The Downward Course

The one who lies, and the one who denies what they've clearly done, both head the same direction. In the end there's no difference between them: both are weighed down by their own dishonest deeds.

The liar goes to the state of woe; also he who, having done (wrong), says, “I did not do it.” Men of base actions both, on departing they share the same destiny in the other world.

Plenty of people wear the robes of holiness while behaving badly and without restraint. Their wrongdoing, not their costume, decides where they end up.

There are many evil characters and uncontrolled men wearing the saffron robe. These wicked men will be born in states of woe because of their evil deeds.

Better to swallow a red-hot iron ball, blazing like fire, than, living without principle or restraint, to eat the alms freely offered to you by trusting people.

It would be better to swallow a red-hot iron ball, blazing like fire, than as an immoral and uncontrolled monk to eat the alms of the people.

Four troubles fall on the heedless person who goes after someone else's spouse: a store of harm, broken sleep, a damaged name, and a downward path ahead.

Four misfortunes befall the reckless man who consorts with another’s wife: acquisition of demerit, disturbed sleep, ill-repute, and (rebirth in) states of woe.

Such a person earns harm and an unhappy birth to come. The pleasure two frightened people steal is brief, and the punishment that follows is heavy. So let no one go after another's spouse.

Such a man acquires demerit and an unhappy birth in the future. Brief is the pleasure of the frightened man and woman, and the king imposes heavy punishment. Hence, let no man consort with another’s wife.

Just as grass grasped carelessly cuts the hand, a spiritual practice taken up halfheartedly and wrongly can drag a person down instead of lifting them up.

Just as kusa grass wrongly handled cuts the hand, even so, a recluse’s life wrongly lived drags one to states of woe.

A slack and careless act, a corrupted observance, a holy life lived only for show: none of these bear much fruit.

Any loose act, any corrupt observance, any life of questionable celibacy — none of these bear much fruit.

If something is worth doing, do it with steady, wholehearted effort. A half-hearted, slack way of going about it only kicks up more dust along the way.

If anything is to be done, let one do it with sustained vigor. A lax monastic life stirs up the dust of passions all the more.

A harmful deed is better left undone, for it torments you afterward. A good deed is better done, for having done it, you have nothing to regret.

An evil deed is better left undone, for such a deed torments one afterwards. But a good deed is better done, doing which one repents not later.

Just as a frontier city is guarded closely both inside and out, guard yourself in the same way. Don't let this moment slip past; those who let it pass grieve when they fall into ruin.

Just as a border city is closely guarded both within and without, even so, guard yourself. Do not let slip this opportunity (for spiritual growth). For those who let slip this opportunity grieve indeed when consigned to hell.

Those who are ashamed of what is not shameful, and feel no shame at what truly is, holding false views, walk a path that leads downward.

Those who are ashamed of what they should not be ashamed of, and are not ashamed of what they should be ashamed of — upholding false views, they go to states of woe.

Those who fear what holds no danger, and feel no fear toward what truly is dangerous, holding false views, walk a path that leads downward.

Those who see something to fear where there is nothing to fear, and see nothing to fear where there is something to fear — upholding false views, they go to states of woe.

Those who imagine wrong where there is none, and fail to see wrong where it truly is, holding false views, walk a path that leads downward.

Those who imagine evil where there is none, and do not see evil where it is — upholding false views, they go to states of woe.

Those who see wrong as wrong and right as right, holding right views, walk toward states of happiness.

Those who discern the wrong as wrong and the right as right — upholding right views, they go to realms of bliss.