At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Now at that time, after the meal, on return from almsround, several mendicants sat together in the assembly hall. They engaged in all kinds of low talk, such as talk about kings, bandits, and chief ministers; talk about armies, threats, and wars; talk about food, drink, clothes, and beds; talk about garlands and fragrances; talk about family, vehicles, villages, towns, cities, and countries; talk about women and heroes; talk at the street market and the place for water pots; talk about the departed; motley talk; tales of land and sea; and talk about being reborn in this or that state of existence.
“Mendicants, there are ten grounds for praise. What ten? It’s when a mendicant personally has few wishes, and speaks to the mendicants on having few wishes. This is a ground for praise.
A mendicant personally is content, and speaks to the mendicants on contentment. This is a ground for praise.
A mendicant personally is secluded, and speaks to the mendicants on seclusion. This is a ground for praise.
A mendicant personally doesn’t mix closely with others, and speaks to the mendicants on not mixing closely with others. This is a ground for praise.
A mendicant personally is energetic, and speaks to the mendicants on rousing energy. This is a ground for praise.
A mendicant personally is accomplished in ethics, and speaks to the mendicants on being accomplished in ethics. This is a ground for praise.
A mendicant personally is accomplished in immersion, and speaks to the mendicants on being accomplished in immersion. This is a ground for praise.
A mendicant personally is accomplished in wisdom, and speaks to the mendicants on being accomplished in wisdom. This is a ground for praise.
A mendicant personally is accomplished in freedom, and speaks to the mendicants on being accomplished in freedom. This is a ground for praise.
A mendicant personally is accomplished in the knowledge and vision of freedom, and speaks to the mendicants on being accomplished in the knowledge and vision of freedom. This is a ground for praise.
These are the ten grounds for praise.”