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AN 5.194x go with the best, forget the rest


“Handa kuto nu bhavaṃ piṅgiyānī āgacchati divā divassā”ti?
“So, Piṅgiyānī, where are you coming from in the middle of the day?”
“Itohaṃ, bho, āgacchāmi samaṇassa gotamassa santikā”ti.
“I’m coming, my good man, from the presence of the ascetic Gotama.”
“Taṃ kiṃ maññati bhavaṃ piṅgiyānī samaṇassa gotamassa paññāveyyattiyaṃ? Paṇḍito maññe”ti?
“What do you think of the ascetic Gotama’s proficiency in wisdom? Do you think he’s astute?”
“Ko cāhaṃ, bho, ko ca samaṇassa gotamassa paññāveyyattiyaṃ jānissāmi.
“My good man, who am I to judge the ascetic Gotama’s proficiency in wisdom?
Sopi nūnassa tādisova yo samaṇassa gotamassa paññāveyyattiyaṃ jāneyyā”ti.
You’d really have to be on the same level to judge his proficiency in wisdom.”
“Uḷārāya khalu bhavaṃ piṅgiyānī samaṇaṃ gotamaṃ pasaṃsāya pasaṃsatī”ti.
“Master Piṅgiyānī praises the ascetic Gotama with magnificent praise indeed.”
“Ko cāhaṃ, bho, ko ca samaṇaṃ gotamaṃ pasaṃsissāmi.
“Who am I to praise the ascetic Gotama?
Pasatthappasatthova so bhavaṃ gotamo seṭṭho devamanussānan”ti.
He is praised by the praised as the best of gods and humans.”
“Kiṃ pana bhavaṃ piṅgiyānī atthavasaṃ sampassamāno samaṇe gotame evaṃ abhippasanno”ti?
“But for what reason are you so devoted to the ascetic Gotama?”
“Seyyathāpi, bho, puriso aggarasaparititto na aññesaṃ hīnānaṃ rasānaṃ piheti;
“Suppose a person was completely satisfied by the best tasting food. They wouldn’t be attracted to anything that tasted inferior.
evamevaṃ kho, bho, yato yato tassa bhoto gotamassa dhammaṃ suṇāti—
In the same way, when you hear the ascetic Gotama’s teaching—
yadi suttaso, yadi geyyaso, yadi veyyākaraṇaso, yadi abbhutadhammaso—
whatever it may be, whether statements, songs, discussions, or amazing stories—
tato tato na aññesaṃ puthusamaṇabrāhmaṇappavādānaṃ piheti.
then you’re not attracted to the doctrines of the various ascetics and brahmins.

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