Majjhima Nikāya
III. Upari Paṇṇāsa
1. Devadaha Vagga
Sutta 103
Kinti Suttaṃ
When It Is Proper to Teach[1]
Outline by Michael M. Olds
[1][chlm][pts][ntbb][upal] I Hear Tell:
In this case one should think about the situation This Way:
The First Case:
1. If there will be no grief and aggravation for myself;
2. And there will be no grief and aggravation for the other;
3. And the other is by nature not angry, temperamental, touchy and resentful of instruction;
4. And is quick witted and easy to convince;
5. And I have the skill to raise him from a low path to a high one;
6. It is proper to speak.
The Second Case:
1. If there will be no grief and aggravation for myself;
2. But there will be grief and aggravation for the other;
3. Because the other is by nature angry, temperamental, touchy and resentful of instruction;
4. But is quick witted and easy to convince;
5. And I have the skill to raise him from a low path to a high one;
6. It is proper to speak, because the other's aggravation is a small thing compared to the importance of him being brought from a low path to a high one.
The Third Case:
1. If there will be grief and aggravation for myself;
2. But there will be no grief and aggravation for the other;
3. Because the other is by nature not angry, temperamental, touchy and resentful of instruction;
4. But is slow witted and hard to convince;
5. But I have the skill to raise him from a low path to a high one;
6. It is proper to speak, because my aggravation is a small thing compared to the importance of him being brought from a low path to a high one.
The Fourth Case:
1. If there will be grief and aggravation for myself;
2. And there will be grief and aggravation for the other;
3. Because the other is by nature angry, temperamental, touchy and resentful of instruction;
4. And is slow witted and hard to convince;
5. But I have the skill to raise him from a low path to a high one;
6. It is proper to speak, because my aggravation and his aggravation is a small thing compared to the importance of him being brought from a low path to a high one.
The Fifth Case:
1. If there will be grief and aggravation for myself;
2. And there will be grief and aggravation for the other;
3. Because the other is by nature angry, temperamental, touchy and resentful of instruction;
4. And is slow witted and hard to convince;
5. And I do not have the skill to raise him from a low path to a high one;
6. Then the advantages of an attitude of detachment should be considered with regard to this individual.
[1] The specific circumstances in which this comes up in this sutta is in the case of a Bhikkhu who has committed some sort of offense. The instructions have a wider application in any situation where one sees another holding on to wrong view.
