2.
The Second Discourse on Uruvelā
22.
"On one occasion, monks, I was dwelling at Uruvelā on the bank of the river Nerañjarā at the goatherd's banyan tree, newly fully enlightened.
Then, monks, several brahmins, old, aged, elderly, having traversed the span of life, having reached advanced years, approached me;
having approached, they exchanged friendly greetings with me.
Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, they sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, monks, those brahmins said this to me -
'We have heard this, Master Gotama -
the ascetic Gotama does not pay respect to brahmins who are old, aged, elderly, who have traversed the span of life, who have reached advanced years, or rise up for them or invite them with a seat.'
This, Master Gotama, is indeed so.
For indeed the Venerable Gotama does not pay respect to brahmins who are old, aged, elderly, who have traversed the span of life, who have reached advanced years, or rise up for them or invite them with a seat.
This, Master Gotama, is not proper."
"This occurred to me, monks - 'These venerable ones do not know an elder or the qualities that make one an elder.' Even if, monks, one is old, eighty or ninety or a hundred years old by birth. And he speaks at the wrong time, speaks what is not factual, speaks what is unbeneficial, speaks what is not the Teaching, speaks what is not the discipline; he speaks words not worth treasuring, at the wrong time, without reason, without limit, not connected with benefit. Then he goes by the term 'a foolish elder.'
Even if, monks, one is young, a youth with jet-black hair, endowed with the blessing of youth, in the first stage of life. And he speaks at the right time, speaks what is factual, speaks what is beneficial, speaks on the Teaching, speaks on the discipline; he speaks words worth treasuring, timely, reasonable, well-defined, connected with the goal. Then he goes by the term 'a wise elder.'
"There are these four qualities that make one an elder, monks. Which four? Here, monks, a monk is virtuous, he dwells restrained by the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in good conduct and lawful resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults, having accepted the training rules he trains in them; he is very learned, remembering what has been learnt, having great accumulation of learning; whatever teachings that are good in the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end, with meaning and with phrasing, that reveal the holy life that is complete in its entirety and pure - such teachings are very learned by him, retained, practised in speech, contemplated in mind, thoroughly penetrated by view; he is one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble, the four meditative absorptions pertaining to the higher mind, which are pleasant abidings in the present life; with the elimination of the mental corruptions, in this very life, having realised by direct knowledge himself, having attained, he dwells in the liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom that are without mental corruptions. These, monks, are the four qualities that make one an elder."
With unconcentrated thought, delighting in what is not the Good Teaching, like a wild animal;
He is far from steadfastness, holding wrong view, disrespectful.
Restrained, wise in the teachings, he sees with insight the meaning through wisdom.
Having abandoned birth and death, complete in the holy life.
With the elimination of the mental corruptions, a monk is called an elder." The second.