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- Sutta Nipata II.9
- Kimsila Sutta
- Right Conduct
- Translated from the Pali by John D. Ireland
- For free distribution only,
by arrangement with the Buddhist Publication Society
From The Discourse Collection: Selected Texts from the Sutta Nipata (WH 82),
translated by John D. Ireland (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1983).
"By developing what habit, what conduct, what actions may man be correctly
established in and arrive at the highest goal?
"He should respect his elders and not be envious of them. He should know the right
time for seeing his teacher. [1] If a talk on Dhamma has
started he should know the value of the opportunity and should listen carefully to the
well-spoken words. [2]
"When the time is right let him go to his teacher's presence, unassuming, putting
aside stubbornness. Let him keep in mind and practice (what he has learned): the meaning
and the text (of the Teaching), self-control and (the other virtues of) the Holy Life. [3] Delighting in the Dhamma, devoted to the Dhamma, established in
the Dhamma, skilled in investigating the Dhamma, [4] let him
not indulge in talk harmful to the (practice of) Dhamma. Let him be guided by well-spoken
truths.
"Abandoning the uttering of laughter and lamentations; giving up anger, fraud,
hypocrisy, longing, conceit, violence, harshness, moral taints and infatuation; let him
live without pride, self controlled. Understanding is essential (for listening) to a
well-spoken word. Learning and understanding are essential to meditation, but a man who is
hasty and heedless does not increase his wisdom and learning.
"Those who are devoted to the Dhamma made known by the Noble Ones (ariya) are
unsurpassed in speech, thought and action. They are established in peace, gentleness and
concentration, and have reached the essence of learning and wisdom."
-- vv. 324-330
Notes
1. That is when needing their advice for dispelling mental
defilements. [Go back]
2. The phrase "well-spoken" (subhasita) is a
technical term in the Pali Canon. It refers to sayings connected with Dhamma and
concerning one's well-being, happiness and progress on the path. [Go back]
3. The rendering follows the Commentary. [Go back]
4. Or, "having discriminative knowledge of the
Dhamma." [Go back]