1.
The Chapter on Fools
1.
The Discourse on Fear
1. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. There the Blessed One addressed the monks - "Monks." "Venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this -
"Whatever fears arise, monks, all of them arise from the fool, not from the wise person. Whatever misfortunes arise, all of them arise from the fool, not from the wise person. Whatever dangers arise, all of them arise from the fool, not from the wise person. Just as, monks, fire released from a reed hut or a grass hut burns even pinnacled buildings that are plastered inside and out, sheltered from the wind, with bolts fastened and shutters closed; just so, monks, whatever fears arise, all of them arise from the fool, not from the wise person. Whatever misfortunes arise, all of them arise from the fool, not from the wise person. Whatever dangers arise, all of them arise from the fool, not from the wise person.
"Thus indeed, monks, the fool is one with fear, the wise person is one without fear. The fool is one with misfortune, the wise person is one without misfortune. The fool is one with danger, the wise person is one without danger. There is no fear, monks, from the wise person, there is no misfortune from the wise person, there is no danger from the wise person.
"Therefore, monks, you should train thus - 'Having avoided those three qualities by which a fool is to be known, we will undertake and practise those three qualities by which a wise person is to be known.' Thus indeed, monks, should you train." The first.
2.
The Discourse on the Marks of a Great Man
2. "The fool is characterised by action, monks, the wise person is characterised by action; wisdom is adorned by conduct. A fool, monks, should be known as possessed of three qualities. With which three? Bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, mental misconduct. A fool, monks, should be known as possessed of these three qualities.
"A wise person, monks, should be known as possessed of three qualities. With which three? Bodily good conduct, verbal good conduct, mental good conduct. A wise person, monks, should be known as possessed of these three qualities.
"Therefore, monks, you should train thus - 'Having avoided those three qualities by which a fool is to be known, we will undertake and practise those three qualities by which a wise person is to be known.' Thus indeed, monks, should you train." The second.
3.
The Discourse on Reflection
3. "There are, monks, these three characteristics of a fool, signs of a fool, manifestations of a fool. What three? Here, monks, a fool is one who thinks badly thought thoughts, speaks badly spoken speech, and does badly done deeds. If, monks, this fool were not one who thinks badly thought thoughts, speaks badly spoken speech, and does badly done deeds, by what would the wise know him - 'This venerable one is a fool, a bad person'? But because, monks, a fool is one who thinks badly thought thoughts, speaks badly spoken speech, and does badly done deeds, therefore the wise know him - 'This venerable one is a fool, a bad person.' These, monks, are the three characteristics of a fool, signs of a fool, manifestations of a fool.
"There are, monks, these three characteristics of a wise person, signs of a wise person, manifestations of a wise person. What three? Here, monks, a wise person is one who thinks well-thought thoughts, speaks well-spoken speech, and does well-done deeds. If, monks, this wise person were not one who thinks well-thought thoughts, speaks well-spoken speech, and does well-done deeds, by what would the wise know him - 'This venerable one is wise, a good person'? But because, monks, a wise person is one who thinks well-thought thoughts, speaks well-spoken speech, and does well-done deeds, therefore the wise know him - 'This venerable one is wise, a good person.' These, monks, are the three characteristics of a wise person, signs of a wise person, manifestations of a wise person. Therefore here... The third.
4.
The Discourse on Transgression
4. "A fool, monks, should be known as possessed of three qualities. With which three? He does not see a transgression as a transgression, having seen a transgression as a transgression he does not make amends according to the rule, and when another is confessing a transgression he does not accept according to the rule. A fool, monks, should be known as possessed of these three qualities.
"A wise person, monks, should be known as possessed of three qualities. With which three? He sees a transgression as a transgression, having seen a transgression as a transgression he makes amends according to the rule, and when another is confessing a transgression he accepts according to the rule. A wise person, monks, should be known as possessed of these three qualities. Therefore here... The fourth.
5.
The Discourse on Unwise
5. "A fool, monks, should be known as possessed of three qualities. With which three? He is one who asks a question unwisely, he is one who answers a question unwisely, and when another has answered a question wisely with coherent phrases, smooth and reaching the point, he does not rejoice. A fool, monks, should be known as possessed of these three qualities.
"A wise person, monks, should be known as possessed of three qualities. With which three? He is one who asks a question wisely, he is one who answers a question wisely, and when another has answered a question wisely with coherent phrases, smooth and reaching the point, he rejoices. A wise person, monks, should be known as possessed of these three qualities. Therefore here... The fifth.
6.
The Discourse on the Unwholesome
6. "A fool, monks, should be known as possessed of three qualities. With which three? With unwholesome bodily action, with unwholesome verbal action, with unwholesome mental action. A fool, monks, should be known as possessed of these three qualities.
"A wise person, monks, should be known as possessed of three qualities. With which three? With wholesome bodily action, with wholesome verbal action, with wholesome mental action. A wise person, monks, should be known as possessed of these three qualities. Therefore here... The sixth.
7.
The Discourse on the Blameworthy
7. "A fool, monks, should be known as possessed of three qualities. With which three? With blameworthy bodily action, with blameworthy verbal action, with blameworthy mental action. Etc. With blameless bodily action, with blameless verbal action, with blameless mental action. Etc. The seventh.
8.
The Discourse on the Harmful
8. "A fool, monks, should be known as possessed of three qualities. With which three? With harmful bodily action, with harmful verbal action, with harmful mental action. Etc. With harmless bodily action, with harmless verbal action, with harmless mental action. A wise person, monks, should be known as possessed of these three qualities.
"Therefore, monks, you should train thus - 'Having avoided those three qualities by which a fool is to be known, we will undertake and practise those three qualities by which a wise person is to be known.' Thus indeed, monks, should you train." The eighth.
9.
The Discourse on the Wounded
9. "Monks, a foolish, inexperienced bad person possessed of three qualities maintains himself injured and damaged, is blameable and censurable by the wise, and generates much demerit. With which three? Bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, mental misconduct. Monks, a foolish, inexperienced bad person possessed of these three qualities maintains himself injured and damaged, is blameable and censurable by the wise, and generates much demerit.
"Monks, a wise, accomplished good person possessed of three qualities maintains himself uninjured and undamaged, is faultless and beyond censure by the wise, and generates much merit. With which three? Bodily good conduct, verbal good conduct, mental good conduct. Monks, a wise, accomplished good person possessed of these three qualities maintains himself uninjured and undamaged, is faultless and beyond censure by the wise, and generates much merit." The ninth.
10.
The Discourse on Stains
10. "Monks, one possessed of three qualities, not having abandoned three stains, is deposited in hell as if carried there. With which three? He is immoral, and the stain of immorality has not been abandoned by him; he is envious, and the stain of envy has not been abandoned by him; he is stingy, and the stain of stinginess has not been abandoned by him. Monks, one possessed of these three qualities, not having abandoned these three stains, is deposited in hell as if carried there.
"Monks, one possessed of three qualities, having abandoned three stains, is deposited in heaven as if carried there. With which three? He is moral, and the stain of immorality has been abandoned by him; he is without envy, and the stain of envy has been abandoned by him; he is without stinginess, and the stain of stinginess has been abandoned by him. Monks, one possessed of these three qualities, having abandoned these three stains, is deposited in heaven as if carried there." The tenth.
The Chapter on Fools is first.
Its summary:
Unwholesome and blameworthy, with affliction, injured, and stain.