Source:: [SuttaCentral.net](https://suttacentral.net/an7.68/en/sujato?layout=sidebyside&script=latin) # AN7.68 Dhammaññūsutta | Wonderful sutta on Teachers and Students of Dhamma!! Tags:: #dhamma/teaching/teacher, #dhamma/teaching/student, [[Teaching the Dhamma]] ## Notes > [!NOTE] 7 Qualities of a Dhamma teacher — In Dhammaññūsutta ([AN7.68](https://suttacentral.net/an7.68/en/sujato)) > “A mendicant with **seven qualities** is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world. > > _“**Sattahi**, bhikkhave, **dhammehi samannāgato** bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa._ > > What seven? > _Katamehi sattahi?_ > > It’s when a mendicant knows the **teachings (1)**, knows the **meaning (2)**, has **self-knowledge (3)**, knows **moderation (4)**, knows the **right time (5)**, knows **assemblies (6)**, and knows **people high and low (7)**. > > _Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu **==dhammaññū==** ca hoti **==atthaññū==** ca **==attaññū==** ca **==mattaññū==** ca **==kālaññū==** ca **==parisaññū==** ca **==puggalaparoparaññū==** ca._ ^7-qualities > [!NOTE] Praiseworthy & Blameworthy students of Dhamma (7 Qualities) — In Dhammaññūsutta ([AN7.68](https://suttacentral.net/an7.68/en/sujato)) > And how are they one who knows **people high and low**? > _**==Puggalaparoparaññū==** ca kathaṁ hoti?_ > > It’s when a mendicant understands people in terms of **pairs**. > _Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno **dvayena** puggalā viditā honti._ > > --- > Two people: > _Dve puggalā—_ > > **(1) one likes to see the noble ones, one does not**. > _eko ariyānaṁ dassanakāmo, eko ariyānaṁ na dassanakāmo._ > > The person who doesn’t like to see the noble ones > _Yvāyaṁ puggalo ariyānaṁ na dassanakāmo,_ > > is **reprehensible** in that respect. > _evaṁ so tenaṅgena **gārayho**._ > > The person who does like to see the noble ones > _Yvāyaṁ puggalo ariyānaṁ dassanakāmo,_ > > is **praiseworthy** in that respect. > _evaṁ so tenaṅgena **pāsaṁso**. .1_ > > --- > Two people like to see the noble ones: > _Dve puggalā ariyānaṁ dassanakāmā—_ > > (**2) one likes to hear the true teaching, one does not**. > _eko saddhammaṁ sotukāmo, eko saddhammaṁ na sotukāmo._ > > ... > > --- > Two people like to hear the true teaching: > _Dve puggalā saddhammaṁ sotukāmā—_ > > **(3) one actively listens to the teaching, one does not**. > _eko ohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti, eko anohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti._ > > ... > > --- > Two people actively listen to the teaching: > _Dve puggalā ohitasotā dhammaṁ suṇanti—_ > > **(4) one remembers the teaching they’ve heard, one does not**. > _eko sutvā dhammaṁ dhāreti, eko sutvā dhammaṁ na dhāreti._ > > ... > > --- > Two people remember the teaching they’ve heard: > _Dve puggalā sutvā dhammaṁ dhārenti— _ > > **(5) one reflects on the meaning of the teachings they have remembered, one does not.** > _eko dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhati, eko dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ na upaparikkhati._ > > --- > Two people reflect on the meaning of the teachings they have remembered: > _Dve puggalā dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhanti—_ > > **(6) one understands the meaning and the teaching and practices accordingly, one understands the meaning and the teaching but does not practice accordingly.** > _eko atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno, eko atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya na dhammānudhammappaṭipanno._ > > --- > Two people understand the meaning and the teaching and practice accordingly: > _Dve puggalā atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipannā—_ > > **(7) one practices to benefit themselves but not others, and one practices to benefit both themselves and others.