One of Little Learning, One of Much Learning

The Buddha's Words

Appassutasutta AN 4.6 https://suttacentral.net/an4.6

“Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of persons found existing in the world. What four? One of little learning who is not intent on what he has learned; one of little learning who is intent on what he has learned; one of much learning who is not intent on what he has learned; and one of much learning who is intent on what he has learned.

“And how is a person one of little learning who is not intent on what he has learned? Here, someone has learned little—that is, of the discourses, mixed prose and verse, expositions, verses, inspired utterances, quotations, birth stories, amazing accounts, and questions-and-answers—but he does not understand the meaning of what he has learned; he does not understand the Dhamma; and he does not practice in accordance with the Dhamma. In such a way, a person is one of little learning who is not intent on what he has learned.

“And how is a person one of little learning who is intent on what he has learned? Here, someone has learned little—that is, of the discourses, mixed prose and verse, expositions, verses, inspired utterances, quotations, birth stories, amazing accounts, and questions-and-answers—but having understood the meaning of what he has learned, and having understood the Dhamma, he practices in accordance with the Dhamma. In such a way, a person is one of little learning who is intent on what he has learned.

“And how is a person one of much learning who is not intent on what he has learned? Here, someone has learned much—that is, of the discourses, mixed prose and verse, expositions, verses, inspired utterances, quotations, birth stories, amazing accounts, and questions-and-answers—but he does not understand the meaning of what he has learned; he does not understand the Dhamma; and he does not practice in accordance with the Dhamma. In such a way, a person is one of much learning who is not intent on what he has learned.

“And how is a person one of much learning who is intent on what he has learned? Here, someone has learned much—that is, of the discourses, mixed prose and verse, expositions, verses, inspired utterances, quotations, birth stories, amazing accounts, and questions-and-answers—and having understood the meaning of what he has learned, and having understood the Dhamma, he practices in accordance with the Dhamma. In such a way, a person is one of much learning who is intent on what he has learned.

“These, bhikkhus, are the four kinds of persons found existing in the world.”

If one has little learning

and is not settled in the virtues,

they criticize him on both counts,

virtuous behavior and learning.

If one has little learning

but is well settled in the virtues,

they praise him for his virtuous behavior;

his learning has succeeded.

If one is highly learned

but is not settled in the virtues,

they criticize him for his lack of virtue;

his learning has not succeeded.

If one is highly learned

and is settled in the virtues,

they praise him on both counts,

virtuous behavior and learning.

When a disciple of the Buddha is highly learned,

an expert on the Dhamma, endowed with wisdom,

like a coin of refined mountain gold,

who is fit to blame him?

Even the devas praise such a one;

by Brahmā too he is praised.