​MN 32 Mahagosinga Sutta: The Greater Discourse in Gosinga 

Thus have i heard.

On one occasion the Blessed One was living in the Park of the Gosinga Sala-tree Wood together with a number of very well-known elder disciples - Venerable Sariputta, venerable Maha Moggallana, venerable Maha Kassapa,  venerable Anuruddha, venerable Revata, venerable Ananda, and other very well-known elder disciples.In the evening, venerable Maha Moggallana rose from meditation, went to the venerable Maha Kassapa, and said to him: "Friend Kassapa, let us go to the venerable Sariputta to listen to the Dhamma."
"Yes, friend," the venerable Maha Kassapa replied. Then the venerable Maha Moggallana, the venerable Maha Kassapa, and the venerable Anuruddha went to the venerable Sariputta to listen to the Dhamma.

Venerable Ananda saw them going to Venerable Sariputta to listen to the Dhamma. Thereupon he went to the venerable Revata and said to him: "Friend Revata, those true men are going to the venerable Sariputta to listen to the Dhamma. Let us also go to the venerable Sariputta to listen to the Dhamma."
"Yes, friend," the venerable Revata replied.Venerable Sariputta saw the venerable Revata and the venerable Ananda coming in the distance and said to the venerable Ananda: "Let the venerable Ananda come, welcome to the venerable Ananda, the Blessed One's attendant, who is always in the Blessed One's presence. Friend Ananda, the Gosinga Salatree Wood is delightful, the night is moonlit, the sala trees are all in blossom, and heavenly scents seem to be floating in the air. What kind of bhikkhu, friend Ananda, could illuminate the Gosinga Sala-tree Wood?" 
"Here, friend Sariputta, a bhikkhu has learned much, remembers what he has learned, and consolidates what he has learned. Such teachings as are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, with the right meaning and phrasing, and which affirm a holy life that is utterly perfect and pure - such teachings as these he has learned much of, remembered, mastered verbally, investigated with the mind, and penetrated well by view. And he teaches the Dhamma to the four assemblies with well-rounded and coherent statements and phrases for the eradication of the underlying tendencies. That kind of bhikkhu could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood."

When this was said, the venerable Sariputta addressed the venerable Revata thus: "Friend Revata, the venerable Ananda has spoken according to his own inspiration. Now we ask the venerable Revata: Friend Revata, the Gosinga Sala-tree Wood is delightful, the night is moonlit, the sala trees are all in blossom, and heavenly scents seem to be floating in the air. What kind of bhikkhu, friend Revata, could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood?"
Venerable Revata replied: "Here, friend Sariputta, a bhikkhu delights in solitary meditation and takes delight in solitary meditation; he is devoted to internal serenity of mind, does not neglect meditation, possesses insight, and dwells in empty huts. That kind of bhikkhu could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood."

When this was said, the venerable Sariputta addressed the venerable Anuruddha thus: "Friend Anuruddha, the venerable Revata has spoken according to his own inspiration. Now we ask the venerable Anuruddha: Friend Anuruddha, the Gosinga Sala-tree Wood is delightful...What kind of bhikkhu could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood?"
Venerable Anuruddha replied: "Here, friend Sariputta, with the divine eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, a bhikkhu surveys a thousand worlds. Just as a man with good sight, when he has ascended to the upper palace chamber, might survey a thousand wheel-rims, so too with the divine eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, a bhikkhu surveys a thousand worlds. That kind of bhikkhu could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood." 
When this was said, the venerable Sariputta addressed the venerable Maha Kassapa thus: "Friend Kassapa, the venerable Anuruddha has spoken according to his own inspiration. Now ​we ask venerable Maha Kassapa: Friend Kassapa, the Gosinga Sala-tree Wood is delightful...What kind of bhikkhu could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood?"
Venerable Kassapa replied: "Here, friend Sariputta, a bhikkhu is a forest dweller himself and speaks in praise of forest dwelling; he is an alms food eater himself and speaks in praise of eating alms food; he is a refuse-rag wearer himself and speaks in praise of wearing refuse-rag robes; he is a triple-robe wearer himself and speaks in praise of wearing the triple robe; he has few wishes himself and speaks in praise of fewness of wishes; he is content himself and speaks in praise of contentment; he is secluded himself and speaks in praise of seclusion; he is aloof from society himself and speaks in praise of aloofness from society; he is energetic himself and speaks in praise of arousing energy; he has attained to virtue himself and speaks in praise of the attainment of virtue; he has attained to concentration himself and speaks in praise of the attainment of concentration; he has attained to wisdom himself and speaks in praise of the attainment of wisdom; he has attained to deliverance himself and speaks in praise of the attainment of deliverance; he has attained to the knowledge and vision of deliverance himself and speaks in praise of the attainment of the knowledge and vision of deliverance. That kind of bhikkhu could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood."

