SECTION ONE--SERMONS FOR HOUSEHOLDERS
1. *The Happy Householder* -- 2. *[A] Daughter may be better than a Son* -- 3. *Husband and Wife*
SECTION TWO--SERMONS ON THE NEED FOR MAINTAINING CHARACTER
1. *What Constitutes the Downfall of Man* -- 2. *The Wicked Man* -- 3. *The Best Man* -- 4. *The Enlightened Man* -- 5. *Man—Just and Good* -- 6. *Need for Doing Good Deeds* -- 7. *Need for Making Good Resolutions*
SECTION THREE--SERMONS ON RIGHTEOUSNESS
1. *What is Righteousness?* -- 2. *Need for Righteousness* -- 3. *Righteousness and the Claims of the World* -- 4. *How to Reach Perfection in Righteous Conduct* -- 5. *One Need Not Wait for a Companion to Tread on the Path of Righteousness*
SECTION FOUR--SERMONS ON NIBBANA
1. *What is Nibbana?* -- 2. *The Roots of Nibbana*
SECTION FIVE--SERMONS ON DHAMMA
1. *Why Right Views Rank First* -- 2. *Why Bother About Life After Death?* -- 3. *Prayers and Invocations to God are a Futility* -- 4. *It is Not What You Eat that Makes You Holy* -- 5. *Not Food but Evil Actions that Matter* -- 6. *Not Enough is Outward Washing* -- 7. *What is Holy Life?*
SECTION SIX--SERMONS ON SOCIO-POLITICAL QUESTIONS
1. *Do not Depend on the Favour of Princes* -- 2. *If the King is Righteous, his Subjects will be Righteous* -- 3. *It is the Social System on which Depends Political and Military Strength* -- 4. *War is Wrong* -- 5. *The Duties of a Victor, Who has Won Peace*
SECTION ONE--SERMONS FOR HOUSEHOLDERS
§ 1. The Happy Householder
1. Once Anathapindika came to where the Exalted One was, made obeisance to the Exalted One, and took a seat at one side.
2. Anathapindika was anxious to know wherein lay the happiness of a householder.
3. Accordingly Anathapindika asked the Lord to explain to him the secret of the householder's happiness.
4. The Lord said, first is the happiness of possession. A householder is possessed of wealth, justly and righteously acquired by great industry, amassed by strength of the arm, and earned by sweat (of the brow). At the thought "I am possessed of wealth justly gained" he gains happiness.
5. Second is the happiness of enjoyment. A householder is possessed of wealth justly and righteously acquired by great industry amassed by strength of the arm, and earned by sweat (of the brow), enjoys his wealth, and performs acts of merit. Thus at the thought "I am doing meritorious deeds with my wealth which was justly gained" and so forth, he gains happiness.
6. Third is the happiness of freedom from debt. A householder owes no one any debt great or small, thus he gains happiness; thus he at the thought of "I owe no man anything" and so forth, gains happiness.
7. Fourth is the happiness of blamelessness. A householder who is endowed with blameless action of body, blameless speech, and blameless thinking, gains happiness of blamelessness.
8. Verily, Anathapindika, these four kinds of happiness are constantly obtainable by the householder, if he strives for them.
§ 2. [A] Daughter may be better than a Son
1. When the Exalted One was once at Shravasti, the king of the Kosalas, Pasendi, had come to visit him.
2. While the king was engaged in a conversation with the Blessed Lord, a messenger from the Palace arrived and, approaching the king, announced to his private ear that Queen Mallika had given birth to a daughter.
3. The king appeared very sad and depressed. The Blessed Lord asked the king the reason of his sadness.
4. The king replied that he had just received the sad news that Queen Mallika had given birth to a daughter.
5. Thereupon the Exalted One, discerning the matter said: "A woman child, O lord of men, may prove even a better offspring than a male. For she may grow up wise and virtuous, her husband's mother reverencing true wife, a daughter.
6. The boy that she may bear may do great deeds and rule great realms; yea, such a son of a noble wife becomes his country's guide."
1. At one time, the Exalted One had entered the high road between Madhura and Neranja. Also many householders and their wives had joined the high road between Madhura and Neranja.
2. Then the Exalted One, having left the road, took a seat under a certain tree, and these householders and their wives saw the Exalted One seated under it.
3. So seeing, they came to where the Exalted One was. Having come, they made obeisance to the Exalted One and sat at one side, and asked the Blessed One the right relations between the husband and wife. To the householders and their wives so seated, the Exalted One spake thus:
4. "Householders, there are four ways for a husband and wife, of living together. A vile man lives with a vile woman, a vile man lives with a goddess, a god lives with a vile woman and a god lives with a goddess.
5. "Householders! A husband kills, steals, commits impurity, lies and indulges in fermented liquor; is wicked and sinful; with his heart possessed by avarice he lives the life of a householder, and abuses and reviles virtuous people. Also his wife kills, steals, commits impurity, lies, and indulges in fermented liquor; is wicked and sinful; with her heart possessed by avarice, she lives the life of the family, and abuses and reviles virtuous people. Thus indeed, householders, a vile man lives with a vile woman.
6. "Householders! A husband kills, steals, commits impurity, lies and indulges in fermented liquor; is wicked and sinful; with his heart possessed by avarice, he lives the life of a householder, and abuses and reviles virtuous people. But his wife abstains from killing, thieving, sexual impurity, lying, and indulgence in fermented liquor. His wife is virtuous and of good behaviour; with her heart freed from the taint of avarice she lives the family life, and abuses not, nor reviles, virtuous people. Thus indeed, house-holders, a vile man lives with a goddess.
7. "Householders! A husband abstains from killing, thieving, impurity, lying and indulgence in fermented liquor; is virtuous and of good behaviour; with his mind freed from the stains of avarice, he lives the family life and abuses not, nor reviles, virtuous people. But his wife kills, steals, commits impurity, lies and indulges in fermented liquor, is wicked and sinful; with her heart possessed by avarice she lives the family life, and abuses and reviles virtuous people. Thus indeed, householders, a god lives with a vile woman.
8. "Householders! Herein, a husband and a wife both abstain from killing, thieving, impurity, lying, and indulgence in fermented liquor; are virtuous and of good behaviour; with mind freed from taints of avarice they live the family life and abuse not, nor revile, virtuous people. Thus indeed, householders, a god lives with a goddess.
9. "These, householders, are the four ways of living together."
SECTION TWO--SERMONS ON THE NEED FOR MAINTAINING CHARACTER
§ 1. What Constitutes the Downfall of Man
1. On one occasion, the Blessed One was dwelling in the monastery of Anathapindika, in the Jeta Grove, near Shravasti.
2. Now when the night was far spent, a certain Deva, whose splendour illuminated the whole Jeta Grove, came to the presence of the Blessed One and, drawing near, respectfully saluted him and stood at one side. Standing thus, he addressed the Blessed One in verse:
3. "Having come to interrogate the Blessed One, I ask thee, O Gautama, about the falling man. Pray, tell me the cause of one's downfall." The Blessed One consented to explain the causes of man's downfall.
