Academic Sutta Name Notes PSA Plae Vagga Nikaya PTS Keywords
DhA.

XIX:4 Age is not the criterion

One day, a group of bhikkhus came to pay respects to the Buddha. He knew that the time was ripe for those bhikkhus to attain Arahanthood. So he asked them whether they had seen a certain Elder as they came into the room. They replied that they did not see any such Elder but they only saw a young novice monk. Whereupon, the Buddha said, 'Bhikkhus! That person is not a novice monk. He is an Elder. I don't call one an Elder just because he is old. An Elder is one who comprehends the Four Noble Truths and does not harm others.'

55/170 Dhammapada & Commentary Khuddhaka J.i.106ff. despair


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Last modified on: Sunday, 13 August 2000.