When this was said, the venerable Sariputta addressed the venerable Maha Moggallana thus: "Friend Moggallana, the venerable Maha Kassapa has spoken according to his own inspiration. Now we ask the venerable Maha Moggallana: Friend Moggallana, the Gosinga Sala-tree Wood is delightful...What kind of bhikkhu, friend Moggallana, could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood?" 
Mogallaana replied, "Friend Saariputta, two bhikkhus discussing a deep point in the Teaching would ask questions of each other. They would find answers for each others' questions. They would not fall out with each other and their talk would be timely and beneficial. Such a bhikkhu would adorn the Gosinga Saala forest."
When this was said, the venerable Maha Moggallana addressed the venerable Sariputta thus: "Friend Sariputta, we have all spoken according to our own inspiration. Now we ask the venerable Sariputta: Friend Sariputta, the Gosinga Sala-tree Wood is delightful, the night is moonlit, the sala trees are all in blossom, and heavenly scents seem to be floating in the air. What kind of bhikkhu, friend Sariputta, could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood?"
Venerable Sariputta replied : "Here, friend Moggallana, a bhikkhu wields mastery over his mind, he does not let the mind wield mastery over him. In the morning he abides in whatever abiding or attainment he wants to abide in during the morning; similarly at mid-day  and in the evening.

Suppose a king or a king's minister had a chest full of variously colored garments. In the morning he could put on whatever pair of garments he wanted to put on in the morning; similarly at mid-day and in the evening he could put on whatever pair of garments he wanted to put on in the evening. So too, a bhikkhu wields mastery over his mind, he does not let the mind wield mastery over him. In the morning...at mid-day...in the evening he abides in whatever abiding or attainment he wants to abide in during the evening. That kind of bhikkhu could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood."

Then the venerable Sariputta addressed those venerable ones thus: "Friends, we have all spoken according to our own inspiration. Let us go to the Blessed One and report this matter to him. As the Blessed One answers, so let us remember it." Then those venerable ones went to the Blessed One, after paying homage to him, they sat down at one side. Venerable Sariputta said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, the venerable Revata and the venerable Ananda came to me to listen to the Dhamma. I asked Venerable Ananda:"What kind of bhikkhu, friend Ananda, could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood?' When asked, venerable sir, the venerable Ananda replied: 'Here, friend Sariputta, a bhikkhu has learned much...(As above),..

​Buddha: "Good, good, Sariputta. Ananda, speaking rightly, should speak just as he did. For Ananda has learned much, remembers what he has learned, and consolidates what he has learned. Such teachings as are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, with the right meaning and phrasing, and which affirm a holy life that is utterly perfect and pure - such teachings as these he has learned much of, remembered, mastered verbally, investigated with the mind, and penetrated well by view. And he teaches the Dhamma to the four assemblies with well-rounded and coherent statements and phrases for the eradication of the underlying tendencies." 

