3.
The Discourse on Puṇṇiya
83.
Then the Venerable Puṇṇiya 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 Puṇṇiya said this to the Blessed One -
"What, venerable sir, is the cause, what is the condition, by which sometimes the proclamation of the Teaching occurs to the Truth-finder, and sometimes it does not occur?"
"A monk, Puṇṇiya, has faith, but is not one who approaches; the proclamation of the Teaching does not yet occur to the Truth-finder. But when, Puṇṇiya, a monk has faith and is one who approaches, thus the proclamation of the Teaching occurs to the Truth-finder.
"A monk, Puṇṇiya, has faith and is one who approaches, but is not one who attends... etc. is one who attends, but is not one who inquires... is one who inquires, but does not listen to the Teaching with ears inclined... listens to the Teaching with ears inclined, but having heard does not retain the Teaching... having heard retains the Teaching, but does not investigate the meaning of the teachings retained... investigates the meaning of the teachings retained, but not having understood the meaning and not having understood the Teaching, is not practising in accordance with the Teaching... having understood the meaning and having understood the Teaching, is practising in accordance with the Teaching, but he is not of good speech, of good conversation, endowed with polished speech, distinct, free from drooling, capable of making the meaning clear... and he is of good speech, of good conversation, endowed with polished speech, distinct, free from drooling, capable of making the meaning clear, but he is not one who shows, an instigator, an inciter, a gladdener of his fellows in the holy life, the proclamation of the Teaching does not yet occur to the Truth-finder.
"But when, Puṇṇiya, a monk has faith, is one who approaches, is one who attends, is one who inquires, listens to the Teaching with ears inclined, having heard retains the Teaching, investigates the meaning of the teachings retained, and having understood the meaning and having understood the Teaching, is practising in accordance with the Teaching, and he is of good speech, of good conversation, endowed with polished speech, distinct, free from drooling, capable of making the meaning clear, and he is one who shows, an instigator, an inciter, a gladdener of his fellows in the holy life - thus the proclamation of the Teaching occurs to the Truth-finder. Possessed of these ten qualities, Puṇṇiya, the proclamation of the Teaching to the Truth-finder is absolutely inspired." The third.