“Monks, don’t get into arguments, such as: ‘You don’t understand this teaching and training. I understand this teaching and training. You’re practicing wrong. I’m practicing right. I am realistic, you’re not. You said last what you should have said first. You said first what you should have said last. What you’ve thought so much about has been disproved. Your argument is refuted. Go on, save your argument! You’re trapped! Get yourself out of this—if you can!’ Why? Because those arguments aren’t beneficial or relevant to the basics of the spiritual life. They don’t lead to letting go, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, enlightenment, and Nibbāna.
“When you discuss, you should discuss: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the end of suffering’ … ‘This is the path that leads to the end of suffering’. Why? Because those discussions are beneficial and relevant to the basics of the spiritual life. They lead to letting go, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, enlightenment, and Nibbāna.
“Therefore, monks, you should make an effort to understand …”
