The Long Āgama Sūtra 21.10

21.10

「云何小緣威儀戒行，凡夫寡聞，直以所見如實稱讚？彼讚嘆言：『沙門瞿曇滅殺、除殺，捨於刀杖，懷慙愧心，慈愍一切。』此是小緣威儀戒行，彼寡聞凡夫以此歎佛。又嘆：『沙門瞿曇捨不與取，滅不與取，無有盜心。』又嘆：『沙門瞿曇捨於婬欲，淨修梵行，一向護戒，不習婬逸，所行清潔。』又嘆：『沙門瞿曇捨滅妄語，所言至誠，所說真實，不誑世人。沙門瞿曇捨滅兩舌，不以此言壞亂於彼，不以彼言壞亂於此；有諍訟者能令和合，已和合者增其歡喜，有所言說不離和合，誠實入心，所言知時。沙門瞿曇捨滅惡口，若有麤言傷損於人，增彼結恨長怨憎者，如此麤言盡皆不為；常以善言悅可人心，眾所愛樂，聽無厭足，但說此言。沙門瞿曇捨滅綺語，知時之語、實語、利語、法語、律語、止非之語，但說是言。

“What are the minor matters of deportment and observing precepts that ordinary, uneducated people only praise when they see them?

“There’s this praise: ‘The ascetic Gautama has ceased killing, desisted from killing, and discarded swords and staves. He feels remorse [for wrongdoing] and compassion for all [living things].’ This is a minor matter of deportment and observing precepts for which ordinary, uneducated people praise the Buddha.

“There’s also this praise: ‘The ascetic Gautama has discarded taking what’s not given, ceased taking what’s not given, and doesn’t have any thoughts of stealing.’

“There’s also this praise: ‘The ascetic Gautama has discarded lustful desire and purely cultivates the religious life. He simply guards the precepts and doesn’t engage in sexual intercourse. His conduct is pure and clean.’

“There’s also this praise: ‘The ascetic Gautama has discarded and ceased false speech. His words being sincere and his statements being true, he doesn’t deceive worldly people.’ … ‘The ascetic Gautama discarded and ceased duplicity. He doesn’t say things here to cause misunderstandings there or say things there to cause misunderstandings here. When there’s conflict, he brings people together. Once they are united, he increases their joy. His words and statements don’t divide those who are unified. His heart is sincere, and he speaks when it’s appropriate.’ … ‘The ascetic Gautama has discarded and ceased harsh speech. If there are crude words that hurt people, increase feelings of resentment, and nurture hatred, he doesn’t use any of those crude words. He always delights people’s mind with skillful words that are desired by many, and people don’t grow tired of hearing them. He only speaks these words.’ … ‘The ascetic Gautama has discarded and ceased fancy speech. He speaks when it’s appropriate, speaks truly, speaks beneficially, speaks about principles, speaks about discipline, and stops speaking otherwise. He only speaks these words.’