iti.40 Itivuttaka

Knowledge

This was said by the Lord…

“Ignorance, bhikkhus, precedes and leads to unwholesome states, and shamelessness and lack of fear of wrongdoing follow after. Knowledge, bhikkhus, precedes and leads to wholesome states, and shame and fear of wrongdoing follow after.”

Whatever bad bourns there are
In this world and hereafter,
All are rooted in ignorance,
Constructed by desire and greed.

Since one of evil desires
Is shameless and disrespectful,
From that evil flows forth
And he goes to a state of misery.

Thus by discarding desire and greed,
Along with ignorance as well,
A bhikkhu arouses knowledge
And abandons all bad bourns.

- Translator: John D. Ireland

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Knowledge

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“Mendicants, ignorance precedes the attainment of unskillful qualities, with lack of conscience and prudence following along.
Knowledge precedes the attainment of skillful qualities, with conscience and prudence following along.”
The Buddha spoke this matter.
On this it is said:
“Bad destinies of whatever kind,
in this world or the next,
are all rooted in ignorance,
compounded of greed and desire.
Since one of wicked desires is
unconscientious, lacking regard for others,
they make much bad karma,
which sends them to a place of loss.
Therefore, dispelling desire
and greed and ignorance,
a mendicant arousing knowledge
would cast off all bad destinies.”
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.