{"id":"an3.67","title":"Topics of Discussion","languageCodes":["en","pi"],"languageNotes":{"en":"Bhikkhu Sujato · CC0","pi":"Mahāsaṅgīti edition · SuttaCentral"},"chapters":[{"id":"an3.67","title":"Topics of Discussion","units":[{"id":"an3.67:0","sourceIds":["an3.67:0.1","an3.67:0.2","an3.67:0.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.67\n7. Mahāvagga\nKathāvatthusutta","en":"Numbered Discourses 3.67\n7. The Great Chapter\nTopics of Discussion"}},{"id":"an3.67:1","sourceIds":["an3.67:1.1","an3.67:1.2","an3.67:1.3","an3.67:1.4","an3.67:1.5","an3.67:1.6","an3.67:1.7","an3.67:1.8"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, kathāvatthūni.\nKatamāni tīṇi?\nAtītaṁ vā, bhikkhave, addhānaṁ ārabbha kathaṁ katheyya:\n‘evaṁ ahosi atītamaddhānan’ti.\nAnāgataṁ vā, bhikkhave, addhānaṁ ārabbha kathaṁ katheyya:\n‘evaṁ bhavissati anāgatamaddhānan’ti.\nEtarahi vā, bhikkhave, paccuppannaṁ addhānaṁ ārabbha kathaṁ katheyya:\n‘evaṁ hoti etarahi paccuppannamaddhānan’ti.","en":"“There are, mendicants, these three topics of discussion.\nWhat three?\nYou might discuss the past:\n‘That is how it was in the past.’\nYou might discuss the future:\n‘That is how it will be in the future.’\nOr you might discuss the present:\n‘This is how it is at present.’"}},{"id":"an3.67:2","sourceIds":["an3.67:2.1","an3.67:2.2","an3.67:2.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Kathāsampayogena, bhikkhave, puggalo veditabbo yadi vā kaccho yadi vā akacchoti.\nSacāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno ekaṁsabyākaraṇīyaṁ pañhaṁ na ekaṁsena byākaroti, vibhajjabyākaraṇīyaṁ pañhaṁ na vibhajja byākaroti, paṭipucchābyākaraṇīyaṁ pañhaṁ na paṭipucchā byākaroti, ṭhapanīyaṁ pañhaṁ na ṭhapeti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo akaccho hoti.\nSace panāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno ekaṁsabyākaraṇīyaṁ pañhaṁ ekaṁsena byākaroti, vibhajjabyākaraṇīyaṁ pañhaṁ vibhajja byākaroti, paṭipucchābyākaraṇīyaṁ pañhaṁ paṭipucchā byākaroti, ṭhapanīyaṁ pañhaṁ ṭhapeti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo kaccho hoti.","en":"You can know whether or not an individual is competent to hold a discussion by seeing how they take part in a discussion.\nWhen an individual is asked a question, if it needs to be answered categorically and they don’t answer it categorically; or if it needs analysis and they answer without analyzing it; or if it needs a counter-question and they answer without a counter-question; or if it should be set aside and they don’t set it aside, then that individual is not competent to hold a discussion.\nWhen an individual is asked a question, if it needs to be answered categorically and they answer it categorically; or if it needs analysis and they answer after analyzing it; or if it needs a counter-question and they answer with a counter-question; or if it should be set aside and they set it aside, then that individual is competent to hold a discussion."}},{"id":"an3.67:3","sourceIds":["an3.67:3.1","an3.67:3.2","an3.67:3.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Kathāsampayogena, bhikkhave, puggalo veditabbo yadi vā kaccho yadi vā akacchoti.\nSacāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno ṭhānāṭhāne na saṇṭhāti parikappe na saṇṭhāti aññātavāde na saṇṭhāti paṭipadāya na saṇṭhāti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo akaccho hoti.\nSace panāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno ṭhānāṭhāne saṇṭhāti parikappe saṇṭhāti aññātavāde saṇṭhāti paṭipadāya saṇṭhāti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo kaccho hoti.","en":"You can know whether or not an individual is competent to hold a discussion by seeing how they take part in a discussion.