[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [四十二章經](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.784) › [The Sutra of Forty-two Sections](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.784~en-bdk) › 1.6 # 四十二章經 1.6 The Sutra of Forty-two Sections 1.6 - **Language:** English ### [1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.784~en-bdk.1.6) “Prior to that, one is a stream-enterer (srota-āpanna) who realizes arhatship after seven more rounds of birth and death. “Cutting off desire is like cutting off one’s four limbs—they won’t be used again.” \[2\] The Buddha said, “He who has shaved his beard and head to become a śramaṇa and has accepted the Buddhist teachings gives up worldly belongings. Satisfied with almsfood, he takes only one meal a day at noon and passes the night beneath the same tree only once, careful to curb his desires. What makes men foolish and wicked are craving and desire.” \[3\] The Buddha said, “There are ten virtuous actions and there are also ten nonvirtuous actions. Three are performed with the body, four with speech, and three with mind. The three \[non-virtues\] performed with the body are killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct; the four \[non-virtues\] of speech are deceit, slander, lying, and idle talk; the three \[non-virtues\] of mind refer to jealousy, malice, and ignorance. Those who do not believe in the Three Jewels take evil as truth. If a layperson practices the five precepts without indolence, and then proceeds to perform the ten precepts, the Way will certainly be attained.” \[4\] The Buddha said, “If a person commits all kinds of offenses and does not regret them but puts them out of mind, the offenses become overwhelming, just as the sea broadens and deepens when water flows into it. On the other hand, if a person with faults becomes aware of them and changes for the better, negative consequences are eliminated day by day, and eventually the Way is attained.” \[5\] The Buddha said, “When someone confronts me with ill intention, I protect and benefit him with the four virtues \[of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity\]. Whenever non-virtues are perpetrated toward me, I repeatedly return them with goodness. Virtuous merits are always on my side, while harmful calamities befall the other.” \[6\] A person heard the Buddha teach that one should uphold great compassion and return good for evil. He purposefully came to reproach the Buddha. The Buddha remained silent without retort and felt pity for the man, for his foolishness and ignorance caused him to act that way. When the man ended his reproach, the Buddha asked him, “If you present a gift to someone but he does not accept it, what do you do?” “I take it back.” “Now you have given me a reproach but I do not accept it. So you will take it back upon yourself, and the harm is your own. It is like an echo following a sound or a shadow following an object—you cannot keep it away. Therefore, take care not to commit non-virtue.” \[7\] The Buddha said, “An evil man who tries to harm a virtuous one is like one who raises his head and spits toward heaven; the spittle does not stain heaven but returns to stain the spitter. When one throws dust against the wind toward another, the dust does not soil the other but returns to soil oneself. The virtuous cannot be harmed, while the evil inevitably destroy themselves.” \[8\] The Buddha said, “Anyone who follows the Way should have nondiscriminating love and compassion—to practice virtue is the greatest practice. The blessings of maintaining one’s aspirations on the Way are great. When you see someone practice the Way and help him joyously, you will also obtain blessings.” \[A person\] asked, “Would the blessings not run out?” The Buddha said, “It is like the fire of a torch, to which thousands of people can come to light their own torches. They can thus depart to cook food and eliminate darkness for themselves, while the light \[of the original torch\] remains the same. Blessings are also like that.” \[9\] - [Previous: 1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.784~en-bdk.1.1) - [Next: 1.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.784~en-bdk.1.15) - [Up: 1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.784~en-bdk.1) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.784~en-mt.1.6) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (1) - [四十二章經](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.784.1.6) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.784~en-bdk.1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.784~en-bdk.1.6) · Pramāṇa