[106] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kosambī, in Ghosita's Park (Ghositārāma). Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, in what way might the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, while dwelling, dwell at ease?"
"Ānanda, when a bhikkhu is himself accomplished in virtue (sīla) but does not censure another in regard to higher virtue (adhisīla) — to this extent too, Ānanda, the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, while dwelling, might dwell at ease."
"But, venerable sir, might there be another way in which the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, while dwelling, might dwell at ease?"
"There might, Ānanda," the Blessed One said. "Ānanda, when a bhikkhu is himself accomplished in virtue but does not censure another in regard to higher virtue, and is an examiner of himself, not an examiner of others — to this extent too, Ānanda, the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, while dwelling, might dwell at ease."
"But, venerable sir, might there be another way in which the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, while dwelling, might dwell at ease?"
"There might, Ānanda," the Blessed One said. "Ānanda, when a bhikkhu is himself accomplished in virtue but does not censure another in regard to higher virtue, is an examiner of himself, not an examiner of others, and is not well known, yet is not agitated by that lack of renown — to this extent too, Ānanda, the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, while dwelling, might dwell at ease."
"But, venerable sir, might there be another way in which the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, while dwelling, might dwell at ease?"
"There might, Ānanda," the Blessed One said. "Ānanda, when a bhikkhu is himself accomplished in virtue but does not censure another in regard to higher virtue, is an examiner of himself, not an examiner of others, is not well known yet is not agitated by that lack of renown, and is one who gains at will, without difficulty, without trouble, the four jhānas that pertain to the higher mind and are pleasant dwellings in this very life — to this extent, Ānanda, the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, while dwelling, might dwell at ease."
"But, venerable sir, might there be another way in which the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, while dwelling, might dwell at ease?"
"There might, Ānanda," the Blessed One said. "Ānanda, when a bhikkhu is himself accomplished in virtue but does not censure another in regard to higher virtue, is an examiner of himself, not an examiner of others, is not well known yet is not agitated by that lack of renown, is one who gains at will, without difficulty, without trouble, the four jhānas that pertain to the higher mind and are pleasant dwellings in this very life, and, with the destruction of the taints (āsava), realizes for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind (cetovimutti) and liberation by wisdom (paññāvimutti), and having entered upon it, dwells therein — to this extent, Ānanda, the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, while dwelling, might dwell at ease. And I say, Ānanda, that there is no other dwelling at ease higher or more sublime than this dwelling at ease."
End of the Sixth Sutta.
7. The Sīla Sutta
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.