\nWhen an individual is asked a question, if they’re not consistent about what their position is and what it isn’t; about what they propose; about speaking from what they know; and about the appropriate procedure, then that individual is not competent to hold a discussion.\nWhen an individual is asked a question, if they are consistent about what their position is and what it isn’t; about what they propose; about speaking from what they know; and about the appropriate procedure, then that individual is competent to hold a discussion."}},{"id":"an3.67:4","sourceIds":["an3.67:4.1","an3.67:4.2","an3.67:4.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Kathāsampayogena, bhikkhave, puggalo veditabbo yadi vā kaccho yadi vā akacchoti.\nSacāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno aññenaññaṁ paṭicarati, bahiddhā kathaṁ apanāmeti, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukaroti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo akaccho hoti.\nSace panāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno na aññenaññaṁ paṭicarati na bahiddhā kathaṁ apanāmeti, na kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukaroti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo kaccho hoti.","en":"You can know whether or not an individual is competent to hold a discussion by seeing how they take part in a discussion.\nWhen an individual is asked a question, if they dodge the issue; distract the discussion with irrelevant points; or display annoyance, hate, and bitterness, then that individual is not competent to hold a discussion.\nWhen an individual is asked a question, if they don’t dodge the issue; distract the discussion with irrelevant points; or display annoyance, hate, and bitterness, then that individual is competent to hold a discussion."}},{"id":"an3.67:5","sourceIds":["an3.67:5.1","an3.67:5.2","an3.67:5.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Kathāsampayogena, bhikkhave, puggalo veditabbo yadi vā kaccho yadi vā akacchoti.\nSacāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno abhiharati abhimaddati anupajagghati khalitaṁ gaṇhāti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo akaccho hoti.\nSace panāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo pañhaṁ puṭṭho samāno nābhiharati nābhimaddati na anupajagghati na khalitaṁ gaṇhāti, evaṁ santāyaṁ, bhikkhave, puggalo kaccho hoti.","en":"You can know whether or not an individual is competent to hold a discussion by seeing how they take part in a discussion.\nWhen an individual is asked a question, if they intimidate, crush, mock, or seize on trivial mistakes, then that individual is not competent to hold a discussion.\nWhen an individual is asked a question, if they don’t intimidate, crush, mock, or seize on trivial mistakes, then that individual is competent to hold a discussion."}},{"id":"an3.67:6","sourceIds":["an3.67:6.1","an3.67:6.2","an3.67:6.3","an3.67:6.4","an3.67:6.5","an3.67:6.6","an3.67:6.7","an3.67:6.8"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Kathāsampayogena, bhikkhave, puggalo veditabbo yadi vā saupaniso yadi vā anupanisoti.\nAnohitasoto, bhikkhave, anupaniso hoti, ohitasoto saupaniso hoti.\nSo saupaniso samāno abhijānāti ekaṁ dhammaṁ, parijānāti ekaṁ dhammaṁ, pajahati ekaṁ dhammaṁ, sacchikaroti ekaṁ dhammaṁ.\nSo abhijānanto ekaṁ dhammaṁ, parijānanto ekaṁ dhammaṁ, pajahanto ekaṁ dhammaṁ, sacchikaronto ekaṁ dhammaṁ sammāvimuttiṁ phusati.\nEtadatthā, bhikkhave, kathā;\netadatthā mantanā;\netadatthā upanisā;\netadatthaṁ sotāvadhānaṁ, yadidaṁ anupādā cittassa vimokkhoti.","en":"You can know whether or not an individual has what’s required by seeing how they take part in a discussion.