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II, 1, 9.
REASON AND WISDOM.
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another. Sheep and goats, oxen and buffaloes, camels and asses have reasoning, but wisdom they have not.'
Well put, Nagasena !'
8. The king said: "What is the characteristic mark of reasoning, and what of wisdom ?'.
"Reasoning has always comprehension as its mark; but wisdom has cutting off 1.'
* But how is comprehension the characteristic of reasoning, and cutting off of wisdom? Give me an illustration.'
You remember the barley reapers ?' "Yes, certainly.' [33]
How do they reap the barley?' • With the left hand they grasp the barley into a bunch, and taking the sickle into the right hand, they cut it off with that.'
Just even so, O king, does the recluse by his thinking grasp his mind, and by his wisdom cut off his failings. In this way is it that comprehension is the characteristic of reasoning, but cutting off of wisdom.'
Well put, Nagasena !'
9. The king said : When you said just now, "And by other good qualities,” to which did you refer?'
* In the long list of the distinguishing characteristics of ethical qualities given by Buddhaghosa in the Sumangala, p. 63, paganana is the mark of pañåindriya, aviggâya akampiyam of panna. bala, and tad-uttariyam of pannå simply. He gives no 'mark' of yoniso manasikâra.
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