The Long Āgama Sūtra 6.9

6.9

「又告子曰：『又汝土境所有沙門、婆羅門履行清真，功德具足，精進不懈，去離憍慢，忍辱仁愛，閑獨自修，獨自止息，獨到涅槃，自除貪欲，化彼除貪；自除瞋恚，化彼除瞋；自除愚癡，化彼除癡。於染不染，於惡不惡，於愚不愚，可著不著，可住不住，可居不居。身行質直，口言質直，意念質直；身行清淨，口言清淨，意念清淨，正念清淨，仁慧無厭，衣食知足，持鉢乞食，以福眾生。有如是人者，汝當數詣，隨時諮問，凡所修行，何善何惡？云何為犯？云何非犯？何者可親？何者不可親？何者可作？何者不可作？施行何法，長夜受樂？汝諮問已，以意觀察，宜行則行，宜捨則捨。國有孤老，當拯給之；貧窮困劣，有來取者，慎勿違逆。國有舊法，汝勿改易，此是轉輪聖王所修行法，汝當奉行。』」

“He also told his son, ‘Moreover, the ascetics and priests present in your domain should be pure and genuine in behavior. They should perfect virtue, be diligent and not negligent, abandon arrogance, and be patient and humane. They should cultivate themselves in quietude, calm themselves in seclusion, and reach Nirvāṇa in seclusion. They should rid themselves of craving and teach others to rid themselves of craving. They should rid themselves of anger and teach others to rid themselves of anger. They should rid themselves of delusion and teach others to rid themselves of delusion. They shouldn’t be defiled by defilements, made evil by evils, fooled by foolishness, attached to attachments, abide in abodes, or live in dwellings.

“Their physical conduct should be genuine, verbal [conduct] genuine, and mental [conduct] genuine. Their physical conduct should be pure, verbal [conduct] pure, and mental [conduct] pure. Their correct livelihood is purity. They’re kind, wise, tireless, satisfied with their food, and take bowls to solicit alms for the merit of sentient beings.

“When such people exist, you should visit them often and inquire about all manner of cultivation at the appropriate time: ‘What’s good, and what’s evil? What’s a transgression, and what’s not a transgression? Who shall I befriend and who shouldn’t be befriended? What’s appropriate to do, and what can’t be done? Giving donations to what teaching will bring happiness for a long time?’ After you ask such questions, use your mind to investigate what ought to be practiced and practice it. Abandon what ought to be abandoned.

“The elderly and orphans in the country should be provided aid. Don’t turn away the impoverished who come begging. The country has its ancient traditions; don’t be quick to reform them. This is the teaching that’s cultivated by a noble wheel-turning king. You should put it into practice.’”