Numbered Discourses 5.73

8. Warriors

One Who Lives by the Teaching (1st)

Then a bhikkhu went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Sir, they speak of ‘one who lives by the teaching’. How is a bhikkhu who lives by the teaching defined?”

“Bhikkhu, take a bhikkhu who memorizes the teaching—statements, songs, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and classifications. They spend their days studying that teaching. But they neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart. That bhikkhu is called one who studies a lot, not one who lives by the teaching.

Furthermore, a bhikkhu teaches Dhamma in detail to others as they learned and memorized it. They spend their days advocating that teaching. But they neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart. That bhikkhu is called one who advocates a lot, not one who lives by the teaching.

Furthermore, a bhikkhu recites the teaching in detail as they learned and memorized it. They spend their days reciting that teaching. But they neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart. That bhikkhu is called one who recites a lot, not one who lives by the teaching.

Furthermore, a bhikkhu thinks about and considers the teaching in their heart, examining it with the mind as they learned and memorized it. They spend their days thinking about that teaching. But they neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart. That bhikkhu is called one who thinks a lot, not one who lives by the teaching.

Take a bhikkhu who memorizes the teaching—statements, songs, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and classifications. They don’t spend their days studying that teaching. They don’t neglect retreat, and they’re committed to internal serenity of heart. That’s how a bhikkhu is one who lives by the teaching.

So, bhikkhu, I’ve taught you the one who studies a lot, the one who advocates a lot, the one who recites a lot, the one who thinks a lot, and the one who lives by the teaching. Out of compassion, I’ve done what a teacher should do who wants what’s best for their disciples. Here are these roots of trees, and here are these empty huts. Practice jhāna, bhikkhu! Don’t be negligent! Don’t regret it later! This is my instruction to you.”