Advice (`ovādasutta`)

12S2/5.1.6 Ovādasutta

This is a timeless and relevant sutta for those that engage in frequent debate (online, or in academic journals) with each other on various aspects of Buddhism …

933. [The Bhagavā] was staying in Rājagaha, at the Bamboo Grove.

Then āyasmā Mahakassapa approached the Bhagavā. Having approached and saluted the Bhagavā, he sat down to one side. As āyasmā Mahakassapa sat to one side, the Bhagavā said this to him:

“Kassapa, admonish the bhikkhus; Kassapa, give the bhikkhus a discourse on the Dhamma. Either I, Kassapa, would admonish the bhikkhus, or you would; either I would give the bhikkhus a discourse on the Dhamma, or you would.”

934. “Indeed, Bhante, nowadays the bhikkhus are difficult to admonish, they are endowed with qualities that make them difficult to admonish, they are impatient, and they do not accept instruction respectfully. Here, Bhante, I saw a bhikkhu named Bhaṇḍa, a companion of āyasmā Ānanda, and a bhikkhu named Abhijika, a companion of āyasmā Anuruddha, disputing with each other about what they had heard, saying:

‘Come, bhikkhu, who will speak more, who will speak better, who will speak longer?’”

935. Then the Bhagavā addressed a certain bhikkhu:

“Come, bhikkhu, in my name, summon the bhikkhu Bhaṇḍa, a companion of āyasmā Ānanda, and the bhikkhu Abhijika, a companion of āyasmā Anuruddha, (saying): ‘The Teacher summons the āyasmanto.’”

“Yes, Bhante,”

that bhikkhu replied to the Bhagavā, and he went to those bhikkhus. Having approached, he said to those bhikkhus:

“The Teacher summons the āyasmanto.”

936. “Yes, friend,”

those bhikkhus replied to that bhikkhu, and they went to the Bhagavā. Having approached and saluted the Bhagavā, they sat down to one side. As those bhikkhus sat to one side, the Bhagavā said this to them:

“Is it true, bhikkhus, that you dispute with each other about what you have heard, saying:

‘Come, bhikkhu, who will speak more, who will speak better, who will speak longer?’”

“Yes, Bhante.”

“Have you bhikkhus understood the Dhamma taught by me in this way —

‘Come, bhikkhus, dispute with each other about what you have heard, saying: Come, bhikkhu, who will speak more, who will speak better, who will speak longer?’”

“No, Bhante.”

“If indeed you bhikkhus have not understood the Dhamma taught by me in this way, then for what reason, you foolish men, knowing what, seeing what, having gone forth into this well-proclaimed Dhamma and Discipline, do you dispute with each other about what you have heard, saying:

‘Come, bhikkhu, who will speak more, who will speak better, who will speak longer?’”

937. Then those bhikkhus fell with their heads at the Bhagavā’s feet and said to the Bhagavā:

“Bhante, an offense has overtaken us, as if we were foolish, deluded, and unskillful, we who, having gone forth into this well-proclaimed Dhamma and Discipline, disputed with each other about what we had heard, saying:

‘Come, bhikkhu, who will speak more, who will speak better, who will speak longer.’

Bhante, may the Bhagavā accept our offense as an offense for future restraint.”

938. “Indeed, bhikkhus, an offense has overtaken you, as if you were foolish, deluded, and unskillful, you who, having gone forth into this well-proclaimed Dhamma and Discipline, disputed with each other about what you had heard, saying:

‘Come, bhikkhu, who will speak more, who will speak better, who will speak longer.’

But since you, bhikkhus, seeing the offense as an offense, rectify it in accordance with the Dhamma, we accept that from you. For this is growth in the Noble Discipline, bhikkhus: when one sees an offense as an offense, rectifies it in accordance with the Dhamma, and undertakes future restraint.”