Aṅguttara Nikāya
X. Dasaka-Nipāta
IV. Upāli Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
X. The Book of the Tens
IV: Upāli and Ānanda
Sutta 32
Ubbāhikā Suttaɱ
Passing Sentence
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī.
Now the venerable Upāli came to see the Exalted One,
and on coming to him
saluted him
and sat down at one side.
So seated, he said this to the Exalted One:
"Pray, sir, what ten qualities should a monk possess in order to be considered fit for passing sentence?"[1]
"He should possess ten qualities, Upāli, for such a purpose.
§
What ten?
Herein, Upāli,
a monk is virtuous,
restrained with the restraint of the obligation,
proficient in following the practice of right conduct,
seeing cause for fear in the slightest faults,
he takes up and trains himself in the rules of morality.
■
Then he has heard much,
bears in mind what he has heard,
he hoards up what he has heard.
Those teachings which are alike lovely at the beginning,
lovely in the middle,
lovely at the end (of life),
proclaim in the spirit and the letter
the all-fulfilled,
the utterly purified brahma-life -
suchlike are the teachings he has much heard,
borne in mind,
practised in speech,
pondered in the heart,
rightly penetrated by view.
■
By him both of the obligations[2] in full
are thoroughly learned by heart,
well analysed,
with thorough knowledge of the meaning,
clearly divided sutta by sutta
and in minute [52] detail.
■
Moreover he is established in the discipline, immovable therein.
■
He is competent to make both parties in a dispute understand,
to win them over,
to make them see,
to reconcile them.
■
[72]He is skilled in the rise and settlement of disputes,[3]
■
he knows the matter at issue,
■
he knows the cause of its rise,
■
he knows the way to end it,
■
he knows the procedure leading to the ending of it.
Possessing these ten qualities
a monk is to be considered fit for passing sentence."
[1] Ubbāhikāya (as a member of council) about expulsion of a monk. Cf. Vin. ii, 95.
[2] Vin. i, 65, 68; ii, 249; A. iv, 140. To be recited in full twice monthly; in brief only when there was some hindrance. Vin. i, 113; below, § 98.
[3] Su-p-pavattīni (well-flowing, fluently). Comy. at A. iv, 140 has āvajjanāvajjana-ṭṭhāne suṭṭhu pavattāni, daḷha-paguṇāni. In next sutta, suppavattaɱ.