4. "Easily known is the progressive one, easily known is the declining one. A lover of the Dhamma is the progressive one, a hater of the Dhamma is the declining one.
5. "The vicious are dear to him, in the virtuous he finds nothing pleasing; he favours the creeds of the vicious--this is the second cause of one's downfall.
6. "The man who is drowsy, fond of society, not industrious, indolent, and who manifests anger--this is the third cause of one's downfall.
7. "Whosoever, being rich, does. not support his aged mother and father, who have passed their youth--this is the fourth cause of one's downfall.
8. "He who, by falsehood, deceives a Brahmana or an ascetic or any other medicant--this is the fifth cause of one's downfall.
9. "The man who owns much property, who has gold and food, but alone enjoys his delicacies--this is the sixth cause of one's downfall.
10. "The man who prides [=takes pride] in birth or wealth or clan, and despises his own kinsmen--this is the seventh cause of one's downfall.
11. "The man who is a debauchee, [a] drunkard, a gambler, who squanders whatever he possesses--this is the eighth cause of one's downfall.
12. "Not contented with one's own wives, if one is seen amongst courtesans and the wives of others--this is the ninth cause of one's downfall.
13. "He who places in authority an intemperate spend-thrift woman, or a man of similar nature--this is the eleventh cause of one's downfall.
14. "He who, of slender means but vast ambition, of warrior birth, aspires to sovereignty--this is the twelfth cause of one's downfall.
15. "Know these causes of downfall, ye noble Deva, and if ye succeed in overcoming them ye will be saved."
1. The Blessed Lord, while he was on [a] journey, gave, as was his usual practice, the following discourse to the Bhikkhus who were accompanying him.
2. Addressing the Bhikkhus, the Lord said: "Do you know how to recognise a wicked man?" "No, Lord," replied the Bhikkhus.
3. "I will tell you the characteristics of a wicked man.
4. "There is a man who shows up the faults of another even when unasked, not to say [=not to speak of] when asked. Being indeed asked and plied with questions, he speaks ill of another without suppressing or concealing, but with full details. Brethren, such a man is a wicked man.
5. "There is a man who, being asked, does not point out the good qualities of another, not to say [=not to speak of] when unasked. Being indeed asked and plied with questions, he speaks well of another.
6. "There is a man who, being asked, does not disclose his own bad qualities, not to say [=not to speak of] when unasked. Being indeed asked and plied with questions, he points out his own bad qualities, but suppresses and conceals them and does not give full details. Brethren, such a man is a wicked man.
7. "Then again, brethren, there is a man who, even unasked, discloses his good qualities, not to say [=not to speak of] when asked. Brethren, being asked and plied with questions, be points out his own good qualities without suppressing or concealing them and giving full details. Brethren, such a man is a wicked man."
1. The Blessed One, while he was on journey, gave, as was his practice, the following discourse to the Bhikkhus who were accompanying him:
2. Addressing the Bhikkhus, the Lord said: "There are four classes of persons, brethren, to be found in the world.
3. "He who has not striven for his own welfare, nor that of others; he who has striven for others' welfare, but not his own; he who has striven for his own welfare, but not others'; he who has striven for both his own welfare, and that of others.
4. "One who has striven neither for his own welfare nor for that of others is like a torch from a funeral pyre, lit at both ends, and in the middle smeared with dung. He kindles no fuel either in village or in forest. He is useless to the world. And he is useless to himself.
5. "One who has striven for the welfare of others at the cost of his own, is both excellent and eminent of the two.
6. "Then again, brethren, in the case of the person who has striven both for his own welfare and for that of others--of these four persons this is best and chief, topmost and highest and supreme."
1. At one time, the Exalted One had reached the high road between (the two towns of) Ukkattha and Setabbya. Then the Brahmin named Dona had also reached the high road between Ukkattha and Setabbya.
2. Just then the Exalted One left the road and sat down at the foot of a tree, cross-legged. Then Dona the Brahman, following the footsteps of the Exalted One, saw him seated at the foot of that tree, resplendent and of a comely ppearance, with sense controlled, with mind appeased, supremely tamed, restrained and powerful. So seeing, he approached where the Exalted One was.
3. Having come he said thus to him:
"Is not the Venerable One a Deva?"4. Having heard the Blessed One reply thus, the Brahman Dona said:
"Brahman, I am indeed not a Deva."
"Is not the Venerable One then a Gandhabba?"
"Brahman, I am indeed not a Gandhabba."
"Is not the Venerable One then a Yakkha?"
"Brahman, I am indeed not a Yakkha."
"Is not the Venerable One then a man?"
"Brahman, I am indeed not a man."
"When thou art asked: Are ye a Deva? Thou sayest: No.5. "Brahman, verily I was a Deva, a Gandhabba, Yakkha, a man, so long as I had not purged myself of the intoxicants. These very intoxicants have I now given up--with roots cut out like unto a palm-tree with its base destroyed and rendered unable to sprout again--so that in future they do not come into existence.
When Thou art questioned: Are ye a Gandhabba? Thou sayest: No.
When Thou art asked: Are ye a Yakkha? Thou sayest: No.
When Thou art questioned: Are ye then a man? Thou sayest: No.
Who then can the Venerable One be?"
6. "Just as a lotus or a water-lily born of the water, grown in the water, risen out of the water, stands unstained by the water, even so, Brahman, being born of the world, grown in the world, having overcome the world, I abide unstained by the world.
7. "Therefore, 0 Brahman, consider me as the Enlightened One."
1. Addressing the Brethren, the Lord said, "There are four classes of persons whom you must learn to distinguish, if you wish to ascertain who are good and just.
2. "Brethren, there is a class of persons who strive for their own welfare, but not that of others.
3. "Brethren, herein a certain person practises the extirpation of lust in himself, but does not urge the extirpation of lust in others; practises the extirpation of ill-will in himself, but does not urge the extirpation of ill-will in others; and also practises the extirpation of ignorance in himself, but does not urge the extirpation of ignorance in others.
4. "Indeed, Brethren, this is the person who pursues his own welfare, but not the welfare of others.
5. "Brethren, there is a class of persons who have striven for others' welfare, but not their own.
6. "Brethren, herein a certain person does not practise the extirpation of lust, ill-will, and ignorance in himself, but urges the extirpation of lust, ill-will, and ignorance in others.
7. "Indeed, Brethren, this is the person who has. striven for others' welfare, but not his own.
