Sāriputta
With what kinds of conduct and morality,
growing in what sorts of karmas,
will a person well-established be
for attainment of the highest goal?Buddha
Let that one be an honourer of elders, never envious,
a knower of the right time for the teacher seeing,
and when Dharma’s being taught, a knower of that time
to listen precisely to those well-spoken words.And at the right time go to the teacher’s presence
in an unassuming way, discarding obstinacy,
with restraint and recollection of the way to practise,
remembering the Dharma for the life of purity.Dwelling in the Dharma, delighted in Dharma,
in Dharma established, and skilled in deciding Dharma,
never uttering words to the Dharma’s detriment,
Let such a one be guided by well-spoken truths.Disputatiousness, gossip, complaints and ill-will,
deception, hypocrisy, longing and pride,
aggressiveness, harshness, defilements-attached,
fare abandoning these, pride-free, of steady mind.Understanding’s the essence of well-spoken words,
while that and the learnt is the essence of calmness;
but wisdom and learning in one do not grow—
that person who’s hasty and negligent both.Delighting in Dharma by Noble Ones taught,
their mind, speech and body all unsurpassed—
in gentleness, peace, meditative-states firm,
attained to the essence of wisdom and learning.
snp.2.9 Suttanipata
What is Good Conduct?
- Translator: Laurence Khantipalo Mills
What Morality?
“With what morality, what conduct,fostering what deeds,
would a person lay the foundations right,
and reach the highest goal?”
“Honoring elders without jealousy,
they’d know the time to visit their teachers.
Treasuring the chance for a Dhamma talk,
they’d listen carefully to the well-spoken words.
At the right time, they’d humbly enter
the teachers’ presence, leaving obstinacy behind.
They’d call to mind and put into practice
the meaning, the teaching, self-control, and the spiritual life.
Delighting in the teaching, enjoying the teaching,
standing on the teaching, investigating the teaching,
they’d never say anything that degraded the teaching,
but would be guided by genuine words well-spoken.
Giving up mirth, prayer, weeping, ill will,
deception, fraud, greed, conceit,
aggression, crudeness, stains, and indulgence,
they’d wander free of vanity, steadfast.
Understanding is the essence of well-spoken words,
stillness is the essence of learning and understanding.
Wisdom and learning do not flourish
in a hasty and negligent person.
Those happy with the teaching proclaimed by the Noble One
are supreme in speech, mind, and deed.
Settled in peace, gentleness, and stillness,
they’ve realized the essence of learning and wisdom.”