9.
The Discourse on Quick Peace
169.
Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Venerable Sāriputta;
having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Venerable Sāriputta.
Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Venerable Sāriputta -
"In what way, friend Sāriputta, is a monk quick to understand wholesome mental states, one who grasps what is rightly taken, learns much, and does not forget what has been learnt?" "The Venerable Ānanda is very learned. Let it occur to the Venerable Ānanda himself." "Then, friend Sāriputta, listen, pay close attention; I will speak." "Yes, friend," the Venerable Sāriputta assented to the Venerable Ānanda. The Venerable Ānanda said this -
"Here, friend Sāriputta, a monk is skilled in meaning, skilled in the Teaching, skilled in phrasing, skilled in language, and skilled in what precedes and what follows. To this extent, friend Sāriputta, a monk is quick to understand wholesome mental states, one who grasps what is rightly taken, learns much, and does not forget what has been learnt." "It is wonderful, friend! It is marvellous, friend! How well spoken is this by the Venerable Ānanda. And we remember the Venerable Ānanda as endowed with these five qualities - 'The Venerable Ānanda is skilled in meaning, skilled in the Teaching, skilled in phrasing, skilled in language, and skilled in what precedes and what follows.'" The ninth.