an.4.19 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Wrong Courses (3)

“Bhikkhus, there are these four ways of taking a wrong course. What four? One takes a wrong course because of desire … as in 4:17 … These are the four ways of taking a wrong course.

“Bhikkhus, there are these four ways of not taking a wrong course. What four? One does not take a wrong course because of desire … as in 4:18 … These are the four ways of taking a wrong course.”

If through desire, hate, fear, or delusion
one transgresses against the Dhamma,
one’s fame diminishes like the moon
in the dark fortnight.

If one does not transgress the Dhamma
through desire, hate, fear, or delusion,
one’s fame becomes full like the moon
in the bright fortnight.

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

---

Prejudice (3rd)

“Mendicants, there are these four ways of making prejudiced decisions.
What four?
Making decisions prejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, and cowardice.
These are the four ways of making prejudiced decisions.
There are these four ways of making unprejudiced decisions.
What four?
Making decisions unprejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, and cowardice.
These are the four ways of making unprejudiced decisions.
If you act against the teaching
out of favoritism, hostility, cowardice, or stupidity,
your fame fades away,
like the moon in the waning fortnight.
If you don’t act against the teaching
out of favoritism, hostility, cowardice, and stupidity,
your fame swells,
like the moon in the waxing fortnight.”