buddha daily wisdom image

an.3.8 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Afflictive

“Bhikkhus, one who possesses three qualities should be known as a fool. What three? Afflictive bodily action, afflictive verbal action, and afflictive mental action. One who possesses these three qualities should be known as a fool.

“One who possesses three qualities should be known as a wise person. What three? Unafflictive bodily action, unafflictive verbal action, and unafflictive mental action. One who possesses these three qualities should be known as a wise person.

“Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: ‘We will avoid the three qualities possessing which one is known as a fool, and we will undertake and observe the three qualities possessing which one is known as a wise person.’ It is in this way that you should train yourselves.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh


Hurtful

“A fool is known by three things.
What three?
Hurtful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. … An astute person is known by kind deeds by way of body, speech, and mind.
These are the three things by which an astute person is known.
So you should train like this:
‘We will reject the three qualities by which a fool is known, and we will undertake and follow the three qualities by which an astute person is known.’
That’s how you should train.”