“I will teach you the principle to realize and the principle not to realize. … And what is the principle not to realize? Wrong view, wrong thought, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness, wrong immersion, wrong knowledge, and wrong freedom. This is called the principle not to realize. And what is the principle to realize? Right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right immersion, right knowledg

“Mendicants, you should not associate with an individual who has ten qualities. What ten? Wrong view, wrong thought, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness, wrong immersion, wrong knowledge, and wrong freedom. You should not associate with an individual who has these ten qualities. You should associate with an individual who has ten qualities. What ten? Right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness,

“Mendicants, there are five accomplishments. What five? Accomplishment in faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom. These are the five accomplishments.”

“Mendicants, there are four areas where the Realized One has nothing to hide, and three ways he is irreproachable. What are the four areas where the Realized One has nothing to hide? His bodily behavior is pure. So the Realized One has no bodily misconduct to hide, thinking: ‘Don’t let others find this out about me!’ These are the four areas where the Realized One has nothing to hide, and the three ways he is irreproachable.” His verbal behavior is pure. So the Realized One has no verbal miscond

“Mendicants, there are these five kinds of wealth. What five? The wealth of faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom. And what is the wealth of faith? It’s when a noble disciple has faith in the Realized One’s awakening: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ This is called the wealth of faith. And what is the wealth

“Mendicants, when there is no conscience and prudence, one who lacks conscience and prudence has destroyed a vital condition for sense restraint. When there is no sense restraint, one who lacks sense restraint has destroyed a vital condition for ethical conduct. When there is no ethical conduct, one who lacks ethics has destroyed a vital condition for right immersion. When there is no right immersion, one who lacks right immersion has destroyed a vital condition for true knowledge and vision. Wh

“Mendicants, I will teach you the teaching of the noble ones, and what is not the teaching of the noble ones. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak. … And what is not the teaching of the noble ones? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called what is not the teaching of the noble ones. And what is the teaching of the noble ones? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the teaching of the noble ones.”

“Mendicants, there are these five factors that support meditation. They’re wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. These are the five factors that support meditation.” What five? It’s when a mendicant has faith in the Realized One’s awakening: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training,

“Mendicants, when a king’s frontier citadel is well provided with seven essentials and gets four kinds of sustenance when needed, without trouble or difficulty, it is then called a king’s frontier citadel that cannot be overrun by external foes and enemies. Furthermore, a king’s frontier citadel has much rice and barley stored up for those within. Furthermore, a king’s frontier citadel has much food such as sesame, green gram, and black gram stored up for those within. Furthermore, a king’s fron

“I will teach you the skillful and the unskillful … And what is the unskillful? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the unskillful. And what is the skillful? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the skillful.”

At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants when he arrived at a village of the Kosalan brahmins named Venāgapura. The brahmins and householders of Venāgapura heard: “It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—has arrived at Venāgapura. He has this good reputation: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for th

“A mendicant with seven qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world. What seven? It’s when a mendicant knows the teachings, knows the meaning, has self-knowledge, knows moderation, knows the right time, knows assemblies, and knows individuals high and low. Two individuals like to hear the true teaching: one actively listens to the teaching, on

“I will teach you the noble path and the ignoble path. … And what is the ignoble path? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the ignoble path. And what is the noble path? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the noble path.”

“I will teach you the dark path and the bright path. … And what is the dark path? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the dark path. And what is the bright path? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the bright path.”

“I will teach you what is the true teaching and what is not the true teaching. … And what is not the true teaching? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called what is not the true teaching. And what is the true teaching? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the true teaching.”

“I will teach you the principle to cultivate and the principle not to cultivate. … And what is the principle not to cultivate? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the principle not to cultivate. And what is the principle to cultivate? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the principle to cultivate.”

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants. While walking along the road, at a certain spot he saw a great mass of fire burning, blazing, and glowing. Seeing this he left the road, sat at the root of a tree on a seat spread out, and addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants, do you see that great mass of fire burning, blazing, and glowing?” “Yes, sir.” “I declare this to you, mendicants, I announce this to you! It woul

“I will teach you the principle to recollect and the principle not to recollect. … And what is the principle not to recollect? Killing living creatures … wrong view. This is called the principle not to recollect. And what is the principle to recollect? Not killing living creatures … right view. This is called the principle to recollect.”

“Mendicants, a male noble disciple who grows in five ways grows nobly, taking on what is essential and excellent in this life. What five? He grows in faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom. A male noble disciple who grows in these five ways grows nobly, taking on what is essential and excellent in this life. He who grows in faith and ethics, wisdom, and both generosity and learning— a good man such as he sees clearly, and takes on what is essential for himself in this life.”

“Mendicants, a female noble disciple who grows in five ways grows nobly, taking on what is essential and excellent in this life. What five? She grows in faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom. A female noble disciple who grows in these five ways grows nobly, taking on what is essential and excellent in this life. She who grows in faith and ethics, wisdom, and both generosity and learning— a virtuous laywoman such as she takes on what is essential for herself in this life.”