Alasutta

Suttapiṭaka · Aṅguttaranikāya · Sattakanipāta · Aṭṭhakanipāta · Navakanipāta · Vol. 23 · Section 155

[155] (65) "Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu endowed with four qualities is capable of benefiting others, but not himself. What four? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is quick in apprehending (khippanisanti) wholesome dhammas; and he is by nature one who retains the dhammas he has heard; but he is not one who examines the meaning (attha) of the dhammas he has retained, and he is not one who, having understood the meaning and understood the dhamma, practices in accordance with the Dhamma (dhammānudhammapaṭipanna); and he is of kindly speech and kindly delivery … capable of conveying the meaning; and he is one who instructs … his companions in the holy life. Endowed with these four qualities, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is capable of benefiting others, but not himself."

English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.

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