# Bāla (Fools / Childish) & Paṇḍita (Astute) ## Complaining is the Power of Fools ![[AN8.27 Paṭhamabalasutta#^8-powers]] ## Fools misinterprets the Teachings > [!NOTE] Misrepresents the Dhamma — In Bālavagga ([AN2.24](https://suttacentral.net/an2.24/en/sujato)) > “Mendicants, these two ==**misrepresent** the Realized One==. > _“Dveme, bhikkhave, **tathāgataṁ abbhācikkhanti**._ > > What two? > _Katame dve?_ > > **One who ==explains a discourse in need of interpretation== as a discourse whose meaning is ==explicit==. And one who ==explains a discourse whose meaning is explicit== as a discourse ==in need of interpretation==**. > > _Yo ca neyyatthaṁ suttantaṁ nītattho suttantoti dīpeti, yo ca nītatthaṁ suttantaṁ neyyattho suttantoti dīpeti._ > > These two misrepresent the Realized One.” > _Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve tathāgataṁ abbhācikkhantī”ti._ ## Suttas - Astute - AN3.45 Paṇḍitasutta ([link](https://suttacentral.net/an3.45/en/sujato)) - 3 things recommended by an astute person: 1. giving, 2. going forth, 3. taking care of father and mother - Fools - [AN2.21-31](https://suttacentral.net/an2.21-31/en/sujato) Bālavagga — Chapter on Fools - AN2.24 Bālavagga ([link](https://suttacentral.net/an2.21-31/en/sujato)) - A fool will try to interpret a teaching which is explicit, or see something as explicit where it actually needs interpretation - [[AN8.27 Paṭhamabalasutta]] - The power of fool is complaining :) - MN129 Bālapaṇḍitasutta ([link](https://suttacentral.net/mn129/en/sujato))