Learning the Teaching

Bhikkhus, if those hearing the Teaching were to practice it verbally, gather the meaning mentally and straighten the view they could expect four benefits. What four?

Here, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu learns the Teaching as discourses, verse and prose sections, ... re ... and series of questions and answers and becomes learned in that Teaching, He practices it verbally, mentally gathers the meaning and he straightens his view. He dies with confused mindfulness and is born with a certain retinue of gods. There he skillfully voices the Teaching, too. Mindfulness arises to him slowly and he quickly rises to the next higher state.

Bhikkhus, this is the first benefit for hearing the Teaching, practicing it verbally and mentally gathering the meaning and straightening the view.

Again, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu learns the Teaching as discourses, verse and prose sections, ... re ... and series of questions and answers and becomes learned in that Teaching, He practices it verbally, mentally gathers the meaning and he straightens his view. He dies with confused mindfulness and is born with a certain retinue of gods. There he does not voice the Teaching skillfully, becomes successful in teaching the heavenly gathering. Then he recalls isn't it in this Teaching and Discipline that I earlier led the holy life. Mindfulness arises to him slowly and he quickly rises to the next higher state.

Like a man clever in knowing the sound of drums, gone to the highway hears the sound of a drum and he does not doubt, whether it is the sound of a drum or not, but concludes it is the sound of a drum. In the same manner the bhikkhu learns the Teaching as discourses, verse and prose sections, ... re ... and series of questions and answers and becomes learned in that Teaching, He practices it verbally, mentally gathers the meaning and he straightens his view. He dies with confused mindfulness and is born with a certain retinue of gods. There he does not voice the Teaching skillfully, becomes successful in teaching the heavenly gathering. Then he recalls isn't it in this Teaching and Discipline that I earlier led the holy life. Mindfulness arises to him slowly and he quickly rises to the next higher state.

Bhikkhus, this is the second benefit for hearing the Teaching, practicing it verbally and mentally gathering the meaning and straightening the view.

Again, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu learns the Teaching as discourses, verse and prose sections, ... re ... and series of questions and answers and becomes learned in that Teaching, He practices it verbally, mentally gathers the meaning and he straightens his view. He dies with confused mindfulness and is born with a certain retinue of gods. There he voices the Teaching skillfully, but is not successful in teaching the heavenly gathering. Then he recalls isn't this the Discipline that I earlier led the holy life. Mindfulness arises to him slowly and he quickly rises to the next higher state.

Like a man clever in knowing the sound of conches, gone to the highway hears the sound of a conch and he does not doubt, whether it is the sound of a conch or not, but concludes it is the sound of a conch. In the same manner the bhikkhu learns the Teaching as discourses, verse and prose sections, ... re ... and series of questions and answers and becomes learned in that Teaching, He practices it verbally, mentally gathers the meaning and he straightens his view. He dies with confused mindfulness and is born with a certain retinue of gods. There he voices the Teaching skillfully, but is not successful in teaching the heavenly gathering. Then he recalls isn't this the Discipline that I earlier led the holy life. Mindfulness arises to him slowly and he quickly rises to the next higher state.

Bhikkhus, this is the third benefit for hearing the Teaching, practicing it verbally and mentally gathering the meaning and straightening the view.

Again, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu learns the Teaching as discourses, verse and prose sections, ... re ... and series of questions and answers and becomes learned in that Teaching, He practices it verbally, mentally gathers the meaning and he straightens his view. He dies with confused mindfulness and is born with a certain retinue of gods. There he voices the Teaching skillfully, is not successful in teaching the heavenly gathering. Yet a spontaneously arisen one recognizes another spontaneously arisen and asks sir, do you remember me? He says I remember you Mindfulness arises to him slowly and he quickly rises to the next higher state.

Like two friends who had played together in their childhood were to meet each other some day. Then he would ask, friend, do you remember meṬhen he would ask, do you remember this and this, and he would say, yes friend I remember. In the same manner the bhikkhu learns the Teaching as discourses, verse and prose sections, ... re ... and series of questions and answers and becomes learned in that Teaching, He practices it verbally, mentally gathers the meaning and straightens his view. He dies with confused mindfulness and is born with a certain retinue of gods. There he voices the Teaching skillfully, is not successful in teaching the heavenly gathering. Yet a spontaneously arisen one recognizes another spontaneously arisen and asks sir, do you remember me? He says I remember you Mindfulness arises to him slowly and he quickly rises to the next higher state.

Bhikkhus, this is the fourth benefit for hearing the Teaching, practicing it verbally and mentally gathering the meaning and straightening the view.

Bhikkhus, these are the four benefits for hearing the Teaching, practicing it verbally and mentally gathering the meaning and straightening the view.