iti.88 Itivuttaka

Inner Stains

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, these three are inner stains, inner enemies, inner foes, inner murderers, inner adversaries. What three? Greed, bhikkhus, is an inner stain … an inner adversary. Hate is an inner stain … an inner adversary. Delusion is an inner stain … an inner adversary. These are the three.”

Greed is a cause of misfortune,
Greed agitates the mind;
People do not understand this
As a danger produced within.

A greedy person does not know the good,
A greedy person does not see the Dhamma;
Blinding darkness then prevails
When greed overwhelms a person.

But one who has abandoned greed
Longs not for what invites cupidity.
Greed slips away from him
As a water drop from a lotus leaf.

Hate is a cause of misfortune,
Hate agitates the mind;
People do not understand this
As a danger produced within.

A hater does not know the good,
A hater does not see the Dhamma;
Blinding darkness then prevails
When hate overwhelms a person.

But one who has abandoned hate
Is not angered by what incites to anger.
Hate drops away from him
As a palmyra fruit from its stalk.

Delusion is a cause of misfortune,
Delusion agitates the mind;
People do not understand this
As a danger produced within.

One deluded does not know the good,
One deluded does not see the Dhamma;
Blinding darkness then prevails
When delusion overwhelms a person.

But one who has abandoned delusion
Is not bewildered by confusing things.
He puts an end to all delusion
As the sunrise dispels the dark.

- Translator: John D. Ireland

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Inner Stains

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“Mendicants, there are these three inner stains, inner foes, inner enemies, inner killers, and inner adversaries.
What three?
Greed,
hate,
and delusion.
These three are inner stains, inner foes, inner enemies, inner killers, and inner adversaries.”
The Buddha spoke this matter.
On this it is said:
“Greed creates harm;
greed upsets the mind.
That person doesn’t recognize
the danger that arises within.
A greedy person doesn’t know the good.
A greedy person doesn’t see the truth.
When a person is beset by greed,
only blind darkness is left.
Those who have given up greed,
don’t get greedy even when provoked.
Greed falls off them
like a drop from a lotus-leaf.
Hate creates harm;
hate upsets the mind.
That person doesn’t recognize
the danger that arises within.
A hateful person doesn’t know the good.
A hateful person doesn’t see the truth.
When a person is beset by hate,
only blind darkness is left.
Those who have given up hate,
don’t get angry even when provoked.
Hate falls off them
like a palm-leaf from its stem.
Delusion creates harm;
delusion upsets the mind.
That person doesn’t recognize
the danger that arises within.
A deluded person doesn’t know the good.
A deluded person doesn’t see the truth.
When a person is beset by delusion,
only blind darkness is left.
Those who have given up delusion,
don’t get deluded even when provoked.
They banish all delusion,
as the rising sun the dark.”
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.