Sariputta:  "When this was said, venerable sir, I asked venerable Revata thus: What kind of bhikkhu could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood?' And the venerable Revata replied: 'Here, friend Sariputta, a bhikkhu delights in solitary meditation...(as above)..."
Buddha:"Good, good, Sariputta. Revata, speaking rightly, should speak just as he did. For Revata delights in solitary meditation, takes delight in solitary meditation, is devoted to internal serenity of mind, does not neglect meditation, possesses insight, and dwells in empty huts."

Sariputta:"When that was said, venerable sir, I asked the venerable Anuruddha thus: 'What kind of bhikkhu could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood?' And the venerable Anuruddha replied: 'Here, friend Sariputta, with the divine eye...(as above)..."
Buddha:"Good, good, Sariputta. Anuruddha, speaking rightly, should speak just as he did. For with the divine eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, Anuruddha surveys a thousand worlds."

​"When this was said, venerable sir, I addressed the venerable Maha Kassapa thus: 'Friend Kassapa...What kind of bhikkhu could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood?' And the venerable Maha Kassapa replied: 'Here, friend Sariputta, a bhikkhu is a forest-dweller himself...(as above)..."
Buddha: "Good, good, Sariputta. Kassapa, speaking rightly, should speak just as he did. For Kassapa is a forest-dweller himself and speaks in praise of forest dwelling.. .he has attained to the knowledge and vision of deliverance himself and speaks in praise of the attainment of the knowledge and vision of deliverance." 
​"When this was said, venerable sir, I asked the venerable Maha Moggallana thus: 'What kind of bhikkhu could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood?' And the venerable Maha Moggallana replied: 'Here, friend Sariputta, two bhikkhus engage in a talk on the higher Dhamma..(Abhidhamma).(as above)....'"
Buddha: "Good, good, Sariputta. Moggallana, speaking rightly, should speak just as he did. For Moggallana is one who talks on the Dhamma."

When that was said, the venerable Maha Moggallana told the Blessed One: "Then, venerable sir, I addressed the venerable Sariputta thus: 'What kind of bhikkhu could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood?' And the venerable Sariputta replied: 'Here, friend Moggallana, a bhikkhu wields mastery over his mind... (as above)..."
Buddha: "Good, good, Moggallana. Sariputta, speaking rightly, should speak just as he did. For Sariputta wields mastery over his mind, he does not let the mind wield mastery over him. In the morning he abides in whatever abiding or attainment he wants to abide in during the morning; at mid-day and in the evening too."

When this was said, the venerable Sariputta asked the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, which of us has spoken well?" Buddha: "You have all spoken well, Sariputta, each in his own way. Hear also from me what kind of bhikkhu could illuminate this Gosinga Sala-tree Wood. Here, Sariputta, when a bhikkhu has returned from his alms round, after his meal, he sits down, folds his legs crosswise, sets his body erect, and establishing mindfulness in front of him, resolves: 'I shall not break this sitting position until through not clinging my mind is liberated from the taints.' That kind of bhikkhu could illuminate this Gosinga Salatree Wood."
​
That is what the Blessed One said. Those venerable ones were satisfied and delighted in the Blessed One's words. 
​In summary, this discourse is about a discussion in Gosingasālavana, between Venerable Sāriputta, Mahā Moggallāna, Mahā Kassapa, Anuruddha, Revata and Ananda. Sāriputta is visited by the others in the evening, and he asked them what type of monk would illumine the Gosinga wood.
  • Ananda speaks of one who treasures what he has been taught and learns by heart the doctrines which declare the higher life in all its perfection and purity;
  • Revata of one who delights in meditation and lives in solitude;
  • Anuruddha of one who possesses the celestial eye;
  • Mahā Kassapa of one living in the forest a strenuous life, recommends that life;
  • Moggallāna, of one who holds discussions with another on the Abhidhamma;
  • Sāriputta of a monk who is master of his heart and is not under its mastery.
They all seek the Buddha and ask for his opinion. He praises the opinion of each of the Elders, but he himself would choose a monk who is delivered from the Āsavas (defilements).