\nIf they actively listen they have what’s required; if they don’t actively listen they don’t have what’s required.\nSomeone who has what’s required directly knows one thing, completely understands one thing, gives up one thing, and realizes one thing—\nand then they experience complete freedom.\nThis is the purpose of discussion,\nconsultation,\nsitting close,\nand listening well, that is, the liberation of the mind by not grasping."}},{"id":"an3.67:7","sourceIds":["an3.67:7.1","an3.67:7.2","an3.67:7.3","an3.67:7.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Ye viruddhā sallapanti,\nviniviṭṭhā samussitā;\nAnariyaguṇamāsajja,\naññoññavivaresino.","en":"Those who converse with hostility,\ntoo sure of themselves, arrogant,\nignoble, attacking virtues,\nthey look for flaws in each other."}},{"id":"an3.67:8","sourceIds":["an3.67:8.1","an3.67:8.2","an3.67:8.3","an3.67:8.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Dubbhāsitaṁ vikkhalitaṁ,\nsampamohaṁ parājayaṁ;\nAññoññassābhinandanti,\ntadariyo kathanācare.","en":"They rejoice together when their opponent\nspeaks poorly and makes a mistake,\nbecoming confused and defeated—\nbut the noble ones don’t discuss like this."}},{"id":"an3.67:9","sourceIds":["an3.67:9.1","an3.67:9.2","an3.67:9.3","an3.67:9.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Sace cassa kathākāmo,\nkālamaññāya paṇḍito;\nDhammaṭṭhapaṭisaṁyuttā,\nyā ariyacaritā kathā.","en":"If an astute person wants to hold a discussion\nconnected with the teaching and its meaning—\nthe kind of discussion that noble ones hold—\nthen that attentive one should start the discussion,"}},{"id":"an3.67:10","sourceIds":["an3.67:10.1","an3.67:10.2","an3.67:10.3","an3.67:10.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Taṁ kathaṁ kathaye dhīro,\naviruddho anussito;\nAnunnatena manasā,\napaḷāso asāhaso.","en":"knowing when the time is right,\nneither hostile nor arrogant.\nNot over-excited,\ncontemptuous, or aggressive,"}},{"id":"an3.67:11","sourceIds":["an3.67:11.1","an3.67:11.2","an3.67:11.3","an3.67:11.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Anusūyāyamāno so,\nsammadaññāya bhāsati;\nSubhāsitaṁ anumodeyya,\ndubbhaṭṭhe nāpasādaye.","en":"or with a mind full of jealousy,\nthey’d speak from what they rightly know.\nThey agree with what was well spoken,\nwithout criticizing what was poorly said."}},{"id":"an3.67:12","sourceIds":["an3.67:12.1","an3.67:12.2","an3.67:12.3","an3.67:12.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Upārambhaṁ na sikkheyya,\nkhalitañca na gāhaye;\nNābhihare nābhimadde,\nna vācaṁ payutaṁ bhaṇe.","en":"They’d not persist in finding faults,\nnor seize on trivial mistakes,\nneither intimidating nor crushing the other,\nnor would they speak suggestively."}},{"id":"an3.67:13","sourceIds":["an3.67:13.1","an3.67:13.2","an3.67:13.3","an3.67:13.4","an3.67:13.5","an3.67:13.6","an3.67:13.7"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Aññātatthaṁ pasādatthaṁ,\nsataṁ ve hoti mantanā;\nEvaṁ kho ariyā mantenti,\nesā ariyāna mantanā;\nEtadaññāya medhāvī,\nna samusseyya mantaye”ti.\nSattamaṁ.","en":"Good people consult\nfor the sake of knowledge and clarity.\nThat’s how the noble ones consult,\nthis is a noble consultation.\nKnowing this, an intelligent person\nwould consult without arrogance.”"}}]}],"sourceRevision":"afdafa92450cfe7573b280da50382888323666d2","sourceUrl":"https://suttacentral.net/an3.67/en/sujato","licence":"CC0 1.0","licenceUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/","editionNote":"Full supplied source file; inherited abbreviations are preserved. Not a reconstructed expansion of every repetition. No Malay or Mandarin translation is implied."}