The Buddha contrasts two sets of six qualities that determine one's capacity for progress when hearing the Dhamma. One is incapable of growth in wholesome qualities if they are unwilling to listen, inattentive, misinterpret the meaning, and hold contrary views.
“Chahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato suṇantopi saddhammaṁ abhabbo niyāmaṁ okkamituṁ kusalesu dhammesu sammattaṁ. Katamehi chahi? Tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye desiyamāne na sussūsati, na sotaṁ odahati, na aññā cittaṁ upaṭṭhāpeti, anatthaṁ gaṇhāti, atthaṁ riñcati, ananulomikāya khantiyā samannāgato hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, chahi dhammehi samannāgato suṇantopi saddhammaṁ abhabbo niyāmaṁ okkamituṁ kusalesu dhammesu sammattaṁ.
“Bhikkhus, possessing six qualities, even when listening to the |good Dhamma::good teaching, true doctrine [saddhamma]|, one is incapable of entering upon the fixed course of rightness in |wholesome qualities::skillful actions, good habits [kusaladhammā]|. What six? When the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| and |Vinaya::code of monastic discipline rules, training [vinaya]| proclaimed by the |Tathāgata::one who has arrived at the truth, an epithet of a perfectly Awakened One [tathāgata]| is being taught: 1.) one does not wish to listen, 2.) one does not lend an ear, 3.) one does not apply the mind to understand, 4.) one grasps |what is useless::what is unbeneficial [anattha]|, 5.) one neglects what is beneficial, 6.) one has adopted a conviction that is not in conformity [with the teaching]. Possessing these six qualities, bhikkhus, even when listening to the good Dhamma, one is incapable of entering upon the fixed course of rightness in wholesome qualities.
Chahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato suṇanto saddhammaṁ bhabbo niyāmaṁ okkamituṁ kusalesu dhammesu sammattaṁ. Katamehi chahi? Tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye desiyamāne sussūsati, sotaṁ odahati, aññā cittaṁ upaṭṭhāpeti, atthaṁ gaṇhāti, anatthaṁ riñcati, anulomikāya khantiyā samannāgato hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, chahi dhammehi samannāgato suṇanto saddhammaṁ bhabbo niyāmaṁ okkamituṁ kusalesu dhammesu sammattan”ti.
Bhikkhus, endowed with six qualities, when listening to the good Dhamma, one is capable of entering upon the fixed course of rightness in wholesome qualities. What six? When the Dhamma and Vinaya proclaimed by the Tathāgata is being taught: 1.) one wishes to listen, 2.) one lends an ear, 3.) one applies the mind to understand, 4.) one grasps what is useless, 5.) one neglects what is beneficial, 6.) one has adopted a conviction that is in conformity [with the teaching]. Endowed with these six qualities, bhikkhus, when listening to the good Dhamma, one is capable of entering upon the fixed course of rightness in wholesome qualities.”
“Bhikkhus, possessing six qualities, even when listening to the |good Dhamma::good teaching, true doctrine [saddhamma]|, one is incapable of entering upon the fixed course of rightness in |wholesome qualities::skillful actions, good habits [kusaladhammā]|. What six? When the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| and |Vinaya::code of monastic discipline rules, training [vinaya]| proclaimed by the |Tathāgata::one who has arrived at the truth, an epithet of a perfectly Awakened One [tathāgata]| is being taught: 1.) one does not wish to listen, 2.) one does not lend an ear, 3.) one does not apply the mind to understand, 4.) one grasps |what is useless::what is unbeneficial [anattha]|, 5.) one neglects what is beneficial, 6.) one has adopted a conviction that is not in conformity [with the teaching]. Possessing these six qualities, bhikkhus, even when listening to the good Dhamma, one is incapable of entering upon the fixed course of rightness in wholesome qualities.
Bhikkhus, endowed with six qualities, when listening to the good Dhamma, one is capable of entering upon the fixed course of rightness in wholesome qualities. What six? When the Dhamma and Vinaya proclaimed by the Tathāgata is being taught: 1.) one wishes to listen, 2.) one lends an ear, 3.) one applies the mind to understand, 4.) one grasps what is useless, 5.) one neglects what is beneficial, 6.) one has adopted a conviction that is in conformity [with the teaching]. Endowed with these six qualities, bhikkhus, when listening to the good Dhamma, one is capable of entering upon the fixed course of rightness in wholesome qualities.”
“Chahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato suṇantopi saddhammaṁ abhabbo niyāmaṁ okkamituṁ kusalesu dhammesu sammattaṁ. Katamehi chahi? Tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye desiyamāne na sussūsati, na sotaṁ odahati, na aññā cittaṁ upaṭṭhāpeti, anatthaṁ gaṇhāti, atthaṁ riñcati, ananulomikāya khantiyā samannāgato hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, chahi dhammehi samannāgato suṇantopi saddhammaṁ abhabbo niyāmaṁ okkamituṁ kusalesu dhammesu sammattaṁ.
Chahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato suṇanto saddhammaṁ bhabbo niyāmaṁ okkamituṁ kusalesu dhammesu sammattaṁ. Katamehi chahi? Tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye desiyamāne sussūsati, sotaṁ odahati, aññā cittaṁ upaṭṭhāpeti, atthaṁ gaṇhāti, anatthaṁ riñcati, anulomikāya khantiyā samannāgato hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, chahi dhammehi samannāgato suṇanto saddhammaṁ bhabbo niyāmaṁ okkamituṁ kusalesu dhammesu sammattan”ti.