8. "Brethren, there is a class of persons who strive not, neither for their own welfare nor that of others.
9. "Brethren, herein a certain person practises not the extirpation of lust, ill-will, and ignorance in himself, nor urges the extirpation of lust, ill-will, and ignorance in others.
10. "Brethren, this is the person that has not striven for his own welfare nor that of others.
11. "Brethren, there is a class of persons who strive for their own welfare as well as that of others.
12. "Brethren, herein a certain person both practises the extirpation of lust, ill-will, and ignorance in himself, and also urges the extirpation of lust, ill-will, and ignorance in others.
13. "Brethren, this is the person who has striven for his own welfare as well as that of others.
14. "This last person is to be deemed just and good."
§ 6. Need for Doing Good Deeds
1. On one occasion, thus spake the Exalted One to the Brethren.
2. "Be not afraid of good works, brethren. It is another name for happiness, for what is desired, beloved, dear, and delightful, this word 'good works'. I myself, brethren, can bear witness to having reaped for many a long day the profit of good works, a thing desired, beloved, dear, and delightful.
3. "I often ask 'Of what deeds is all this the fruit? Of what deed is it the ripening, in that I am now thus happy and contented?'
4. "The answer that comes to me is: 'Of three deeds this is the fruit. Of three deeds this is the ripening, the deeds of Charity, Self-taming, and Self-control.'
5. "Auspicious, festive, happy, blessed dawn! Fair day, glad time is that when alms are given to worthy ones; when goodly acts, words, thoughts, right aspirations, bring auspicious gain to those that practise them.
6. "Happy are they that win such gain, and prosperous in the way! So be ye also prosperous in the way, free from disease and happy with your kin."
§ 7. Need for Making Good Resolutions
1. Once when he was at Shravasti in Jeta's Grove, the Exalted One said to the Brethren:
2. "Brethren, there is a great need of good resolutions to be made and observed for a pure and happy life.
3. "I will tell you what your resolutions should be.
4. "Resolve that, 'all my life long may I support my parents. May I respect the head of my clan. May I be of gentle speech. May I speak evil of none. Clearing my heart of the stain of selfishness, may I dwell at home generous, pure-handed, delighting in giving up, may I be a proper man to ask a boon of, delighting in sharing gifts with others.
5. "'All my life long, may I be angerless, and, if anger arise, may I quickly check it."
6. Such are the seven resolutions, Brethren, by undertaking and performing which you will attain the state of happiness and purity.
SECTION THREE--SERMONS ON RIGHTEOUSNESS
§1 What is Righteousness
1. Once when the Lord was on an alms-pilgrimage in Kosala, with a great train of almsmen, he came to a Brahmin village of the Kosalans named Sala.
2. It came to the ears of the Brahmin heads of families in Sala that the Blessed Lord had come to their village in the course of an alms-pilgrimage in Kosala.
3. They felt it was good to go and visit him. So the Brahmins of Sala went to the Lord and, after exchanging civil greetings, took their seats on one side.
4. They asked the Blessed One if he would explain to them what he meant by righteousness.
5. So to the attentive Brahmins the Lord said: "There are three forms of unrighteousness and wickedness for the body; four for speech; and three for thoughts.
6. "As regards bodily unrighteousness, a man (i) may take life, as a hunter with hands bathed in blood, given to killing and slaying, merciless to living creatures; or (ii) may take what is not his, by appropriating to himself in thievish fashion the belongings of other people in village and jungle; or (iii) may be a fornicator, having intercourse with girls under the charge of mother or father or brother or sister or relations--yes, with girls affianced and plighted and even wearing the very garlands of betrothal.
7. "As regards unrighteousness of speech a man (i) may be a liar; when cited to give testimony before assembly or village-meeting or family council or royal household or his guild, he may say that he knows when he does not know, or that he does not know when he does know, or that he saw when he did not see, or that he did not see when he did see, deliberately lying in the interests either of himself or of other people or for some trifling gain. Or (ii) he may be a slanderer; repeating here what he has heard elsewhere so as to set one set of people by the ears, and repeating elsewhere what he has heard here so as to set another set of people by the ears; he is a dissolver of harmony and a fomenter of strife; discord prompts his utterances, discord being his pleasure, his joy, and his delight. Or (iii) he may be bitter of tongue; what he says is rough and harsh, hurtful and wounding to others, provocative of anger, and leading to distraction. Or (iv) he may be a tattler talking out of season, without heed to fact, always talking of the unprofitable, never of the Doctrine, never of the Rule, but ever of the trivial, of the ill-timed, of the frivolous, of things leading nowhere and unprofitable.
8. "As regards unrighteousness of thought, a man (i) may be covetous, coveting other people's gear with the yearning that it were all his own. Or (ii) he may be malevolent and wicked of heart, wishing that creatures around him might be killed, destroyed, annihilated, or cease to be. Or (iii) he may be wrong in outlook and erroneous in his conceptions, holding that there are no such things as alms or sacrifice or oblations, that there is no such things as the fruit and harvest of deeds good and bad, that there is no such thing as this world or any other, that there are no such things as either parents or relations elsewhere, that there are no such things in the world as recluses and Brahmins who, having trodden the right path and walked aright, have, of and by themselves, comprehended and realized this and other worlds and made it all known to others too.
9. "Contrariwise, there are three forms of righteousness and goodness for the body; four for speech, and three for thoughts.
10. "As regards bodily righteousness, a man (i) puts from him all killing and abstains from killing anything; laying aside cudgel and sword, he lives a life of innocence and mercy, full of kindliness and compassion for everything that lives. (ii) Theft he puts from him, and eschews taking from others except what is given to him by them; he lives an honest life. (iii) Putting from him all sensual misconduct, he abstains from fornication; he has no intercourse with girls under the charge of mother or father or brother or sister or relations, no intercourse with girls affianced and plighted and with the garlands of betrothal upon them.
11. "As regards righteousness in speech, (i) a man puts lying from him and abstains from lies; when cited to give testimony before assembly or village-meeting or family council or royal household or his guild, he says that he does not know when he does not, and that he does know when he does, says that he did not see when he did not see and that he saw when he did see, never deliberately lying in the interests of himself or of other people or for some trifling gain. (ii) All slander he puts from him, and from slandering he abstains; what he hears here he does not repeat elsewhere so to set one set of people by the ears, nor does he repeat here what he hears elsewhere so as to set another set of people by the ears; he is a promoter of harmony and a restorer of amity, for concord is his pleasure, his joy, and his delight. (iii) There is no bitterness in his tongue, and he abstains from bitter speech; what he says is without gall, pleasant, friendly hearty, urbane, agreeable, and welcome to all. (iv) No tattler, he abstains from tattle, speaking in season, according to fact, always of the profitable, of the Doctrine and Rule, in speech which is seasonable and memorable, illuminating, well-marshalled, and of great profit.
