Aṇguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
V. Cūḷa Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
or
More-Numbered Suttas
III. The Book of the Threes
V. The Minor Section
Sutta 43
Attha-Vasa Suttaṃ
Qualities
Translated from the Pali by
F.L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1][bodh][olds] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then he addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, Lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said this:
"Monks, the clear seeing of three qualifications
is essential for one who teaches Dhamma to others.
What three?
He who teaches Dhamma
must be able to penetrate
the letter and spirit[1] thereof.
He who hears Dhamma
must be able to penetrate
the letter and spirit thereof.
Both he who teaches Dhamma
and he who listens
must be able to penetrate
the letter and spirit thereof.
These are the three qualifications
essential for one who teaches Dhamma to others"
[1] See on text 69. [AN 2.40-Woodward] Attha is the primary, or surface meaning: Dhamma the applied meaning.
