{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an3.67/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an3.67","id":"suttacentral_an3.67","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an3.67/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"\u201cThere are, mendicants, these three topics of discussion. What three? You might discuss the past: \u2018That is how it was in the past.\u2019 You might discuss the future: \u2018That is how it will be in the future.\u2019 Or you might discuss the present: \u2018This is how it is at present.\u2019 You can know whether or not an individual is competent to hold a discussion by seeing how they take part in a discussion. When an individual is asked a question, if it needs to be answered categorically and they don\u2019t answer it categorically; or if it needs analysis and they answer without analyzing it; or if it needs a counter-question and they answer without a counter-question; or if it should be set aside and they don\u2019t set it aside, then that individual is not competent to hold a discussion. When an individual is asked a question, if it needs to be answered categorically and they answer it categorically; or if it needs analysis and they answer after analyzing it; or if it needs a counter-question and they answer with a counter-question; or if it should be set aside and they set it aside, then that individual is competent to hold a discussion. You can know whether or not an individual is competent to hold a discussion by seeing how they take part in a discussion. When an individual is asked a question, if they\u2019re not consistent about what their position is and what it isn\u2019t; about what they propose; about speaking from what they know; and about the appropriate procedure, then that individual is not competent to hold a discussion. When an individual is asked a question, if they are consistent about what their position is and what it isn\u2019t; about what they propose; about speaking from what they know; and about the appropriate procedure, then that individual is competent to hold a discussion. You can know whether or not an individual is competent to hold a discussion by seeing how they take part in a discussion. When an individual is asked a question, if they dodge the issue; distract the discussion with irrelevant points; or display annoyance, hate, and bitterness, then that individual is not competent to hold a discussion. When an individual is asked a question, if they don\u2019t dodge the issue; distract the discussion with irrelevant points; or display annoyance, hate, and bitterness, then that individual is competent to hold a discussion. You can know whether or not an individual is competent to hold a discussion by seeing how they take part in a discussion. When an individual is asked a question, if they intimidate, crush, mock, or seize on trivial mistakes, then that individual is not competent to hold a discussion. When an individual is asked a question, if they don\u2019t intimidate, crush, mock, or seize on trivial mistakes, then that individual is competent to hold a discussion. You can know whether or not an individual has what\u2019s required by seeing how they take part in a discussion. If they actively listen they have what\u2019s required; if they don\u2019t actively listen they don\u2019t have what\u2019s required. Someone who has what\u2019s required directly knows one thing, completely understands one thing, gives up one thing, and realizes one thing\u2014 and then they experience complete freedom. This is the purpose of discussion, consultation, sitting close, and listening well, that is, the liberation of the mind by not grasping. Those who converse with hostility, too sure of themselves, arrogant, ignoble, attacking virtues, they look for flaws in each other. They rejoice together when their opponent speaks poorly and makes a mistake, becoming confused and defeated\u2014 but the noble ones don\u2019t discuss like this. If an astute person wants to hold a discussion connected with the teaching and its meaning\u2014 the kind of discussion that noble ones hold\u2014 then that attentive one should start the discussion, knowing when the time is right, neither hostile nor arrogant. Not over-excited, contemptuous, or aggressive, or with a mind full of jealousy, they\u2019d speak from what they rightly know. They agree with what was well spoken, without criticizing what was poorly said. They\u2019d not persist in finding faults, nor seize on trivial mistakes, neither intimidating nor crushing the other, nor would they speak suggestively. Good people consult for the sake of knowledge and clarity. That\u2019s how the noble ones consult, this is a noble consultation. Knowing this, an intelligent person would consult without arrogance.\u201d","title":"Topics of Discussion","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":739}