12. "As regards righteousness in thoughts, (i) a man is devoid of covetousness, never coveting other people's gear with the yearning that it were all his own. (ii) He harbours no malevolence or wickedness of thought; his wish is that creatures around him may live on in peace and happiness, safe from all enmity and oppression. (iii) He is right in outlook and correct in his conceptions.
13. "This is what I mean by righteousness and unrighteousness."
1. Then the Exalted One addressed the lay brethren of Pataligama:
2. "There are losses, householders, which attend the wicked and immoral man.
3. "The wicked, immoral man, as the result of sloth, comes to great loss of wealth.
4. "Then again, an evil report prevails about him, which defames him in the eyes of the world.
5. "Whatever company he may enter, be it a company of the nobles, or the Brahmins, or the housefathers, or a company of recluses, he enters shyly and confused in mind. He is not fearless. This is the third loss.
6. "Again, he has no peace of mind, and is troubled in mind when he dies. This is the fourth loss.
7. "Such, householders, are the losses that attend the wicked and immoral man.
8. "Consider the profits which attend the righteous man who lives virtuously.
9. "The righteous man who lives virtuously comes by a great mass of wealth, due to his own exertions.
10. "Then again, a good reputation prevails about him. He is honoured everywhere.
11. "Into whatsoever company he enters, be it of the nobles or the Brahmins or the housefathers or the recluses, he enters bold and confident.
12. "Again, he enjoys peace of mind, and makes an end with mind untroubled.
13. "The fool in doing ill knows not his folly: His own deeds, like a fire, the fool consume.
14. He who offends the harmless innocent soon reaches grievous disaster, or a mind distraught, loss of relations, loss of all his wealth.
§ 3. Righteousness and the Claims of the World
1. Once when the Lord was staying at Rajagraha in the Bamboo grove where the squirrels were fed, the reverend Sariputta was making an alms pilgrimage with a great train of almsmen among the Southern Hills.
2. On his way he met an almsman who had spent the rainy season at Rajagraha. After interchange of greetings of friendliness and civility, Sariputta enquired after the Master's health and was told he was well, as too was the Confraternity, and also the Brahmin Dhananjani of Tandula-pala Gate in Rajagraha, concerning whose health too Sariputta had made enquiries.
3. "And is the Brahmin, Dhananjani, zealous and earnest?" asked Sariputta further of the Almsman.
4. "How could earnest zeal possibly dwell in Dhananjani?" replied theAlmsman. "He uses the king to fleece the Brahmins and householders, and uses them to fleece the king. Also, his pious wife, who came of a pious stock is dead now; and he has taken to himself another wife who is not pious and comes of no pious stock."
5. "This is bad news, very bad news, to hear of Dhananjani's lack of zeal," said Sariputta. "Perhaps, however, at some time and place I may meet him. I should like to have a talk with him."
6. After staying as. long as he wanted in the Southern Hills, Sariputta proceeded on his alms pilgrimage till he reached Rajagraha, where he took up his abode in the Bamboo Grove.
7. Early in the morning, bowl in hand and duly robed, he went into Rajagraha for alms, at a time when the Brahmin Dhananjani was out of the city seeing his cows milked in the byre.
8. On his return after his round and meal, Sariputta sought out the Brahmin. Seeing him coming, the Brahmin came to meet him, with the remark that they had time for a draught of milk before meal-time.
9. "Not so, Brahmin, I have had my meal today, and shall be resting under the shade of a tree during the noontide. Come to me there."
10. Dhananjani agreed, and after his own meal joined Sariputta, seating himself by him after friendly greetings.
11. Said Sariputta: "May I rest assured, Dhananjani, that zeal and earnestness and righteousness are yours?"
12. "How can that be, when I have to support my parents, my wife and family, and my slaves and serving folk, and have to entertain my cquaintances and friends, my kith and kin, and guests, and have also to provide for my kinsfolk dead and gone, and for the deities, and for the king, not to speak of supporting myself in meat and drink?"
13. "What think you, Dhananjani? If we suppose a man who, for his parents' sake, has departed from righteousness and equity, and is being hauled up [in court], would it avail him either to plead on his own behalf that it was for his parents' sake that he had departed from righteousness and equity, and that therefore he should not be hauled up?"
14. "No; despite all appeals, the wardens would cast him into prison."
15. "Would it avail him either to plead on his own behalf, or to have his wife and family plead for him, that it was for their sake he had departed from righteousness and equity?"
16. "No."
17. "Would it avail him if his slaves and serving folk pleaded for him?"
18. "Not a whit."
19. "Or if his friends and acquaintances pleaded for him?"
20. "Not a whit."
21. "Or if his kith and kin, or his guests, pleaded for him?"
22. "Not a whit."
23. "Or if his kinsfolk dead and gone pleaded the claims of his deities, or his monarch's claims on him?"
24. "Not a whit."
25. "Would it avail him to plead on his own behalf, or to have others pleading for him, that it was to support himself in meat and drink that he departed from righteousness and equity?"
26. "No."
27. "What think you, Dhananjani? Which is the better man? He that for the sake of his parents departs from righteousness and equity, or he that no matter what happens to them walks in righteousness and equity?
28. "The latter," replied Dhananjani, "for to walk in righteousness and equity is better than to depart therefrom."
29. "Moreover, Dhananjani, there are other courses of action which are justified and righteous in themselves, whereby he can support his parents, and yet avoid evildoing and walk uprightly. Now, does the same reasoning apply to the support of wife and family and everything else?"
30. "It does, Sariputta."
31. Hereupon the Brahmin, rejoicing in what the reverend Sariputta had said, thanked him, rose up and went his way.
§ 4. How to Reach Perfection in Righteous Conduct
1. Once while the Lord was staying at Shravasti in Jeta's Grove, there came to him five hundred lay-followers. One of them was Dhammika.
2. Dhammika asked the Lord: "What principles make your followers reach perfection in righteous conduct?
3. "I ask thee this question because thou art the most matchless judge of the weal of men.
4. "Trained Jains and Mendicants all failed to vanquish thee. Trained Brahmins, ripe in years, with others keen to air their point of view, are led to embrace thy saving truth. For, 'tis thy saving Truth, subtle, but preached so well, for which all yearn. Vouchsafe an answer, Lord, to us!
5. "Let the lay-followers learn from thy lips thy Lore immaculate!"
6. The Blessed Lord in compassion for his lay-followers said: "Give me your ear. I will explain the principles of righteous conduct. Hear and follow them.
7. "Slay not, nor doom to death, nor sanction slaughter. Do no violence to aught that lives, strong or weak.
