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 thus: "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; so too, 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.