7.
The Discourse on Bad Talk
157.
"Monks, talk is badly spoken to five persons, compared with person to person.
Which five?
Monks, talk about faith is badly spoken to one who is faithless;
talk about morality is badly spoken to one who is immoral;
talk about great learning is badly spoken to one of little learning;
talk about generosity is badly spoken to one who is stingy;
talk about wisdom is badly spoken to one who is unwise.
"And why, monks, is talk about faith badly spoken to one who is faithless? A faithless person, monks, when talk about faith is being spoken, becomes attached, becomes angry, is repelled, becomes obstinate, and manifests irritation, hate, and displeasure. What is the reason for this? For he, monks, does not see accomplishment in faith in himself, and he does not obtain joy and gladness on that account. Therefore talk about faith is badly spoken to one who is faithless.
"And why, monks, is talk about morality badly spoken to one who is immoral? An immoral person, monks, when talk about morality is being spoken, becomes attached, becomes angry, is repelled, becomes obstinate, and manifests irritation, hate, and displeasure. What is the reason for this? For he, monks, does not see accomplishment in morality in himself, and he does not obtain joy and gladness on that account. Therefore talk about morality is badly spoken to one who is immoral.
"And why, monks, is talk about great learning badly spoken to one of little learning? One of little learning, monks, when talk about great learning is being spoken, becomes attached, becomes angry, is repelled, becomes obstinate, and manifests irritation, hate, and displeasure. What is the reason for this? For he, monks, does not see accomplishment in learning in himself, and he does not obtain joy and gladness on that account. Therefore talk about great learning is badly spoken to one of little learning.
"And why, monks, is talk about generosity badly spoken to one who is stingy? A stingy person, monks, when talk about generosity is being spoken, becomes attached, becomes angry, is repelled, becomes obstinate, and manifests irritation, hate, and displeasure. What is the reason for this? For he, monks, does not see accomplishment in generosity in himself, and he does not obtain joy and gladness on that account. Therefore talk about generosity is badly spoken to one who is stingy.
"And why, monks, is talk about wisdom badly spoken to one who is unwise? An unwise person, monks, when talk about wisdom is being spoken, becomes attached, becomes angry, is repelled, becomes obstinate, and manifests irritation, hate, and displeasure. What is the reason for this? For he, monks, does not see accomplishment in wisdom in himself, and he does not obtain joy and gladness on that account. Therefore talk about wisdom is badly spoken to one who is unwise. Monks, talk is badly spoken to these five persons, compared with person to person.
"For five persons, monks, talk is well-spoken, comparing person with person. Which five? For one with faith, monks, talk about faith is well-spoken; for one who is moral, talk about morality is well-spoken; for one who is very learned, talk about great learning is well-spoken; for one who is generous, talk about generosity is well-spoken; for one who is wise, talk about wisdom is well-spoken.
"And why, monks, is talk about faith well-spoken for one with faith? One with faith, monks, when talk about faith is being spoken, does not become attached, does not become angry, is not repelled, does not become obstinate, and does not manifest irritation, hate, and displeasure. What is the reason for this? For he, monks, sees accomplishment in faith within himself, and on that account obtains joy and gladness. Therefore, for one with faith, talk about faith is well-spoken.
"And why, monks, is talk about morality well-spoken for one who is moral? One who is moral, monks, when talk about morality is being spoken, does not become attached, does not become angry, is not repelled, does not become obstinate, and does not manifest irritation, hate, and displeasure. What is the reason for this? For he, monks, sees accomplishment in morality within himself, and on that account obtains joy and gladness. Therefore, for one who is moral, talk about morality is well-spoken.
"And why, monks, is talk about great learning well-spoken for one who is very learned? One who is very learned, monks, when talk about great learning is being spoken, does not become attached, does not become angry, is not repelled, does not become obstinate, and does not manifest irritation, hate, and displeasure. What is the reason for this? For he, monks, sees accomplishment in learning within himself, and on that account obtains joy and gladness. Therefore, for one who is very learned, talk about great learning is well-spoken.
"And why, monks, is talk about generosity well-spoken for one who is generous? One who is generous, monks, when talk about generosity is being spoken, does not become attached, does not become angry, is not repelled, does not become obstinate, and does not manifest irritation, hate, and displeasure. What is the reason for this? For he, monks, sees accomplishment in generosity within himself, and on that account obtains joy and gladness. Therefore, for one who is generous, talk about generosity is well-spoken.
"And why, monks, is talk about wisdom well-spoken for one who is wise? One who is wise, monks, when talk about wisdom is being spoken, does not become attached, does not become angry, is not repelled, does not become obstinate, and does not manifest irritation, hate, and displeasure. What is the reason for this? For he, monks, sees accomplishment in wisdom within himself, and on that account obtains joy and gladness. Therefore, for one who is wise, talk about wisdom is well-spoken. For these five persons, monks, talk is well-spoken, comparing person with person." The seventh.