Aṅguttara Nikāya
X. Dasaka-Nipāta
XXI: Kara-Ja-Kāya-Vagga

X. The Book of the Tens

XXI: The Body Born of Deeds

Sutta 203

Upāsikā Suttaṃ

Women Lay-follower

 

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[287] [186]

THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī.

There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

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

"Monks, characterized by ten qualities
women lay-followers are cast into purgatory according to their deserts.

What ten?

Herein a certain one takes life,
takes what is not given,
in sexual desires
she is a wrong-doer,
she is a liar,
she is a slanderer,
she is of harsh speech,
she is given to idle babble,
she is covetous,
she is malevolent of heart,
she has wrong view.

Characterized by these ten qualities
women lay-followers are cast into purgatory according to their deserts.

■

Characterized by ten qualities, monks,
women lay-followers are put into heaven according to their deserts.

What ten?

Herein a certain one abandons taking life,
abandons taking what is not given,
in sexual desires
she abandons wrong action,
she abandons lying speech,
she abandoning slanderous speech,
she abandons harsh speech,
she abandons idle babble,
she is not covetous,
she is not malevolent of heart
she has right view.

Characterized by these ten qualities, monks,
women lay-followers are put into heaven according to their deserts."