10.
The Discourse on Pointless Talk
1080.
"Do not, monks, engage in various kinds of pointless talk, as follows -
talk about kings, talk about thieves, talk about ministers, talk about armies, talk about perils, talk about battles, talk about food, talk about drink, talk about clothes, talk about beds, talk about garlands, talk about odours, talk about relatives, talk about vehicles, talk about villages, talk about towns, talk about cities, talk about countries, talk about women, talk about heroes, talk about streets, talk about wells, talk about the dead, talk about diversity, speculations about the world, speculations about the sea, talk about existence and non-existence - or such.
What is the reason for this?
This talk, monks, is not connected with benefit, is not fundamental to the holy life, does not lead to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to highest enlightenment, to Nibbāna.
"But when speaking, monks, you should speak 'This is suffering'; you should speak 'This is the origin of suffering'; you should speak 'This is the cessation of suffering'; you should speak 'This is the practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' What is the reason for this? This talk, monks, is connected with benefit, this is fundamental to the holy life, this leads to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to highest enlightenment, to Nibbāna.
"Therefore, monks, exertion is to be done regarding 'This is suffering', etc. exertion is to be done regarding 'This is the practice leading to the cessation of suffering.'" The tenth.