Aṇguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
VII: Saññā Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fives
VII: Thoughts
Sutta 66
Alaṃ-Sājīva Suttaṃ
An Example[1]
Translated by E. M. Hare
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[1] Thus have I heard:
Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, a monk endowed with five qualities,
is a fitting example
to his fellows in the godly life.
What five?[ed1]
Monks, herein a monk
in himself has achieved virtue
and explains a question prepared
by a talk on the achieving of virtue;
So too, a monk in himself has achieved concentration
and explains a question prepared
by a talk on the achieving of concentration;
So too, a monk in himself has achieved insight
and explains a question prepared
by a talk on the achieving of insight;
So too, a monk in himself has achieved emancipation
and explains a question prepared
by a talk on the achieving of insight;
So too, a monk in himself has achieved the knowledge and insight of emancipation
and explains a question prepared
by a talk on the achieving of knowledge and insight of emancipation.
Verily, monks, endowed with these five qualities,
is a fitting example
to his fellows in the godly life.'
[1] Sajīvan. This word is explained at Vin. iii, 24 as sikkhāpadaṃ, a precept or rule of training. Cf. St. Paul to Timothy (I, iv, 12): 'Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.' these suttas are preached by Sāriputta (below V, §§ 163 - 164).
[2] Comy. glosses: abhisaṇkhataṃ, prepared.
[ed1] Hare abridges the rest of this sutta with: "The reply is as in § 65, but kataṃ[2] is used for āgataṃ."
