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- Anguttara Nikaya IV.183
- Suta Sutta
- On What is Heard
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying at Rajagaha
in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Sanctuary. Then Vassakara the
brahmin, the minister to the king of Magadha, approached the Blessed
One and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly
greetings & courtesies, he sat down to one side. As he was sitting there he said to
the Blessed One: "I am of the view, of the opinion, that when anyone speaks of what
he has seen, [saying,] 'Thus have I seen,' there is no fault in that. When anyone speaks
of what he has heard, [saying,] 'Thus have I heard,' there is no fault in that. When
anyone speaks of what he has sensed, [saying,] 'Thus have I sensed,' there is no fault in
that. When anyone speaks of what he has cognized, [saying,] 'Thus have I cognized,' there
is no fault in that."
[The Blessed One responded:] "I do not say, brahmin, that everything that has been
seen should be spoken about. Nor do I say that everything that has been seen should not be
spoken about. I do not say that everything that has been heard...everything that has been
sensed...everything that has been cognized should be spoken about. Nor do I say that
everything that has been cognized should not be spoken about.
"When, for one who speaks of what has been seen, unskillful mental qualities
increase and skillful mental qualities decrease, then that sort of thing should not be
spoken about. But when, for one who speaks of what has been seen, unskillful mental
qualities decrease and skillful mental qualities increase, then that sort of thing should
be spoken about.
"When, for one who speaks of what has been heard...what has been sensed...what has
been cognized, unskillful mental qualities increase and skillful mental qualities
decrease, then that sort of thing should not be spoken about. But when, for one who speaks
of what has been cognized, unskillful mental qualities decrease and skillful mental
qualities increase, then that sort of thing should be spoken about."
Then Vassakara the brahmin, delighting & rejoicing in the Blessed One's words, got
up from his seat and left.
See also: MN 58.