There Venerable Sāriputta addressed the mendicants: “Reverends, mendicants!”

“Reverend,” they replied. Sāriputta said this:

“A mendicant with five qualities is fit to hold a discussion with their spiritual companions. What five?

A mendicant is personally accomplished in ethics, and answers questions that come up when discussing accomplishment in ethics.

They’re personally accomplished in immersion, …

They’re personally accomplished in wisdom, …

They’re personally accomplished in freedom, …

They’re personally accomplished in the knowledge and vision of freedom, and they answer questions that come up when discussing accomplishment in the knowledge and vision of freedom.

A mendicant with these five qualities is fit to hold a discussion with their spiritual companions.”