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 alms-round, several mendicants sat together in the assembly hall. They engaged in all kinds of unworthy talk, such as talk about kings, bandits, and 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 nations; talk about women and heroes; street talk and well talk; talk about the departed; miscellaneous 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 being energetic. 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.”