This chapter dismantles every external credential the religious life can hide behind. One is not just by deciding cases hastily — the wise weigh both sides with care and guide others without haste, by Dhamma and impartiality (19.1–19.2). One is not wise by talking much, but by being peaceful, friendly, and fearless (19.3); not a bearer of the Dhamma by reciting much, but by seeing it directly and living it, even having heard little (19.4).
The refutations continue with almost comic thoroughness: grey hair does not make an elder — it can make merely an 'old-in-vain' — truth, restraint, and self-taming make an elder (19.5–19.6); fine speech and good looks do not make a good person while envy, miserliness, and deceit remain (19.7); a shaven head does not make a renunciant of one full of desire and greed (19.9); silence does not make a sage of one who is foolish (19.13) — the sage weighs, as if holding scales, and takes the best (19.13–19.14). Nor does harming beings make one noble: by non-harming toward all living things is one called noble (19.15). The chapter ends warning even accomplished meditators against complacency before the defilements are truly destroyed (19.16–19.17).
Key verses
One does not become wise merely by talking much. The one who is peaceful, free from hatred, and fearless — that person is called wise.
One is not an elder merely because the head is grey. The years have ripened, but such a one is called 'old-in-vain.'
One is not a sage by mere silence, if foolish and ignorant. The wise one, as if holding up a scale, takes up the best.
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ॲपमध्ये मोफत वाचापरंपरांना विचारा
एक प्रश्न। पाच परंपरांची उत्तरे।
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