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an.2.18 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

18
Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him,
“Ānanda, I absolutely say that you should not do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind.”
“But, sir, if someone does these things that should not be done, what drawbacks should they expect?”
“They should expect these drawbacks.
They blame themselves.
After examination, sensible people criticize them.
They get a bad reputation.
They feel lost when they die.
And when their body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.
These are the drawbacks they should expect.”
“Ānanda, I absolutely say that you should do good things by way of body, speech, and mind.”
“But, sir, if someone does these things that should be done, what benefits should they expect?”
“They should expect these benefits.
They don’t blame themselves.
After examination, sensible people praise them.
They get a good reputation.
They don’t feel lost when they die.
And when the body breaks up, after death, they are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.
These are the benefits they should expect.”