Absence of greed, hate, and delusion
11, "What do you think, Kalamas? Does absence of greed appear in a
man for his benefit or harm?" - "For his benefit, venerable sir." -
"Kalamas, being not given to greed, and being not overwhelmed and
not vanquished mentally by greed, this man does not take life, does
not steal, does not commitadultery, and does not tell lies; he
prompts another too, to do likewise. Will that be long for his
benefit and happiness?" - "Yes, venerable sir."
12. "What do you think, Kalamas? Does absence of hate appear in a
man for his benefit or harm?" - "For his benefit, venerable sir." -
"Kalamas, being not given to hate, and being not overwhelmed and
not vanquished mentally by hate, this man does not take life, does
not steal, does not commit adultery, and does not tell lies; he
prompts another too, to do likewise. Will that be long for his
benefit and happiness?" - "Yes, venerable sir."
13. "What do you think, Kalamas? Does absence of delusion appear in
a man for his benefit or harm?" - "For his benefit, venerable sir."
- "Kalamas, being not given to delusion, and being not overwhelmed
and not vanquished mentally by delusion, this man does not take
life, does not steal, does not commit adultery, and does not tell
lies; he prompts another too, to do likewise. Will that be long for
his benefit and happiness?" - "Yes, venerable sir."
14. "What do you think, Kalamas? Are these things good or bad?" -
"Good, venerable sir." - "Blamable or not blamable?" - "Not
blamable, venerable sir." - "Censured or praised by the wise?" -
"Praised, venerable sir." - "Undertaken and observed, do these
things lead to benefit and happiness, or not? Or how does it strike
you?" - "Undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and
happiness. Thus it strikes us here."
15. "Therefore, did we say, Kalamas, what was said thus, 'Come
Kalamas. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing;
nor upon tradition; nor upon rumor; nor upon what is in a
scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious
reasoning; nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered
over; nor upon another's seeming ability; nor upon the
consideration, "The monk is our teacher." Kalamas, when you
yourselves know: "These things are bad; these things are blamable;
these things are censured by the wise; undertaken and observed,
these things lead to harm and ill," abandon them.'
The Four Exalted Dwellings
16. "The disciple of the Noble Ones, Kalamas, who in this way is
devoid of coveting, devoid of ill will, undeluded, clearly
comprehending and mindful, dwells, having pervaded, with the
thought of amity, one quarter; likewise the second; likewise the
third; likewise the fourth; so above, below, and across; he dwells,
having pervaded because of the existence in it of all living
beings, everywhere, the entire world, with the great, exalted,
boundless thought of amity that is free of hate or malice.
"He lives, having pervaded, with the thought of compassion, one
quarter; likewise the second; likewise the third; likewise the
fourth; so above, below, and across; he dwells, having pervaded
because of the existence in it of all living beings, everywhere,
the entire world, with the great, exalted, boundless thought of
compassion that is free of hate or malice.
"He lives, having pervaded, with the thought of gladness, one
quarter; likewise the second; likewise the third; likewise the
fourth; so above, below, and across; he dwells, having pervaded
because of the existence in it of all living beings, everywhere,
the entire world, with the great, exalted, boundless thought of
gladness that is free of hate or malice.
"He lives, having pervaded, with the thought of equanimity, one
quarter; likewise the second; likewise the third; likewise the
fourth; so above, below, and across; he dwells, having pervaded
because of the existence in it of all living beings, everywhere,
the entire world, with the great, exalted, boundless thought of
equanimity that is free of hate or malice.
The Four Solaces
17. "The disciple of the Noble Ones, Kalamas, who has such a
hate-free mind, such a malice-free mind, such an undefiled mind,
and such a purified mind, is one by whom four solaces are found
here and now.
"'Suppose there is a hereafter and there is a fruit, result, of
deeds done well or ill. Then it is possible that at the dissolution
of the body after death, I shall arise in the heavenly world, which
is possessed of the state of bliss.' This is the first solace found
by him.
"'Suppose there is no hereafter and there is no fruit, no result,
of deeds done well or ill. Yet in this world, here and now, free
from hatred, free from malice, safe and sound, and happy, I keep
myself.' This is the second solace found by him.
"'Suppose evil (results) befall an evil-doer. I, however, think of
doing evil to no one. Then, how can ill (results) affect me who do
no evil deed?' This is the third solace found by him.
"'Suppose evil (results) do not befall an evil-doer. Then I see
myself purified in any case.' This is the fourth solace found by
him.
"The disciple of the Noble Ones, Kalamas, who has such a hate-free
mind, such a malice-free mind, such an undefiled mind, and such a
purified mind, is one by whom, here and now, these four solaces are
found."
"So it is, Blessed One. So it is, Sublime one. The disciple of the
Noble Ones, venerable sir, who has such a hate-free mind, such a
malice-free mind, such an undefiled mind, and such a purified mind,
is one by whom, here and now, four solaces are found.
"'Suppose there is no hereafter and there is no fruit, no result,
of deeds done well or ill. Yet in this world, here and now, free
from hatred, free from malice, safe and sound, and happy, I keep
myself.' This is the second solace found by him.
"'Suppose evil (results) befall an evil-doer. I, however, think of
doing evil to no one. Then, how can ill (results) affect me who do
no evil deed?' This is the third solace found by him.
"'Suppose evil (results) do not befall an evil-doer. Then I see
myself purified in any case.' This is the fourth solace found by
him.
"The disciple of the Noble Ones, venerable sir, who has such a
hate-free mind, such a malice-free mind, such an undefiled mind,
and such a purified mind, is one by whom, here and now, these four
solaces are found."
"Marvelous, venerable sir! Marvelous, venerable sir! As if,
venerable sir, a person were to turn face upwards what is upside
down, or to uncover the concealed, or to point the way to one who
is lost or to carry a lamp in the darkness, thinking, 'Those who
have eyes will see visible objects,' so has the Dhamma been set
forth in many ways by the Blessed One. We, venerable sir, go to the
Blessed One for refuge, to the Dhamma for refuge, and to the
Community of Bhikkhus for refuge. Venerable sir, may the Blessed
One regard us as lay followers who have gone for refuge for life,
from today."
Anguttara Nikaya, Tika Nipata
Mahavagga, Sutta No. 65
