ལྷའ་མད 3

3

“Who is the affectionate relative,
And who is the enemy with hateful intent?
What is unbearable suffering,
And what, the supreme happiness?”

The Blessed One replied:

“Merit is the affectionate relative,
And negative deeds are the enemy with hateful intent.
The sufferings of hell are unbearable,²²
And the absence of aggregates, the supreme happiness.”

The divine being asked:

“What is attractive but not beneficial,
And what is beneficial but not attractive?
What is a harmful disease,
And who, the supreme physician?”

The Blessed One replied:

“Lust is attractive but not beneficial,
And liberation is beneficial but not attractive.
Attachment is a harmful disease,
And the Buddha is the supreme physician.”

The divine being asked:

“By what is this world obscured,
And by what is it dominated?
By what are friends separated,
And what prevents progress to higher realms?”

The Blessed One replied:

“This world is obscured by lack of understanding,
And is dominated by delusion.
Friends are separated by greed,
And attachment prevents progress to higher realms.”

The divine being asked:

“What increases friends?²³
And what pacifies enemies?
How will higher realms be attained,
And how will liberation occur?”

The Blessed One replied:

“Through generosity,²⁴ friends are increased,
And through love, enemies are pacified.
Through ethical discipline, higher realms are attained,
And with understanding, liberation will occur.”

The divine being asked:

“When kings and thieves
Exert great effort,
What is it that cannot be plundered
From any man or woman?”

The Blessed One replied:

“Even if kings and thieves
Exert great effort,