2.
Discourse on Exhortation
52.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Pinnacled Hall.
Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One -
"Possessed of how many qualities, venerable sir, should a monk be authorized as an exhorter of nuns?"
"Ānanda, a monk possessed of eight qualities should be authorized as an exhorter of nuns. Which eight? Here, Ānanda, a monk is virtuous, etc. having accepted the training rules he trains in them; he is very learned, etc. thoroughly penetrated by view; and both Pātimokkhas are well learnt by him in detail, well divided, well recited, well determined, by rule and by feature; he is of good speech, of good conversation, endowed with polished speech, distinct, free from drooling, capable of making the meaning clear; he is competent to instruct, encourage, inspire, and gladden the community of nuns with a talk on the Teaching; he is for the most part dear and agreeable to the nuns; and he has not previously become guilty of a serious offence with one who has gone forth with reference to this Blessed One, wearing the ochre robe; he is of twenty years standing or more than twenty years standing. Ānanda, a monk possessed of these eight qualities should be authorized as an exhorter of nuns." The second.