Bhikkhus (Monks)! If others should malign the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, you must not feel resentment, nor displeasure, nor anger on that account.
Bhikkhus! If you feel angry or displeased when others malign the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, it will only be harmful to you (because then you will not be able to practise the Dhamma).
Bhikkhus! If you feel angry or displeased when others malign the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, will you be able to discriminate their good speech from bad?
“No, indeed, Venerable Sir!” said the bhikkhus.
If others malign me or the Dhamma, or the Sangha, you should explain to them what is false as false, saying ‘It is not so. It is not true. It is, indeed, not thus with us. Such fault is not to be found among us.’
Bhikkhus! If others should praise the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, you should not, feel pleased, or delighted, or elated on that account.
Bhikkhus! If you feel pleased, or delighted, or elated, when others praise me, or the Dhamma, or the Sangha, it will only be harmful to you.
Bhikkhus! If others praise me, or the Dhamma, or the Sangha, you should admit what is true as true, saying ‘It is so. It is true. It is, indeed, thus with us. In fact, it is to be found among us.’
* Feeling of pleasure or delight due to faith in and devotion to the Buddha is meritorious. But when the feeling of pleasure or delight is tainted with personal attachment to the Buddha, it becomes demeritorious. Thus it will be an obstacle in practising the Dhamma, and will be harmful to the striving for enlightenment.