Aṅguttara Nikāya
VIII. Aṭṭhaka Nipāta
II: Mahā Vagga
The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha
VIII. The Book of the Eights
II. The Great Chapter
Sutta 16
Dūteyya Suttaɱ
Mission
Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi.
© 2012 Bhikkhu Bodhi
Published by
Wisdom Publications
Boston, MA 02115
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
Based on a work at http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/numerical-discourses-buddha
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available
at http://www.wisdompubs.org/terms-use.
[1][pts] "Bhikkhus, possessing eight qualities, a bhikkhu is worthy of going on a mission.
What eight?
"Here, (1)-(2) a bhikkhu is one who listens and who makes others listen;
(3)-(4) he is one who learns well and makes others learn;
(5)-(6) he is one who understands and communicates well;
(7) he is skilled in [knowing] what is relevant and what irrelevant; and
(8) he does not foment quarrels.
Possessing these eight qualities, a bhikkhu is worthy of going on a mission.
"Bhikkhus, possessing eight qualities, Sāriputta is worthy of going on a mission.
What eight?
"Here, Sāriputta is one who listens and who makes others listen ... he does not foment quarrels.
Possessing these eight qualities, Sāriputta is worthy of going on a mission."
One who does not tremble when he arrives
at an assembly with fierce debaters;
who does not omit words
or conceal his message;
who speaks without hesitation,
and does not waver when asked a question;
a bhikkhu like this is worthy
of going on a mission.