** > _eko attahitāya paṭipanno no parahitāya, eko attahitāya ca paṭipanno parahitāya ca._ > > ... > --- > That’s how a mendicant understands people in terms of pairs. > _Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno dvayena puggalā viditā honti._ > > That’s how a mendicant is one who knows people high and low. > _Evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu puggalaparoparaññū hoti._ ^7-qualities-of-student ## Sutta (Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato) Numbered Discourses 7.68 Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.68 7\. The Great Chapter 7\. Mahāvagga **One Who Knows the Teachings** **Dhammaññūsutta** “A mendicant with seven qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world. “Sattahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa. What seven? Katamehi sattahi? It’s when a mendicant knows the teachings, knows the meaning, has self-knowledge, knows moderation, knows the right time, knows assemblies, and knows people high and low. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaññū ca hoti atthaññū ca attaññū ca mattaññū ca kālaññū ca parisaññū ca puggalaparoparaññū ca. And how is a mendicant one who knows the teachings? Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaññū hoti? It’s when a mendicant knows the teachings: Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaṁ jānāti— statements, mixed prose & verse, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and elaborations. suttaṁ geyyaṁ veyyākaraṇaṁ gāthaṁ udānaṁ itivuttakaṁ jātakaṁ abbhutadhammaṁ vedallaṁ. If a mendicant did not know these teachings, No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaṁ jāneyya— they would not be called ‘one who knows the teachings’. suttaṁ geyyaṁ …pe… abbhutadhammaṁ vedallaṁ, nayidha ‘dhammaññū’ti vucceyya. But because they do know these teachings, Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaṁ jānāti— they are called ‘one who knows the teachings’. suttaṁ geyyaṁ …pe… abbhutadhammaṁ vedallaṁ, tasmā ‘dhammaññū’ti vuccati. Such is the one who knows the teachings. Iti dhammaññū. And how are they one who knows the meaning? Atthaññū ca kathaṁ hoti? It’s when a mendicant knows the meaning of this or that statement: Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tassa tasseva bhāsitassa atthaṁ jānāti: ‘This is what that statement means; that is what this statement means.’ ‘ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho, ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho’ti. If a mendicant did not know the meaning of this or that statement, No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tassa tasseva bhāsitassa atthaṁ jāneyya: they would not be called ‘one who knows the meaning’. ‘ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho, ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho’ti, nayidha ‘atthaññū’ti vucceyya. But because they do know the meaning of this or that statement, Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tassa tasseva bhāsitassa atthaṁ jānāti: they are called ‘one who knows the meaning’. ‘ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho, ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho’ti, tasmā ‘atthaññū’ti vuccati. Such is the one who knows the teachings and the one who knows the meaning. Iti dhammaññū, atthaññū. And how are they one who has self-knowledge? Attaññū ca kathaṁ hoti? It’s when a mendicant has self-knowledge: Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu attānaṁ jānāti: ‘This is the extent of my faith, ethics, learning, generosity, wisdom, and eloquence.’ ‘ettakomhi saddhāya sīlena sutena cāgena paññāya paṭibhānenā’ti. If a mendicant did not have self-knowledge, No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu attānaṁ jāneyya: they would not be called ‘one who has self-knowledge’. ‘ettakomhi saddhāya sīlena sutena cāgena paññāya paṭibhānenā’ti, nayidha ‘attaññū’ti vucceyya. But because they do have self-knowledge, Yasmā ca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu attānaṁ jānāti: they are called ‘one who has self-knowledge’. ‘ettakomhi saddhāya sīlena sutena cāgena paññāya paṭibhānenā’ti, tasmā ‘attaññū’ti vuccati. Such is the one who knows the teachings, the one who knows the meaning, and the one who has self-knowledge. Iti dhammaññū, atthaññū, attaññū. And how are they one who knows moderation? Mattaññū ca kathaṁ hoti? It’s when a mendicant knows moderation when receiving robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mattaṁ jānāti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ paṭiggahaṇāya. If a mendicant did not know moderation, they would not be called ‘one who knows moderation’. No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mattaṁ jāneyya cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ paṭiggahaṇāya, nayidha ‘mattaññū’ti vucceyya. But because they do know moderation, they are called ‘one who knows moderation’. Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mattaṁ jānāti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ paṭiggahaṇāya, tasmā ‘mattaññū’ti vuccati. Such is the one who knows the teachings, the one who knows the meaning, the one who has self-knowledge, and the one who knows moderation. Iti dhammaññū, atthaññū, attaññū, mattaññū. And how are they one who knows the right time? Kālaññū ca kathaṁ hoti? It’s when a mendicant knows the right time: Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kālaṁ jānāti: ‘This is the time for recitation; this is the time for questioning; this is the time for meditation; this is the time for retreat.’ ‘ayaṁ kālo uddesassa, ayaṁ kālo paripucchāya, ayaṁ kālo yogassa, ayaṁ kālo paṭisallānassā’ti. If a mendicant did not know the right time, No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kālaṁ jāneyya: they would not be called ‘one who knows the right time’. ‘ayaṁ kālo uddesassa, ayaṁ kālo paripucchāya, ayaṁ kālo yogassa, ayaṁ kālo paṭisallānassā’ti, nayidha ‘kālaññū’ti vucceyya. But because they do know the right time, Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kālaṁ jānāti: they are called ‘one who knows the right time’. ‘ayaṁ kālo uddesassa, ayaṁ kālo paripucchāya, ayaṁ kālo yogassa, ayaṁ kālo paṭisallānassā’ti, tasmā ‘kālaññū’ti vuccati. Such is the one who knows the teachings, the one who knows the meaning, the one who has self-knowledge, the one who knows moderation, and the one who knows the right time. Iti dhammaññū, atthaññū, attaññū, mattaññū, kālaññū. And how are they one who knows assemblies? Parisaññū ca kathaṁ hoti? It’s when a mendicant knows assemblies: Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu parisaṁ jānāti: ‘This is an assembly of aristocrats, of brahmins, of householders, or of ascetics. ‘ayaṁ khattiyaparisā, ayaṁ brāhmaṇaparisā, ayaṁ gahapatiparisā, ayaṁ samaṇaparisā. This one should be approached in this way. This is how to stand, to act, to sit, to speak, or to stay silent when there.’ Tattha evaṁ upasaṅkamitabbaṁ, evaṁ ṭhātabbaṁ, evaṁ kattabbaṁ, evaṁ nisīditabbaṁ, evaṁ bhāsitabbaṁ, evaṁ tuṇhī bhavitabban’ti. If a mendicant did not know assemblies, No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu parisaṁ jāneyya: ‘ayaṁ khattiyaparisā …pe… they would not be called ‘one who knows assemblies’. evaṁ tuṇhī bhavitabban’ti, nayidha ‘parisaññū’ti vucceyya. But because they do know assemblies, Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu parisaṁ jānāti: ‘ayaṁ khattiyaparisā, ayaṁ brāhmaṇaparisā, ayaṁ gahapatiparisā, ayaṁ samaṇaparisā. they are called ‘one who knows assemblies’. Tattha evaṁ upasaṅkamitabbaṁ, evaṁ ṭhātabbaṁ, evaṁ kattabbaṁ, evaṁ nisīditabbaṁ, evaṁ bhāsitabbaṁ, evaṁ tuṇhī bhavitabban’ti, tasmā ‘parisaññū’ti vuccati. Such is the one who knows the teachings, the one who knows the meaning, the one who has self-knowledge, the one who knows moderation, the one who knows the right time, and the one who knows assemblies. Iti dhammaññū, atthaññū, attaññū, mattaññū, kālaññū, parisaññū. And how are they one who knows people high and low? Puggalaparoparaññū ca kathaṁ hoti? It’s when a mendicant understands people in terms of pairs. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno dvayena puggalā viditā honti. Two people: Dve puggalā— one likes to see the noble ones, one does not. eko ariyānaṁ dassanakāmo, eko ariyānaṁ na dassanakāmo. The person who doesn’t like to see the noble ones Yvāyaṁ puggalo ariyānaṁ na dassanakāmo, is reprehensible in that respect. evaṁ so tenaṅgena gārayho. The person who does like to see the noble ones Yvāyaṁ puggalo ariyānaṁ dassanakāmo, is praiseworthy in that respect. evaṁ so tenaṅgena pāsaṁso. .1 Two people like to see the noble ones: Dve puggalā ariyānaṁ dassanakāmā— one likes to hear the true teaching, one does not. eko saddhammaṁ sotukāmo, eko saddhammaṁ na sotukāmo. The person who doesn’t like to hear the true teaching Yvāyaṁ puggalo saddhammaṁ na sotukāmo, is reprehensible in that respect. evaṁ so tenaṅgena gārayho. The person who does like to hear the true teaching Yvāyaṁ puggalo saddhammaṁ sotukāmo, is praiseworthy in that respect. evaṁ so tenaṅgena pāsaṁso. .2 Two people like to hear the true teaching: Dve puggalā saddhammaṁ sotukāmā— one actively listens to the teaching, one does not. eko ohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti, eko anohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti. The person who doesn’t actively listen to the teaching Yvāyaṁ puggalo anohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti, is reprehensible in that respect. evaṁ so tenaṅgena gārayho. The person who does actively listen to the teaching Yvāyaṁ puggalo ohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti, is praiseworthy in that respect. evaṁ so tenaṅgena pāsaṁso. .3 Two people actively listen to the teaching: Dve puggalā ohitasotā dhammaṁ suṇanti— Variant: suṇanti → suṇantā (mr) one remembers the teaching they’ve heard, one does not. eko sutvā dhammaṁ dhāreti, eko sutvā dhammaṁ na dhāreti. The person who doesn’t remember the teaching they’ve heard Yvāyaṁ puggalo sutvā na dhammaṁ dhāreti, is reprehensible in that respect. evaṁ so tenaṅgena gārayho. The person who does remember the teaching they’ve heard Yvāyaṁ puggalo sutvā dhammaṁ dhāreti, is praiseworthy in that respect. evaṁ so tenaṅgena pāsaṁso. .4 Two people remember the teaching they’ve heard: Dve puggalā sutvā dhammaṁ dhārenti— Variant: dhārenti → dhārentā (mr) one reflects on the meaning of the teachings they have remembered, one does not. eko dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhati, eko dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ na upaparikkhati. Variant: dhātānaṁ → dhatānaṁ (bj, sya-all, km, pts1ed) The person who does not reflect on the meaning of the teachings they have remembered Yvāyaṁ puggalo dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ na upaparikkhati, is reprehensible in that respect. evaṁ so tenaṅgena gārayho. The person who does reflect on the meaning of the teachings they have remembered Yvāyaṁ puggalo dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhati, is praiseworthy in that respect. evaṁ so tenaṅgena pāsaṁso. .5 Two people reflect on the meaning of the teachings they have remembered: Dve puggalā dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhanti— Variant: upaparikkhanti → upaparikkhantā (mr) one understands the meaning and the teaching and practices accordingly, one understands the meaning and the teaching but does not practice accordingly. eko atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno, eko atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya na dhammānudhammappaṭipanno. The person who understands the meaning and the teaching but does not practice accordingly Yvāyaṁ puggalo atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya na dhammānudhammappaṭipanno, is reprehensible in that respect. evaṁ so tenaṅgena gārayho. The person who understands the meaning and the teaching and practices accordingly Yvāyaṁ puggalo atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno, is praiseworthy in that respect. evaṁ so tenaṅgena pāsaṁso. .6 Two people understand the meaning and the teaching and practice accordingly: Dve puggalā atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipannā— one practices to benefit themselves but not others, and one practices to benefit both themselves and others. eko attahitāya paṭipanno no parahitāya, eko attahitāya ca paṭipanno parahitāya ca. The person who practices to benefit themselves but not others Yvāyaṁ puggalo attahitāya paṭipanno no parahitāya, is reprehensible in that respect. evaṁ so tenaṅgena gārayho. The person who practices to benefit both themselves and others Yvāyaṁ puggalo attahitāya ca paṭipanno parahitāya ca, is praiseworthy in that respect. evaṁ so tenaṅgena pāsaṁso. .7 That’s how a mendicant understands people in terms of pairs. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno dvayena puggalā viditā honti. Variant: bhikkhuno → bhikkhunā (cck, sya1ed) That’s how a mendicant is one who knows people high and low. Evaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu puggalaparoparaññū hoti. A mendicant with these seven qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.” Imehi kho, bhikkhave, sattahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā”ti.