an.6.46 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Cunda

On one occasion Ven. Maha Cunda was staying among the Cetis in Sanjatiya. There he addressed the monks, “Friend monks!”

“Yes, friend,” the monks responded to him.

Ven. Maha Cunda said, “Friends, there is the case where Dhamma-devotee monks disparage jhana monks, saying, ‘These people are absorbed and besorbed in jhana, saying, “We are absorbed, we are absorbed.” But why, indeed, are they absorbed? For what purpose are they absorbed? How are they absorbed?’ In that, the Dhamma-devotee monks do not shine brightly, and the jhana monks do not shine brightly. That is not practicing for the welfare of the masses, for the happiness of the masses, for the good of the masses, nor for the welfare & happiness of human & divine beings.

“Then there is the case where jhana monks disparage Dhamma-devotee monks, saying, ‘These people say, “We are Dhamma-devotees, we are Dhamma-devotees,’ but they are excitable, boisterous, unsteady, mouthy, loose in their talk, muddled in their mindfulness, unalert, unconcentrated, their minds wandering, their senses uncontrolled. Why, indeed, are they Dhamma devotees? For what purpose are they Dhamma devotees? How are they Dhamma devotees?’ In that, the jhana monks do not shine brightly, and the Dhamma-devotee monks do not shine brightly. That is not practicing for the welfare of the masses, for the happiness of the masses, for the good of the masses, nor for the welfare & happiness of human & divine beings.

“Then there is the case where Dhamma-devotee monks praise only Dhamma-devotee monks, and not jhana monks. In that, the Dhamma-devotee monks do not shine brightly, and the jhana monks do not shine brightly. That is not practicing for the welfare of the masses, for the happiness of the masses, for the good of the masses, nor for the welfare & happiness of human & divine beings.

“Then there is the case where jhana monks praise only jhana monks, and not Dhamma-devotee monks. In that, the jhana monks do not shine brightly, and the Dhamma-devotee monks do not shine brightly. That is not practicing for the welfare of the masses, for the happiness of the masses, for the good of the masses, nor for the welfare & happiness of human & divine beings.

“Thus, friends, you should train yourselves: ‘Being Dhamma-devotee monks, we will speak in praise of jhana monks.’ That’s how you should train yourselves. Why is that? Because these are amazing people, hard to find in the world, i.e., those who dwell touching the deathless element with the body.

“And thus, friends, you should train yourselves: ‘Being jhana monks, we will speak in praise of Dhamma-devotee monks.’ That’s how you should train yourselves. Why is that? Because these are amazing people, hard to find in the world, i.e., those who penetrate with discernment statements of deep meaning.”

- Translator: Thanissaro Bhikkhu

- Editor: Gabriel Laera

By Mahācunda

So I have heard.
At one time Venerable Mahācunda was staying in the land of the Cetis at Sahajāti.
There he addressed the mendicants:
“Reverends, mendicants!”
“Reverend,” they replied.
Venerable Mahācunda said this:
“Take a case where mendicants who practice discernment of principles rebuke mendicants who practice absorption meditation:
‘They say, “We practice absorption meditation! We practice absorption meditation!” And they meditate and concentrate and contemplate and ruminate.
Why do they practice absorption meditation? In what way do they practice absorption meditation? How do they practice absorption meditation?’
In this case the mendicants who practice discernment of principles are not inspired, and the mendicants who practice absorption meditation are not inspired. And they’re not acting for the welfare and happiness of the people, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.
Now, take a case where mendicants who practice absorption meditation rebuke mendicants who practice discernment of principles:
‘They say, “We practice discernment of principles! We practice discernment of principles!” But they’re restless, insolent, fickle, scurrilous, loose-tongued, unmindful, lacking situational awareness and immersion, with straying minds and undisciplined faculties.
Why do they practice discernment of principles? In what way do they practice discernment of principles? How do they practice discernment of principles?’
In this case the mendicants who practice absorption meditation are not inspired, and the mendicants who practice discernment of principles are not inspired. And they’re not acting for the welfare and happiness of the people, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.
Now, take a case where mendicants who practice discernment of principles praise only others like them, not mendicants who practice absorption meditation.
In this case the mendicants who practice discernment of principles are not inspired, and the mendicants who practice absorption meditation are not inspired. And they’re not acting for the welfare and happiness of the people, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.
And take a case where mendicants who practice absorption meditation praise only others like them, not mendicants who practice discernment of principles.
In this case the mendicants who practice absorption meditation are not inspired, and the mendicants who practice discernment of principles are not inspired. And they’re not acting for the welfare and happiness of the people, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.
So you should train like this:
‘As mendicants who practice discernment of principles, we will praise mendicants who practice absorption meditation.’
That’s how you should train.
Why is that?
Because it’s incredibly rare to find individuals in the world who have direct meditative experience of the deathless element.
So you should train like this:
‘As mendicants who practice absorption meditation, we will praise mendicants who practice discernment of principles.’
That’s how you should train.
Why is that?
Because it’s incredibly rare to find individuals in the world who see the meaning of a deep saying with penetrating wisdom.”