AN 2.42 - AN 2.42
Translated by Bhikkhu Candana
Source: https://www.mindreleased.com/s/Book-2_Anguttara-Nikya-A-New-Translation.pdf#page=62
License: Candana — free distribution, unaltered contents
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Candana source labels: 42. Site text ID: AN 2.42.

AN II

Suttas 42-51

Parisa Vagga “The Section on Gatherings”

42. “Bhikkhus, there are two types of gatherings. Which two?

“The empty or useless gathering and the meaningfully deep gathering.

“Now what, Bhikkhus, is the empty or useless gathering?

“Here, Bhikkhus, in such a gathering the Bhikkhus are arrogant, conceited, haughty, puffed up and vain, restless in their bodies, with loose talk, muddled and cloudy in the mind, without any mindful awareness, all emotionally scattered and with uncontrolled mental faculties. In this way, such a gathering is considered to be empty of substance and utterly useless.

“And what, Bhikkhus, is the meaningfully deep gathering?

“Bhikkhus, in such a gathering the Bhikkhus are accommodating, warm and considerate, kind and full of genuine humility, with a clear mind, down-to-earth and approachable in their attitude, with mindful awareness, speaking slowly and with mettā when intending to communicate, emotionally stable and serene, and controlled in their mental faculties. In this way, such a gathering is considered to be a meaningfully deep and rich with substance.

“Bhikkhus, these are the two types of gatherings. Now, out of these two, the meaningfully deep gathering is indeed the greatest.”
