Help | Home » Tipitaka » Sutta Pitaka » Anguttara Nikaya » Context of this sutta

Anguttara Nikaya III.2

Lakkhana Sutta

Characterized (by Action)

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only


"Monks, a fool is characterized by his/her actions. A wise person is characterized by his/her actions. It is through the activities of one's life that one's discernment shines.

"A person endowed with three things is to be recognized as a fool. Which three? Bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, mental misconduct. A person endowed with these three things is to be recognized as a fool.

"A person endowed with three things is to be recognized as a wise person. Which three? Good bodily conduct, good verbal conduct, good mental conduct. A person endowed with these three things is to be recognized as a wise person.

"Thus, monks, you should train yourselves: 'We will avoid the three things that, endowed with which, one is to be recognized as a fool. We will undertake & maintain the three things that, endowed with which, one is to be recognized as a wise person.' That's how you should train yourselves."


See also: AN X.176.


Revised: Wednesday 2005-06-22
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/anguttara/an-03-002-tb0.html