Then Ven. Sāriputta addressed the monks: “Friend monks.”
“Yes, friend,” the monks responded to him.
Ven. Sāriputta said: “All those who ask questions of another do so from any one of five motivations. Which five?
“One asks a question of another through stupidity & bewilderment.
One asks a question of another through evil desires & overwhelmed with greed.
One asks a question of another through contempt.
One asks a question of another when desiring knowledge.
Or one asks a question with this thought, ‘If, when asked, he answers correctly, well & good. If not, then I will answer correctly for him.’
“All those who ask questions of another do so from any one of these five motivations. And as for me, when I ask a question of another, it’s with this thought: ‘If, when asked, he answers correctly, well & good. If not, then I will answer correctly for him.’
Read this translation of Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.165 Pañhapucchā Sutta. On Asking Questions by Bhikkhu Ṭhanissaro on DhammaTalks.org. Or read a different translation on SuttaCentral.net. Or listen on SC-Voice.net. Or explore the Pali on DigitalPaliReader.online.
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