Don't argue on the way to enlightenment

Ven. Thanissaro (trans.) edited by Dhr. Seven, Ellie Askew, Pat Macpherson, Wisdom Quarterly

The Buddha's human form (Gandhara)

"Some Brahmins and wandering ascetics, living off food [alms] donated in faith [saddha, confidence, conviction], are addicted to debates such as these:

• 'You think you understand this Dharma and Discipline [Doctrine and Monastic Rules]?'
• 'I'm the one who understands this Dharma and Discipline!'
• 'How could you understand this Dharma and Discipline?'
• 'You're practicing wrongly. I'm practicing rightly.'
• 'I'm being consistent. You're not.'
• 'What should be said first you said last. What should be said last you said first.'
• 'What you took so long to think up [to hammer out by mere reasoning] has been refuted.'
• 'Your position has been overthrown. You're defeated.'
• 'Go and try to salvage your view; extricate yourself if you can!'

"One abstains from debates such as these. This, too, is part of one's virtue (sila)."

"Meditators, do not wage word-related warfare, saying:

• 'You don't understand this Dharma and Discipline. I understand this Dharma and Discipline!'
• 'How could you understand it? You have fallen into wrong practices: I have the right practice!'
• 'You have said afterwards what you should have said first, and you have said first what you should have said afterwards!'
• 'What I say is consistent, whereas what you say isn't!'
• 'What you have thought out for so long is entirely reversed!'
• 'Your statement is refuted!'
• 'You are talking rubbish!'
• 'You are in the wrong!'
• 'Get out of that if you can!'

"Why should one not do this? Such talk, meditators, is not related to the goal [of enlightenment and final liberation from all suffering, bodhi and nirvana]. It is not fundamental to the spiritual life [of intensive practice], does not conduce to disenchantment [letting go], dispassion, cessation, tranquility, higher wisdom, enlightenment, or to nirvana.

"When you have discussions, meditators, you should instead discuss disappointment [dukkha or suffering], the arising [origination] of disappointment, the cessation of disappointment, and the path that leads to the cessation of disappointment.

• [NOTE: These are the Four Ennobling Truths that when pursued lead to the "noble" state or that of enlightenment, liberation, and complete freedom.]

"Why is that? It is because such talk is related to the goal... it conduces to disenchantment... to nirvana. This is the task you must accomplish."