8. "No layman, wittingly, should thieve, or order theft, or sanction any theft; take but what others give.
9. "And shun incontinence as 'twere a pit of fire; or, failing continence, debauch no wedded wife.
10. "In conclaves, courts, or talk, let him not lie; let him not prompt or sanction lies; let him renounce untruth.
11. "Layman, observe this law: shun drink; make no man drink; sanction no drinking. Mark how drink to madness leads.
12. "Through drink fools sin, and egg lax brethren on to sin. So flee this maddening vice, this folly, bliss of fools.
13. "Slay not, nor steal, nor lie; from strong drink keep away; refrain from lechery; touch not wrong meals at night!
14. "Eschew both scents and wreaths; spread on the ground thy bed; so make thy sabbath vows as week succeeds to week, and keep with pious hearts this eightfold festival.
15. "At morn, these vows performed, with pious, thankful heart, be wise, and of thy means give Almsmen food and drink.
16. "Cherish thy parents well; follow a righteous trade. Thus shall the layman staunch reach realms of light above.
§ 5. One Need Not Wait for a Companion to Tread on the Path of Righteousness
1. An elephant in battle bears the arrow at him buried; I must bear men's bitter tongues for every evil in the world.
2. Tamed, they lead him into battle; tamed, the king his back ascends; tamed, is he the best of beings, when no bitter speech offends.
3. Good are well-tamed mules, and good are Cindian steeds of lineage famed; good indeed the mighty tusker; best of all the men self-tamed.
4. Yet such mounts can naught avail us, cannot be Nibbana's guide. We can only reach the Path on the self-tamed self-ride.
5. Take delight in Earnestness; watch thy thoughts and never tire. Lift thee from the Path of Evil, take the Tusker out of mire.
6. Hast thou found a fellow-traveller, upright, firm, intelligent? Leaving all thy cares behind thee, gladly walk with him intent.
7. Hast thou found no fellow-traveller, upright, intelligent? As a King deserts his borders, by the enemy pursued, like the tusker in the forest, so go thy way in solitude.
8. Better is the lonely life, for fools companions cannot be. Live alone and do no evil, live alone with scanty needs, lonely as the mighty tusker in the forest lonely feeds.
9. Expunge all bad thoughts.
10. Here is the way to expunge [them]..
11. You are to expunge [them] by resolving that, though others may be harmful, you will be harmless.
12. That, though others may kill, you will never kill.
13. That, though others may steal, you will not.
14. That, though others may not lead the higher life, you will.
15. That, though others may lie, traduce, denounce, or prattle, you will not.
16. That, though others may be covetous, you will covet not.
17. That, though others may be malignant, you will be benignant.
18. That, though others may be given over to wrong views, wrong aims, wrong speech, [wrong] actions, wrong modes of livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness, and wrong concentration, you must follow the Noble Eight-fold Path in right outlook, right aims, right speech, right actions, right mode of livelihood, right efforts, right mindfulness, and right concentration.
19. That, though others are wrong about the truth and wrong about Deliverance, you will be right about truth and right about Deliverance.
20. That, though others may be possessed by sloth and torpor, you will free yourself therefrom.
21. That, though others may be puffed up, you will be humble-minded.
22. That, though others may be perplexed by doubts, you will be free from them.
23. That, though others may harbour wrath, malevolence, envy, jealousy, niggardliness, avarice, hypocrisy, deceit, imperviousness, arrogance, forwardness, unscrupulousness, lack of instruction, inertness, bewilderment, and unwisdom, you will be the reverse of all these things.
SECTION FOUR--SERMONS ON NIBBANA
§ 1. What is Nibbana?
1. Once the Blessed Lord was staying at Shravasti in Anathapindika's Ashrama, where Sariputta was also staying.
2. The Lord, addressing the Brethren, said: "Almsmen, be ye partakers not of the world's goods, but of my doctrine; in my compassion for you all I am anxious to ensure this."
3. Thus spoke the Lord, who thereupon rose and passed to his own cell.
4. Sariputta remained behind, and the Brethren asked him to explain what is Nibbana.
5. Then Sariputta in reply to the Brethren said: "Brethren, know you that greed is vile, and vile is resentment.
6. "To shed this greed and this resentment, there is the Middle Way, which gives us eyes to see and makes us know, leading us on to peace, insight, enlightenment, and Nibbana.
7. "What is this Middle Way? It is naught but the Noble Eight-fold Path of right outlook, right aims, right speech, right action, right means of livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration; this, Almsmen is the Middle Way.
8. "Yes, sirs; anger is vile and malevolence is vile, envy and jealousy are vile, niggardliness and avarice are vile, hypocrisy and deceit and arrogance are vile, inflation [boastfulness?] is vile, and indolence is vile.
9. "For the shedding of inflation and indolence there is the Middle Way, giving us eyes to see, making us know, and leading us on to peace, insight, enlightenment.
10. "Nibbana--which is naught but that Noble Eight-fold Path."
11. Thus spoke the reverend Sariputta—glad at heart, the Almsmen rejoiced at what he had said.
(2.i)
1. Once the venerable Radha came to the Exalted One. Having done so, he saluted the Exalted One and sat down on one side. So seated, the venerable Radha thus addressed the Exalted One: "Pray, Lord, what for is Nibbana?"
2. "Nibbana means release from passion," replied the Lord.
3. "But Nibbana, Lord,--what is the aim of it?"
4. "Rooted in Nibbana, Radha, the righteous life is lived. Nibbana is its goal. Nibbana is its end."
(2.ii)
1. Once the Exalted One was dwelling at Shravasti, in Jeta's Grove, at Anathapindika's Park. Then the Exalted One called the brethren, saying, "Brethren." "Yes, Lord," replied those brethren to the Exalted One. The Exalted One thus spake:
2. "Do ye bear in mind, brethren, the Five Fetters that bind to the lower world, as taught by me?"
3. Whereupon the venerable Malunkyaputta said this to the Exalted One :
4. "I, Lord, bear in mind those Five Fetters."
5. "And how, Malunkyaputta, do you bear them in mind?"
6. " I bear in mind, Lord, the view of bodyhood, as taught by the Exalted One; and wavering, and the moral taint of dependence on rite and ritual, the excitement of sensual delight, and malevolence, taught by the Exalted One as fetters that bind to the lower world. These are the Five Fetters that I bear in mind, Lord."
7. "As taught for whom, Malunkyaputta, do you bear in mind these Five Fetters? Will not the wanderers of other views reproach you, using the parable of a tender baby for their reproach and saying thus:
8. "'But, Malunkyaputta, there can be no bodyhood for a tender baby-boy, dull of wits and lying on his back. How, then, can there arise in him any view of bodyhood? Yet there is indeed latent in him a tendency to the view of bodyhood.
