The Compendium

The verses on how to accuse properly

Questions and answers on accusing, etc.

“What is the purpose of accusing?

Why is there reminding?

What is the purpose of the Sangha?

Why is there the taking of advice?

The purpose of accusing is reminding,

The purpose of reminding is restraint;

The purpose of the Sangha is scrutiny,

But taking advice is individual.

Don’t speak hastily,

Don’t speak fiercely;

Don’t be hostile—

If you are an investigator.

Don’t speak fast,

Argumentative speech is not beneficial.

In line with the discourses and the Monastic Law,

In line with what has been laid down,

Consider carefully the proper procedure of examination,

As formulated by the skilled Awakened One,

Well-spoken in line with the training rules—

Do not ruin your future rebirth.

You should seek what is beneficial,

At the right time, what is connected with the goal.

The statements of the accuser and the accused,

Do not consider them hastily:

If the accuser says the accused has offended,

But the accused says he has not,

Then, proceeding,

Both should be dealt with in line with their admission.

The conscientious admit their faults,

But there is no such thing among the shameless;

For even if the shameless should speak a lot,

They should be dealt with in line with their conduct.

What are the shameless like,

In that an admission is not effective?

I ask you this:

What are they like, the people called shameless?

They intentionally commit offenses,

Hide their offenses,

And follow a wrong course—

Such people are called shameless.

I too know the truth—

Such people are called shameless.

And may I ask you something else:

What are they like, the people called conscientious?

They do not intentionally commit offenses,

Nor do they hide them,

Nor do they follow a wrong course—

Such people are called conscientious.

I too know the truth—

Such people are called conscientious.

And may I ask you something else:

What are they like, those who accuse illegitimately?

They accuse at the wrong time, untruthfully,

Harshly, without benefit;

They accuse with a mind of ill will, not a mind of good will—

Such a person is called one who accuses illegitimately.

I too know the truth—

Such a person is called one who accuses illegitimately.

And may I ask you something else:

What are they like, those who accuse legitimately?

They accuse at the right time, truthfully,

Gently, beneficially;

They accuse with a mind of good will, not a mind of ill will—

Such a person is called one who accuses legitimately.

I too know the truth—

Such a person is called one who accuses legitimately.

And may I ask you something else:

What are they like, the people called ignorant accusers?

They do not know the right order;

They are ignorant about it.

They do not know the sequence of statements;

They are ignorant about it—

Such people are called ignorant accusers.

I too know the truth—

Such people are called ignorant accusers.

And may I ask you something else:

What are they like, the people called learned accusers?

They know the right order;

They are knowledgeable about it.

They know the sequence of statements;

They are knowledgeable about it—

Such people are called learned accusers.

I too know the truth—

Such people are called learned accusers.

And may I ask you something else:

What is meant by accusing?

One accuses because of failure in morality,

And for failure in conduct and view;

Also one accuses for failure in livelihood—

Because of this it is called accusing.”

The verses on how to accuse properly are finished.