Aṅguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
XXIII: Sucarita Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
Chapter XXIII: Good Conduct
Sutta 227
Sattama Bāla-Paṇḍita Suttaɱ
Modes of Speech (b)
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied,
and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, possessing four qualities
the foolish,
sinful,
unworthy man
carries about with him
an uprooted,
lifeless self,
is blameworthy,
is censured by the intelligent
and begets much demerit.
What are the four?
One who says he has not seen what he has seen,
one who says he has not heard what he has heard,
one who says he has not sensed what he has sensed,
one who says he has not cognized what he has cognized.
"Monks, possessed of these four qualities
the foolish,
sinful,
unworthy man
carries about with him
an uprooted,
lifeless self,
is blameworthy,
is censured by the intelligent
and begets much demerit.
§
Monks, possessing these four qualities
the wise,
prudent,
worthy man
carries about with him a self
not uprooted,
not lifeless,
is blameless,
not censured by the intelligent
and begets much merit.
What are the four?
One who says he has seen what he has seen,
one who says he has heard what he has heard,
one who says he has sensed what he has sensed,
one who says he has cognized what he has cognized.
Monks, possessed of these four qualities
the wise,
prudent,
worthy man
carries about with him a self
not uprooted,
not lifeless,
is blameless,
not censured by the intelligent
and begets much merit.
