The Samyutta Nikaya
The Grouped Discourses
Samyutta Nikaya III.17
Appamada Sutta
Heedfulness
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
At Savatthi. As he was sitting to one side, King
Pasenadi Kosala said to the Blessed One: "Is there, lord, any one
quality that keeps both kinds of benefits secure -- those in the present
life and those in the future life?"
"There is one quality, great king, that keeps both
kinds of benefits secure -- those pertaining to the present life and those
to the future life."
"But what, venerable sir, is that one
quality...?"
"Heedfulness, great king.
Just as the footprints of all living beings with legs can be encompassed
by the footprint of the elephant, and the elephant's footprint is declared
to be supreme among them in terms of its great size; in the same way,
heedfulness is the one quality that keeps both kinds of benefits secure --
those in the present life and those in the future life."
That is what the Blessed One said. Having said that,
the One Well-Gone, the Teacher, said further:
For one who desires
long life, health,
beauty, heaven, & noble birth,
-- lavish delights, one after another --
the wise praise heedfulness
in performing deeds of merit.
The wise person, heedful,
achieves both benefits:
those in the here-&-now
and those in the life to come.
By breaking through to his benefit,
he's called enlightened,
wise.
---o0o---
[
Back
to
Samyutta Nikaya
contents]
[Next]
---o0o---
| The Sutta Pitaka |
The Vinaya Pitaka
|
the Abhidhamma Pitaka
|
---o0o---
Computer layout:
Nhi Tuong
Update : 01-05-2002