9. "'Likewise, Malunkyaputta, there can be no mental conditions for a tender baby-boy, dull of wits and lying on his back. How, then, can there be in him any wavering of mental conditions? Yet there is in him a latent tendency to wavering.
10. "'So also, Malunkyaputta, he can have no moral practice. How, then, can there be in him any moral taint of dependence on rite and ritual? Yet he has a latent tendency thereto.
11. "'Again, Malunkyaputta, that tender babe has no sensual passions. How, then, can be known the excitement of sensual delight? But the tendency is there.
12. "'Lastly, Malunkyaputta, for that tender babe beings do not exist. How then can it harbour malevolence against beings? Yet the tendency thereto is in him.'
13. "Now, Malunkyaputta, will not those wanderers of other views thus reproach you, using for their reproach the parable of that tender baby-boy?"
14. When this was said, the venerable Ananda thus addressed the Exalted One: "Now is the time, Exalted One. O Wayfarer, now is the time for the Exalted One to set."
SECTION FIVE--SERMONS ON DHAMMA
§ 1. Why Right Views Rank First
1. Of the noble Eightfold Plath the noblest is Right Outlook.
2. Right thinking is the preface and the key to every thing else in the higher life, and ignorance [sic].
3. The lack of understanding is the root of all evil.
4. For developing right outlook, one must see all phenomena of life as a process of causal law. To have right outlook is to recognise the law of cause and effect.
5. "Whatsoever individual, brethren, follows perverted views, perverted aim, perverted speech or acts or living, perverted effort, attention, and contemplation; whose knowledge and emancipation are perverted--for him every action of deed, word or thought, performed and achieved according to such perverted views; every willed act, every aspiration, every resolve, all his activities; these things one and all conduce to what is distasteful, unpleasing, repulsive, unprofitable, and painful. And why so? Because of his evil view."
6. To be right is not enough. A baby may be right, but that does not mean that a baby knows what is right. To be right one must know what is right.
7. "Ananda, who can be rightly described as an almsman? Only he who has mastered what is rationally possible and what is rationally impossible."
§ 2. Why Bother About Life After Death?
1. On a certain occasion the venerable Kassapa the Great and the venerable Sariputta were staying near Benares at Isipatana in the Deer Park.
2. Then the venerable Sariputta, rising up at eventide from solitude, went to the venerable Kassapa the Great, and sat down on one side.
3. So seated, the venerable Sariputta said to the venerable Kassapa the Great, "How now friend Kassapa? Does the Tathagata exist beyond death?
4. "Undeclared is it, friend, by the Exalted One, that the Tathagata exists beyond death.
5. "What then, friend? Does the Tathagata both exist and not exist beyond death?
6. "This also, friend, is undeclared by the Exalted One.
7. "How then, friend? Does the Tathagata neither not exist beyond death? That also, friend, is not declared by the Exalted One.
8. "But why, friend, has it not been declared by the Exalted One?"
9. "This is a question not concerned with profit to humanity, or with the first principles of holy life. It does not lead to perfect wisdom nor to Nibbana. That, friend, is why it is not declared by the Exalted One."
§ 3. Prayers and Invocations to God are a Futility
1. Once the Blessed Lord speaking to Vasettha said:
2. "If this river Achiravati were full of water even to the brim and overflowing, and a man with business to be done on the further bank of it should come up, and want to cross over,
3. "And standing on that bank, he should invoke the further bank and say: ' Come hither, O further bank! Come over to this side!'
4. "Now what think you, Vasettha? Would the further bank of the river Achiravati, by that man's invoking and praying, and hoping, and praising, come over to this side?
5. "In just the same way, Vasettha, do the Brahmins, versed in the three Vedas, omitting the practice of those qualities which really make a man a Brahmin, and adopting the practice of those qualities which really make men non-Brahmins, say thus:
6. "'Indra we call upon, Brahma we call upon, Isana we call upon, Prajapati we call upon, Brahma we call upon--we call, we call.'
7. "Verily, Vasettha, that these Brahmins, by reason of their invoking .and praying and hoping and praising, should after death become united with Brahma--verily such a condition of things can in nowise be."
§ 4. It is Not What You Eat that Makes You Holy
1. A Brahmin happened to meet the Lord, and raised the question of the effect of food on a man's character.
2. The Brahmin said: "The millet-grain, palm-nuts, pulse, bulbs, and wilding shoots--this diet, rightly got, ever prompts the good life. Tis eating carrion that is bad."
3. The Blessed One replied: "Though you (Lord) say you touch no carrion, you eat choice dishes made with [the] flesh of birds--I ask what you term 'carrion'.
4. "Killing and maiming, stripes, bonds, theft, lies, fraud, deceit, adultery--not meats, but these, are carrion.
5. "Pursuit of pleasure, lust for guzzlings, life unclean, blatant dissent--not meats, but these, are carrion.
6. "Backbiting, cruelty, betrayals, ruthless pride, mean stinginess--not meats, but these, are carrion.
7. "Anger, conceit, revolt, guile, envy, bluster, pride, low company--not meats, but these, are carrion.
8. "Base living, slander, fraud, cheating, the trickster's wiles, foul infamies--not meats, but these, are carrion.
9. "This rage to slay and steal, these crimes, are fraught with doom and end in hell--not meats, but these, are carrion.
10. "No abstinence from meat and fish, no nudity, no topknots, shaven crowns, or garb of pelt, no cult of sacred fire, no stark austerities to purchase future bliss, no rinsing, burnt-offering, rites, can cleanse the man who doubts.
11. "Control thy sense, rule thy powers, hold to Truth, be kind. The saint who leaves all ties and vanquishes all ills, is stained by naught he either sees or hears."
12. Hearing the Lord preach these lofty, saving truths, denouncing 'carrion', and sweeping ills away, the Brahmin meekly knelt and asked to be enrolled as Almsman then and there.
§ 5. Not Food But Evil Actions That Matter
1. A Brahmin, by name Amagandha, was an ascetic who lived in the region of Himalayas with his pupils.
2. They ate neither fish nor flesh. Every year they came down from their hermitage in search of salt and acids. The inhabitants of the village received them with honour, and gave them hospitality for four months.
3. Then the Blessed Lord with his monks visited the same village. The people, on hearing the Lord preach his Dhamma, became his followers.
4. That year even Amagandha and his disciples as usual went to the villagers, but the villagers did not show the same enthusiasm.
5. Amagandha was disappointed to hear that the Lord did not forbid eating fish and flesh. Wishing to have the matter confirmed, he went to Jeta Vana at Shravasti, where the Blessed Lord was then staying, and said:
6. "Millet, cingula-beans and peas, edible leaves and roots, the fruit of any creeper; the righteous who eat these, obtained justly, do not tell lies for the sake of pleasures.
