal.
This is called a monk big on mastery, but not one dwelling in the Dhamma.
"Then there is the case where a monk who explains the Dhamma in detail to others, as he has heard it, as he has mastered it.
He spends the day in that description of the Dhamma, but he doesn't, with his discernment, discern its higher meaning/goal.
This is called a monk big on description, but not one dwelling in the Dhamma.
"Then there is the case where a monk recites the Dhamma as he has heard it, as he has mastered it.
He spends the day in that recitation of the Dhamma, but he doesn't, with his discernment, discern its higher meaning/goal.
This is called a monk big on recitation, but not one dwelling in the Dhamma.
"Then there is the case where a monk thinks about, evaluates, and mentally examines the Dhamma as he has heard it, as he has mastered it.
He spends the day thinking about the Dhamma, but he doesn't, with his discernment, discern its higher meaning/goal.
This is called a monk big on thinking, but not one dwelling in the Dhamma.
"There is the case, monk, where a monk has mastered the Dhamma: dialogues, narratives of mixed prose and verse, explanations, verses, spontaneous exclamations, quotations, birth stories, amazing events, question and answer sessions, and, with his discernment, he discerns its higher meaning/goal.
This is called a monk dwelling in the Dhamma.
"Thus, monk, I have taught you the one big on mastery, the one big on description, the one big on recitation, the one big on thinking, and the one dwelling in the Dhamma.
Whatever a teacher should do — seeking the welfare of his disciples, out of sympathy for them — that have I done for you. Over there are (places to sit at) the roots of trees; over there, empty dwellings.
Practice jhāna, monk.
Don't be heedless.
Don't later fall into remorse.
This is our message to you."
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