ལས་རྣམ་པར་འབྱད་པ 7

7

with a livelihood; offering sustenance to the sick, children, the elderly, the poor, and others; rejoicing in the gain of others; and rejoicing in a good harvest.

“In the same sūtra it is said:

“ ‘What is more, monks, when the merit-collecting communities make offerings to those approaching them who possesses moral discipline they enter the path leading to prosperity.’

“This kind of action leads to great wealth.

“What kind of action leads to low intelligence?⁸⁰ Here, one does not ask the learned⁸¹ śramaṇas or brāhmaṇas or others, ‘What is the Dharma? What is not the Dharma?⁸² What, when done by me, is conducive to happiness?’⁸³ One associates with⁸⁴ people who lack intelligence and abandons wise people. One teaches what is not the true Dharma, and even though one knows that a reciter of the Buddhist scriptures has spoken well, due to one’s being opinionated⁸⁵ one does not say ‘well done!’ But when a reciter has spoken what does not correspond with the Dharma, one says ‘well done!’ One praises wrong views and criticizes right views. One denigrates writers and reciters of manuscripts⁸⁶ and deprives them of their livelihood. This kind of action leads to low intelligence.

“What kind of action leads to great intelligence? Here, one has a disposition that dares to inquire⁸⁷ and asks the learned śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas questions; one completely shuns those lacking wisdom; one extols the true Dharma and elucidates it; one criticizes what is not the true Dharma; and one praises the confidence of the Dharma reciters⁸⁸ and says ‘well done!’ One acclaims those who speak coherently and steers clear of those who speak what is unacceptable;⁸⁹ one praises right view and criticizes⁹⁰ wrong view; one makes offerings of paper, ink, and reed pens;⁹¹ and, as explained in the Nandikasūtra,⁹² one does not drink alcohol.