7. "Thou eatest whatever food is given by others, which is well prepared, nicely got up, pure, and excellent. He who enjoys such food made of rice, he eats 'Amagandha'. You say that the charge of Amagandha, does not apply to me, while eating rice with well prepared bird's flesh.
8. "I inquire the meaning of this from you, of what kind is your Amagandha?"
9. The Lord replied: "Taking life, beating, cutting, binding, stealing, lying, fraud, deceiving, worthless knowledge, adultery--this is Amagandha, and not the eating of flesh.
10. "In this world those individuals who are unrestrained in sensual pleasures, who are greedy for sweet things, who are associated with impure actions, who are of Nihilistic views, crooked, difficult to follow--this is Amagandha, and not the eating of flesh.
11. "In this world those who are rude, harsh, backbiting, treacherous, unkind, excessively egoistic, ungenerous, and do not give anything to anybody--this is Amagandha, and not the eating of flesh.
12. "Anger, pride, obstinacy, antagonism, deceit, envy, boasting, excessive egoism, association with the unrighteous--this is Amagandha, and not eating of flesh.
13. "Those who are of bad morals, refuse to pay their debt, slanderers, deceitful in their dealings, pretenders, those who in this world being the vilest of men, commit such wrongdoings--this is Amagandha, and not the eating of flesh.
14. "Those persons who, in this world, are uncontrolled towards living beings, who are bent on injuring others, having taken their belongings; immoral, cruel, harsh, disrespectful--this is Amagandha, and not the eating of flesh.
15. "Those who attack these living beings either because of greed or of hostility, and always bent upon (evil), they go to darkness after death and fall into hell headlong--this is Amagandha, and not the eating of flesh.
16. "Abstaining from fish or flesh, nakedness, shaving of the head, matted hair, covering with ashes, wearing rough deer skins, attending the sacrificial fire--nor all these various penances in the world (performed) for immortality, neither incantations, oblations, sacrifices nor seasonal observances, purifies a person who has not overcome his doubt.
17. "He who lives with his senses guarded and conquered, and is established in the Dhamma, delights in uprightness and gentleness, who has gone beyond attachments and has overcome all sorrows--that wise man does not cling to what is seen and heard.
18. "It is evil actions which constitute Amagandha, and not the eating of fish or flesh."
§ 6. Not Enough Is Outward Washing
1. Once the Exalted One was dwelling at Shravatsi. And the Brahmin Sangarava also dwelt there. Now he was a cleanser by water, and practised cleansing by water. Night and day he abode, given to the habit of going down to bathe.
2. Now the venerable Ananda, robing himself at an early hour and taking outer robe and bowl, went forth to Shravatsi to beg. And when he had gone his rounds in Shravatsi and had eaten his meal, upon his return he went to the Exalted One, saluted Him, and sat down on one side. So seated, the venerable Ananda said:
3. "Lord, there is here one Sangarava, a Brahmin, dwelling at Shravatsi, a cleanser by water, one who practises cleansing by water. Night and day does he abide, given to the habit of going down to bathe. Well were it. Lord, if the Exalted One would pay a visit to the Brahmin Sangarava, out of compassion for him."
4. And the Exalted One consented by His silence.
5. So next day at an early hour, the Exalted One robed himself and, taking outer robe and bowl, went to the dwelling of the Brahmin Sangarava, and when he got there he sat down on a seat made ready.
6. Then the Brahmin Sangarava came to the Exalted One and greeted him, and after the exchange of mutual courtesies sat down on one side.
7. As he thus sat, the Exalted One said this to the Brahmin Sangarava: "Is it true, Brahmin, as they say, that thou art a cleanser by water, that thou dost practise cleansing by water, abiding night and day given to the habit of going down to bathe?"
8. "True it is. Master Gautama."
9. "Now, Brahmin, seeking what profit dost thou so practise the habit of going down to bathe, and so forth?"
10. "It is in this way, Master Gautama. Whatsoever evil I do by day, I get it washed away that very evening by my bathing. Whatsoever evil I do by night, I get it washed away next morning by my bathing. That is the profit I am looking for in being a cleanser by water and so forth."
11. Then said the Exalted One:
12. "The Norm is the pool. It is clear and undefiled.
13. "Hither when they have come to bathe, the masters of the lore are cleansed in every limb, and pass unto the Further Shore."
14. Whereupon the Brahmin Sangarava said to the Exalted One: "Excellent it is, Master Gautama. May the Master Gautama accept me as his follower, from this day forth so long as life doth last, as one who has taken refuge in him."
1. Once while the Blessed Lord was on [a] journey he gave, as was his practice, the following discourse to the Bhikkhus who were accompanying him.
2. Addressing the Bhikkhus the Lord said: "O brethren, this holy life is not practised with a view to deceive people, nor to seek their favour, nor for the purpose of gain, benefit, or fame, nor with the intention of getting out of difficulties in controversy, nor that one may be known as such and such by men. Indeed, brethren, this holy life is practised for the controlling (of body and speech), the cleansing (of corruptions), and the detachment (from) and cessation (of craving)."
SECTION SIX--SERMONS ON SOCIO-POLITICAL QUESTIONS
§ 1. Do Not Depend on the Favour of Princes
1. Once the Exalted One was staying at Rajagraha in the Bamboo Grove, in the Squirrels' Feeding ground.
2. At that time, Prince Ajatasatru was supporting Devadatta, who had turned hostile to the Blessed Lord.
3. He was maintaining the supporters of Devadatta, late and early, with five hundred carts, conveying therein food brought in five hundred cooking-pots.
4. Then a number of the brethren came before the Exalted One, saluted him, and sat down on one side, and there sitting, they told all of these things to the Exalted One.
5. Then the Blessed Lord, addressing the brethren said: "Do ye not long for gains, favours and flattery from the kings. So long, brethren, as Prince Ajatasatru thus supports Devadatta, late and early, with five hundred carts, conveying therein food brought in five hundred cooking-pots, it is ruin, brethren, that may be expected of Devadatta, and not growth in good conditions.
6. "Just as if, brethren, one were to crumble liver on a mad dog's nose, the dog would only get the madder, even so, brethren, so long as Prince Ajatasatru thus supports Devadatta it is ruin that may be expected of Devadatta, and not growth in good conditions. Thus terrible, brethren, are gains, favours, and flattery of the princes.
7. "They are a bitter, painful hindrance to the attainment of the sure peace that passeth all.
8. "Wherefore, brethren, thus must you train yourselves: 'When gains, favours, and flattery befall us, we will reject them, and when they do befall us, they shall not take hold of and be established in our hearts, and make us slaves of the prince.'"
