The Book of the Fives

Chapter XXV: Walking in Evil

[195]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī; and there he addressed the monks, saying: 'Monks.'

'Yes, lord,' they replied; and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, there are five disadvantages to one who has walked in evil.

What five?

The self upbraids the self;¹

■

from knowledge the wise dispraise him;

■

an evil rumour of his worth goes abroad;

■

he dies muddied in thought;

■

on the breaking up of the body after death
he arises in the wayward way,
the ill way,
the abyss,
hell.

Verily, monks, these are the five disadvantages
to one who has walked in evil.'

"Monks, there are five advantages to one who has walked in good.

The self does not upbraid the self;

■

from knowledge the wise praise him;

■

an good rumour of his worth goes abroad;

■

he dies unmuddied in thought;

■

on the breaking up of the body after death
he arises in heaven,
that happy place of bliss.^ed1

Verily, monks, these are the five advantages to one who has walked in good.'

¹ Cf. above, § 217.

^ed1 from AN 5.23, pg. 13.