Venerable Sāriputta seeks a dialog with an esteemed monk, Venerable Puṇṇa Mantāniputta, and they discuss the stages of purification.

In a curious discourse laden with evocative imagery, a deity presents a riddle to a mendicant, who seeks an answer from the Buddha.

The sutta falls into two parts. The first part concerns the monk Arittha who has wrong views concerning the teaching. The Buddha reprimands Arittha and gives two similes (of the snake and raft) which illustrate different ways in which someone might miss the point of his teachings. The second part of the sutta details issues connected with views of the self.

A discourse full of vibrant and memorable similes, on the importance of patience and love even when faced with abuse and criticism. The Buddha finishes with the simile of the saw, one of the most memorable similes found in the discourses.

This short sutta is one of relatively few that give specific advice on the techniques of meditation practice. The sutta offers five approaches to overcoming distracting thoughts.

The Buddha describes two kinds of thoughts. Firstly thoughts of sensual desire, ill will and cruelty and secondly thoughts of renunciation, thoughts of non ill will and non cruelty.

The Buddha praises an explanation elucidated by the venerable Mahā Kaccāna on the causal process that gives rise to papanca (mental proliferation) which can easily lead on to conflicts

Why does a bhikkhu who is developing his mind stay in one place but not in another? In this Sutta the answer is given: he stays where he progresses in Dhamma but does not stay where he makes no progress. And he takes no account of whether material support is good or not, for he did not go forth to homelessness just to get material support. The first four paragraphs speak of bhikkhus living in the forest, no doubt the most suitable place for developing the mind, but not all find the life there possible so villages, towns and cities are mentioned too. Finally, there are four paragraphs on living with a companion bhikkhu. In the first case, he may not be conducting himself well, so that the other bhikkhu finds it difficult to stay, more so since requisites are hard to come by. Though in the second case he can obtain them , still there is the disadvantage of living with that companion, so that no progress is made with Dhamma. In the third and fourth cases though, progress is apparent and even though material support is difficult, the bhikkhu should not leave, while where it is good and where there is a Noble Friend - a meditation Master - “He should continue following that person as long as life lasts; he should not depart from him even if tod to go

The Buddha explains various ways one can become emotionally cut off from one’s spiritual community.

Venerable Moggallāna raises the topic of admonishment, without which healthy community is not possible. He lists a number of qualities that will encourage others to think it worthwhile to admonish you in a constructive way.