§2. If the King is Righteous, his Subjects will be Righteous
1. Once the Lord, addressing the Almsmen, said:
2. "Brethren during such time as kings are unrighteous, their ministers and officers also become unrighteous. The ministers and officers, brethren, being unrighteous, Brahmins and householders also become unrighteous. The Brahmins and householders, brethren, being unrighteous, the town-folk and villagers become unrighteous.
3. "But whenever, brethren, kings are righteous, then kings' ministers and officers also become righteous. Whenever kings' ministers and officers become righteous, the Brahmins and householders also become righteous. Whenever Brahmins and householders become righteous, the town-folk and villagers also become righteous.
4. "When kine are crossing, if the old bull swerves, they all go swerving, following his lead. So among men, if he who is reckoned chief walks crookedly, the others crooked go.
5. "Similarly, the whole realm suffers when the king goes wrong. When kine are crossing, if the bull goes straight they all go straight, because his course is straight. So among men, if he who's reckoned chief walks righteously, the others live aright. The whole realm lead happy lives when kings are good."
§3. It is the Social System on which Depends Political and Military Strength
1. The Blessed One was once dwelling in Rajagraha, on the hill called the Vultures' Peak.
2. Now at that time, Ajatasatru, the son of the queen consort of Videha origin, the king of Magadha, was desirous of attacking the Vajjins, and he said to himself, "I will root out these Vajjins, mighty and powerful though they be, I will destroy these Vajjins, I will bring these Vajjins to utter ruin!"
3. So he spoke to the Brahmin Vasakara, the Prime Minister of Magadha, and said:
4. "Come now, O Brahmin, do you go to the Blessed One, and bow down in adoration at his feet on my behalf, and enquire on my behalf whether he is free from illness and suffering, and in the enjoyment of ease and comfort and vigorous health.
5. "Then tell him that Ajatasatru, son of Videhi, the King of Magadha, is eager to attack the Vajjins, mighty and powerful though they be--I will destroy these Vajjins, I will bring these Vajjins to utter ruin!
6. "And bear carefully in mind whatever the Blessed One may predict, and repeat it to me. For the Buddha speaks nothing untrue."
7. Then the Brahmin Vasakara hearkened to the words of the king, saying, "Be it as you say." And ordering a number of magnificent carriages to be [made] ready, he went to the Vultures' Peak.
8. On arriving there, he exchanged with the Blessed One the greetings and compliments, and then delivered to him the message, even as the king had commanded.
9. Now at that time the venerable Ananda was standing behind the Blessed One. And the Blessed One said to him: "Have you heard, Ananda, that theVajjins hold full and frequent public assemblies?
10. "Lord, so I have heard," replied he.
11. "So long, Ananda," rejoined the Blessed One, "as the Vajjins hold these full and frequent public assemblies; so long may they be expected not to decline, but to prosper.
12. "So long, Ananda, as the Vajjins meet together in concord, and rise in concord, and carry out their undertakings in concord.
13. "So long as they enact nothing not already established, abrogate nothing that has been already enacted, and act in accordance with the ancient institutions of the Vajjins as established in former days.
14. "So long as they honour and esteem and revere and support the Vajjin Elders, and make it a point of duty to hearken to their words.
15. "So long as no women or girls belonging to their clans are detained among them by force or abduction.
16. "So long as the Vajjins respect and follow religion.
17. "So long, Ananda, the Vajjins may be expected not to decline but to prosper, and no one can destroy them."
18. In short, the Blessed Lord declared that so long as the Vajjins believe in democracy and practise democracy, there is no danger to their State.
19. Then the Blessed One addressed Vasakara and said:
20. "When I was once staying, O Brahmin, at Vaishali, I taught the Vajjins these conditions of welfare.
21. "We may expect, then," answered the Brahmin, "the welfare and not the decline of the Vajjins, so long as they observe these conditions. So, Gautama, the Vajjins cannot be overcome by the king of Magadha."
22. So Vasakara heard the words of the Blessed One, rose from his seat, and went back to Rajagraha to inform the king of what the Lord had said.
1. It so happened that Ajatasatru, the king of Magadha, mustering an army of cavalry and infantry, invaded Kasi, a part of the kingdom of king Pasenadi. And Pasenadi, hearing of the expedition, also mustered a similar army and went to meet him.
2. The two fought with one another, and Ajatasatru defeated the king Pasenadi, who retreated to his own capital Shravasti.
3. The Bhikkhus who were in Shravasti, returning from their alms round, came and told the Exalted One of the battle and the retreat.
4. "Almsmen, the king of Magadha, Ajatasatru, is a friend of whatever is evil. King Pasenadi is a friend of whatever is good. For the present, Pasenadi will pass the night in misery, a defeated man.
5. "Conquest engenders hate; the conquered lives in misery. But whoso is at peace and passionless, happily doth he live; conquest hath he abandoned and defeat."
6. Again it so happened these two kings met in battle a second time. But in that battle, the Kosala king Pasenadi defeated Ajatasatru and captured him alive. Then king Pasenadi thought: "Although this king injures me who was not injuring him, yet is he my nephew. What if I were now to confiscate his entire army, elephants, horses, chariots and infantry and leave him only his life?" And he did so.
7. And almsmen, returning from their alms tour in Shravasti, brought word of this to the Exalted One. Thereupon the Exalted One said: "A man may spoil another, just so far as it may serve his ends; but when he's spoiled by others, he, despoiled, spoils yet again.
8. "So long as evil's fruit is not matured, the fool doth fancy now's the hour, the chance! But when the deed bears fruit, he fareth ill.
9. "The slayer gets a slayer in his turn; the conqueror gets one who conquers him; the abuser wins abuse from another.
10. "Thus by the evolution of the deed, a man who spoils is spoiled in his turn."
§ 5. The Duty of the Victor Who Has Won Peace
2. "When Peace is won, the adept in warfare needs to prove an able, upright man, of gracious speech [and] kind mood, devoid of arrogance; an easy, grateful guest, no busybody, wants but few, sense-disciplined, quick-witted, bluster-free, never importunate; and let him never stoop to conduct mean or low, evoking grave rebuke.
3. "May creatures all abound in weal and peace; may all be blessed with peace always--all creatures weak or strong, all creatures great and small; creatures unseen or seen, dwelling afar or near, born or awaiting birth, may all be blessed with peace!
4. "Let none cajole or flout his fellows anywher ; let none wish others harm in dudgeon or in hate.
5. "Just as with her own life a mother shields from hurt her own, her only child, let all-embracing thoughts for all that lives be thine, an all-embracing love for all the universe in all its heights and depths and breadths, unstinted love, unmarred by hate within, not rousing enmity.
6."So, as you stand, or walk, or sit, or lie, reflect with all your might on this: 'Tis deemed a state divine.'"
No comments:
Post a Comment