Disputes

At one time The Blessed One was abiding in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta's grove in Sāvatthi. At that time many bhikkhus after the meal was over returning from the alms round were assembled in the attendance hall. Gathered and seated, they were quarrelling and disputing and were showing the weapon in their mouth to each other.

In the evening The Blessed One getting up from his seclusion approached the attendance hall and sat on the prepared seat. Then The Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus:

“Bhikkhus, with what talk were you gathered and seated now and what was the other conversation?

“Venerable sir, after the meal was over and returning from the alms round, we were assembled and seated in the attendance hall with a quarrel, disputing. We were showing the weapon in our mouths to each other and disputing.

“Bhikkhus, it is not suitable for clansmen like you who have gone forth out of faith to abide with a dispute and quarrel and show the weapon in your mouth to each other.

Bhikkhus, these ten things are conducive to friendliness, for reverence, to bring together to give up disputes and for unity. What ten?

Here, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu is virtuous restrained in the higher code of rules, abides seeing fear in the slightest fault. Bhikkhus, this is a thing conducive to friendliness, to be loved, to be revered, to give up disputes, to bring together and for unity.

Again, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu becomes learned, bears and accumulates the Teaching which is good at the beginning, middle and end, full of meanings even in the letters and stating the complete and pure holy life. That Teaching he recites and practises by words, and experiences it with the mind and penetratingly sees it to straighten his view. Bhikkhus, this is a thing conducive to friendliness, to be loved, to be revered, to give up disputes, to bring together and for unity.

Again bhikkhus, the bhikkhu becomes a spiritual friend, a good associate with good friendship. Bhikkhus, this is a thing conducive to friendliness, to be loved, to be revered, to give up disputes, to bring together and for unity.

Again, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu is suave, with gentle manners, accepting advice patiently. Bhikkhus, this is a thing, conducive to friendliness, to be loved, to be revered, to give up disputes, to bring together and for unity.

Again, bhikkhus the bhikkhu is with aroused effort, clever and discriminative in doing or getting done whatever things small or large that have to be done for the co-associates in the holy life. Bhikkhus, this is a thing, conducive to friendliness, to be loved, to be revered, to give up disputes, to bring together and for unity.

Again, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu attached to the Teaching, talks delightedly about the higher aspects of the Teaching and discipline. Bhikkhus, this is a thing, conducive to friendliness, to be loved, to be revered, to give up disputes, to bring together and for unity.

Again, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu abides with aroused effort to dispel demeritorious things, to accumulate meritorious things, firm not giving up the main aim in meritorious things. Bhikkhus, this too is a thing, conducive to friendliness, to be loved, to be revered, to give up disputes, to bring together and for unity.

Again, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu is satisfied with whatever gain of robes, morsel food, dwellings and requisites when ill. Bhikkhus, this too is a thing, conducive to friendliness, to be loved, to be revered, to give up disputes, to bring together and for unity.

Again, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu is with the highest prudent mindfulness, calling and recalling things told and heard long ago. Bhikkhus, this too is a thing, conducive to friendliness, to be loved, to be revered, to give up disputes, to bring together and for unity.

Again, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu is endowed with wisdom, about the rising and fading of the five holding masses, for the noble ones' penetration to rightfully end unpleasantness. Bhikkhus, this too is a thing, conducive to friendliness, to be loved, to be revered, to give up disputes, to bring together and for unity. Bhikkhus, these ten things are conducive to friendliness, for reverence, to bring together to give up disputes and for unity.