So It Was Said 74

Select any verse to keep it — saved passages go to your Dhamma Deck, the same one the app uses.

1. So It Was Said 74
2. The Book of the Threes
3. Chapter Three
4. A Child
5. This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
6. “These three kinds of children are found in the world.
7. What three?
8. One who betters their birth, one who equals their birth, one who fails their birth.
9. And how does a child better their birth?
10. It’s when a child’s parents
11. have not gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.
12. They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. They’re immoral, of bad character.
13. But their child
14. has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.
15. They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. They’re ethical, of good character.
16. That’s how a child betters their birth.
17. And how does a child equal their birth?
18. It’s when a child’s parents
19. have gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.
20. They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. They’re ethical, of good character.
21. And their child
22. has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.
23. They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. They’re ethical, of good character.
24. That’s how a child equals their birth.
25. And how does a child fail their birth?
26. It’s when a child’s parents
27. have gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.
28. They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. They’re ethical, of good character.
29. But their child
30. has not gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.
31. They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. They’re immoral, of bad character.
32. That’s how a child fails their birth.
33. These are the three kinds of children found in the world.”
34. The Buddha spoke this matter.
35. On this it is said:
36. “The astute wish for a child
37. who betters or equals their birth;
38. not one who fails their birth,
39. disgracing their family.
40. These are the children in the world
41. who become lay devotees;
42. faithful, accomplished in ethics,
43. bountiful, rid of stinginess.
44. Like the moon freed from clouds,
45. they shine in the assemblies.”
46. This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.