Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
“Pāpadhammañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi, pāpadhammena pāpadhammatarañca;
“Mendicants, I will teach you bad character and worse character,
kalyāṇadhammañca, kalyāṇadhammena kalyāṇadhammatarañca. Taṁ suṇātha …pe….
good character and better character.
“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pāpadhammo?
And who has bad character?
Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco pāṇātipātī hoti …pe… micchādiṭṭhiko hoti.
It’s someone who kills living creatures, steals, and commits sexual misconduct. They use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re covetous, malicious, with wrong view.
Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, pāpadhammo.
This is called bad character.
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pāpadhammena pāpadhammataro?
And who has worse character?
Idha bhikkhave, ekacco attanā ca pāṇātipātī hoti, parañca pāṇātipāte samādapeti …pe… attanā ca micchādiṭṭhiko hoti, parañca micchādiṭṭhiyā samādapeti.
It’s someone who kills living creatures, steals, and commits sexual misconduct. They use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. They’re covetous, malicious, with wrong view. And they encourage others to do these things.
Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, pāpadhammena pāpadhammataro.
This is called worse character.
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, kalyāṇadhammo?
And who has good character?
Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhiko hoti.
It’s someone who doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, or commit sexual misconduct. They don’t use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re contented, kind-hearted, with right view.
Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kalyāṇadhammo.
This is called good character.
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, kalyāṇadhammena kalyāṇadhammataro?
And who has better character?
Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco attanā ca pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, parañca pāṇātipātā veramaṇiyā samādapeti …pe… attanā ca sammādiṭṭhiko hoti, parañca sammādiṭṭhiyā samādapeti.
It’s someone who doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, or commit sexual misconduct. They don’t use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. They’re contented, kind-hearted, with right view. And they encourage others to do these things.
Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kalyāṇadhammena kalyāṇadhammataro”ti.
This is called better character.”
Navamaṁ.
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
“Mendicants, I will teach you bad character and worse character,
good character and better character.
And who has bad character?
It’s someone who kills living creatures, steals, and commits sexual misconduct. They use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re covetous, malicious, with wrong view.
This is called bad character.
And who has worse character?
It’s someone who kills living creatures, steals, and commits sexual misconduct. They use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. They’re covetous, malicious, with wrong view. And they encourage others to do these things.
This is called worse character.
And who has good character?
It’s someone who doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, or commit sexual misconduct. They don’t use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re contented, kind-hearted, with right view.
This is called good character.
And who has better character?
It’s someone who doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, or commit sexual misconduct. They don’t use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. They’re contented, kind-hearted, with right view. And they encourage others to do these things.
This is called better character.”
“Pāpadhammañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi, pāpadhammena pāpadhammatarañca;
kalyāṇadhammañca, kalyāṇadhammena kalyāṇadhammatarañca. Taṁ suṇātha …pe….
“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pāpadhammo?
Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco pāṇātipātī hoti …pe… micchādiṭṭhiko hoti.
Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, pāpadhammo.
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pāpadhammena pāpadhammataro?
Idha bhikkhave, ekacco attanā ca pāṇātipātī hoti, parañca pāṇātipāte samādapeti …pe… attanā ca micchādiṭṭhiko hoti, parañca micchādiṭṭhiyā samādapeti.
Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, pāpadhammena pāpadhammataro.
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, kalyāṇadhammo?
Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhiko hoti.
Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kalyāṇadhammo.
Katamo ca, bhikkhave, kalyāṇadhammena kalyāṇadhammataro?
Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco attanā ca pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, parañca pāṇātipātā veramaṇiyā samādapeti …pe… attanā ca sammādiṭṭhiko hoti, parañca sammādiṭṭhiyā samādapeti.
Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kalyāṇadhammena kalyāṇadhammataro”ti.
Navamaṁ.