[317] On one occasion the Venerable Mahācunda was dwelling among the Cetis at Sañjāti. There the Venerable Mahācunda addressed the bhikkhus: "Friends, bhikkhus!" "Friend," those bhikkhus replied to the Venerable Mahācunda. The Venerable Mahācunda said this:
"Here, friends, bhikkhus devoted to the Dhamma (dhammayogā bhikkhū) disparage the meditator bhikkhus (jhāyī bhikkhū), saying: 'These, [claiming] "We are meditators! We are meditators!" meditate and brood. Why indeed do they meditate? In what way do they meditate? How indeed do they meditate?' In that case the bhikkhus devoted to the Dhamma are not pleased, and the meditator bhikkhus are not pleased, and they are not practicing for the welfare of the many people, for the happiness of the many people, for the good, the welfare, and the happiness of the multitude, of devas and human beings.
"But here, friends, meditator bhikkhus disparage the bhikkhus devoted to the Dhamma, saying: 'These, [claiming] "We are devoted to the Dhamma! We are devoted to the Dhamma!" are restless, puffed up, fickle, mouthy, scattered in their speech, muddled in mindfulness, without clear comprehension, unconcentrated, with wandering minds (citta), with unrestrained faculties. Why indeed are they devoted to the Dhamma? In what way are they devoted to the Dhamma? How indeed are they devoted to the Dhamma?' In that case the meditator bhikkhus are not pleased, and the bhikkhus devoted to the Dhamma are not pleased, and they are not practicing for the welfare of the many people, for the happiness of the many people, for the good, the welfare, and the happiness of the multitude, of devas and human beings.
"But here, friends, bhikkhus devoted to the Dhamma speak praise only of bhikkhus devoted to the Dhamma; they do not speak praise of the meditator bhikkhus. In that case the bhikkhus devoted to the Dhamma are not pleased, and the meditator bhikkhus are not pleased, and they are not practicing for the welfare of the many people, for the happiness of the many people, for the good, the welfare, and the happiness of the multitude, of devas and human beings.
"But here, friends, meditator bhikkhus speak praise only of meditator bhikkhus; they do not speak praise of the bhikkhus devoted to the Dhamma. In that case the meditator bhikkhus are not pleased, and the bhikkhus devoted to the Dhamma are not pleased, and they are not practicing for the welfare of the many people, for the happiness of the many people, for the good, the welfare, and the happiness of the multitude, of devas and human beings.
"Therefore, friends, you should train thus: 'Being ourselves devoted to the Dhamma, we will speak praise of the meditator bhikkhus.' Thus, friends, should you train. For what reason? Because, friends, those persons are wonderful and hard to find in the world who dwell having touched the deathless element (amatā dhātu) with the body.
"Therefore, friends, you should train thus: 'Being ourselves meditators, we will speak praise of the bhikkhus devoted to the Dhamma.' Thus, friends, should you train. For what reason? Because, friends, those persons are wonderful and hard to find in the world who, having pierced it through with wisdom, see a profound matter of meaning."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.