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- Anguttara Nikaya IV.42
- Paddha Sutta
- Questions
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
"There are these four ways of answering questions. Which four? There are questions
that should be answered categorically [straightforwardly yes, no, this, that]. There are
questions that should be answered with an analytical (qualified) answer [defining or
redefining the terms]. There are questions that should be answered with a
counter-question. There are questions that should be put aside. These are the four ways of
answering questions."
First the categorical answer,
then the qualified,
third, the type to be counter-questioned,
& fourth, the one to be set aside.
Any monk who knows which is which,
in line with the Dhamma,
is said to be skilled
in the four types of questions:
hard to overcome, hard to beat,
profound, hard to defeat.
He knows what's worthwhile
& what's not,
proficient in (recognizing) both,
he rejects the worthless,
grasps the worthwhile.
He's called one who has broken through
to what's worthwhile,
prudent,
wise.
See also: MN 58; MN
72; SN XLIV.10; AN X.96.