Aṅguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
XXIII: Sucarita Vagga

The Book of the Fours

Chapter XXIII: Good Conduct

Sutta 228

Aṭṭhama Bāla-Paṇḍita Suttaṃ

Shamelessness

 

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[237]

Thus have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied,
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, possessing four qualities
the foolish,
sinful,
unworthy man
carries about with him
an uprooted,
lifeless self,
is blameworthy,
is censured by the intelligent
and begets much demerit.

What are the four?

One who is an unbeliever,
is immoral,
is shameless,
is unconscientious.

"Monks, possessed of these four qualities
the foolish,
sinful,
unworthy man
carries about with him
an uprooted,
lifeless self,
is blameworthy,
is censured by the intelligent
and begets much demerit.

 

§

 

Monks, possessing these four qualities
the wise,
prudent,
worthy man
carries about with him a self
not uprooted,
not lifeless,
is blameless,
not censured by the intelligent
and begets much merit.

What are the four?

One who is a believer,
is moral,
has shame,
is conscientious.

Monks, possessed of these four qualities
the wise,
prudent,
worthy man
carries about with him a self
not uprooted,
not lifeless,
is blameless,
not censured by the intelligent
and begets much merit.