ལས་རྣམ་པར་འབྱད་པ 5

5

whether old or young; and being very cleanly—this kind of action leads to beauty.

“What kind of action leads to having little power?⁶⁹ Avarice; envy; being unhappy about others’ successes; being unhappy when others are praised; despising one’s parents; despising noble ones and those who possess moral discipline; despising the sick, the old, and the young; praising what is vile, what is lacking Dharma,⁷⁰ and the roots of nonvirtue; and turning away from the mind of awakening—this kind of action leads to having little power.

“What kind of action leads to being powerful? Not being avaricious; not being envious; rejoicing in others’ successes; not rejoicing in others’ failures; rejoicing in hearing about others’ glory, renown, and good reputation;⁷¹ being happy when others are praised; building stūpas and monasteries in commemoration of the Bhagavān;⁷² turning away from what is vile, from what is lacking Dharma, and from the roots of demerit; encouraging others to engage in the roots of merit that lead to distinction; aspiring to reach awakening; and aspiring to attain distinction through the dedication of all roots of merit⁷³—this kind of action leads to being powerful.

“What kind of action leads to being born into a low social status? Vanity; conceit; not honoring one’s father and mother, śramaṇas, and brāhmaṇas; not respecting the head of a family; not attending to⁷⁴ one’s parents; not attending to noble ones, to those who possess moral discipline, and to others occupying a position of authority, such as one’s preceptor and one’s teacher; and despising people of low class—this kind of action leads to being born into a low social status.

“What kind of action leads to being born into a family of high social status? Having little vanity; having no conceit; honoring one’s father and mother, śramaṇas,