3.
The Discourse on What Was Heard
183.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground.
Then the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One.
Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, said this to the Blessed One -
"Indeed, Master Gotama, I hold such a doctrine and view: 'Whoever speaks what is seen - "Thus it was seen by me," there is no fault in that; whoever speaks what is heard - "Thus it was heard by me," there is no fault in that; whoever speaks what is sensed - "Thus it was sensed by me," there is no fault in that; whoever speaks what is cognised - "Thus it was cognised by me," there is no fault in that.'"
"I do not, brahmin, say that all that is seen should be spoken; nor do I, brahmin, say that all that is seen should not be spoken; I do not, brahmin, say that all that is heard should be spoken; nor do I, brahmin, say that all that is heard should not be spoken; I do not, brahmin, say that all that is sensed should be spoken; nor do I, brahmin, say that all that is sensed should not be spoken; I do not, brahmin, say that all that is cognised should be spoken; nor do I, brahmin, say that all that is cognised should not be spoken.
"For, brahmin, when for one speaking what is seen unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, I say such a thing seen should not be spoken. But, brahmin, when for one not speaking what is seen wholesome mental states decline and unwholesome mental states increase, I say such a thing seen should be spoken.
"For, brahmin, when for one speaking what is heard unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, I say such a thing heard should not be spoken. But, brahmin, when for one not speaking what is heard wholesome mental states decline and unwholesome mental states increase, I say such a thing heard should be spoken.
"For, brahmin, when for one speaking what is sensed unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, I say such a thing sensed should not be spoken. But, brahmin, when for one not speaking what is sensed wholesome mental states decline and unwholesome mental states increase, I say such a thing sensed should be spoken.
"For, brahmin, when for one speaking what is cognised unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline, I say such a thing cognised should not be spoken. But, brahmin, when for one not speaking what is cognised wholesome mental states decline and unwholesome mental states increase, I say such a thing cognised should be spoken."
Then the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, having delighted in and given thanks for what the Blessed One had said, rose from his seat and departed. The third.