The "The Book of the Twos" contains 22 discourses, each dealing with pairs of concepts or teachings. These discourses explore the relationship between two elements, such as good and evil, wisdom and compassion, or effort and mindfulness.
Dukanipāta - The Book of the Twos
A person endowed with the two qualities of guarding the sense doors and moderation in eating lives with discontentedness in this very life and after death, a bad destination is to be expected.
A person endowed with the two qualities of guarding the sense doors and moderation in eating lives happily in this very life and after death, a good destination is to be expected.
A person who has not done good, has not done what is wholesome, has not protected others from fear, but has done evil, cruelty, and misdeeds, feels remorse.
One who has done good, acted wholesomely, protected others from fear, avoided evil and cruelty, and refrained from misdeeds does not feel remorse.
Possessing the mental qualities of harmful conduct and views, one is reborn in hell.
Endowed with the mental qualities of auspicious conduct and views, one is reborn in heaven.
A person who is lacking continuous effort and is without concern is incapable of attaining full awakening, Nibbāna, and the unsurpassed safety from bondage.
The spiritual life is not lived for the purpose of deceiving people, nor for the purpose of winning favor with people, nor for the sake of acquisitions, respect, and popularity, nor for the thought ‘Let people know me thus.’ But rather, this spiritual life is lived for the purpose of restraint and for the purpose of letting go.
The spiritual life is not lived for the purpose of deceiving people, nor for the purpose of winning favor with people, nor for the sake of acquisitions, respect, and popularity, nor for the thought ‘Let people know me thus.’ But rather, this spiritual life is lived for the purpose of direct knowledge and full understanding.
A bhikkhu endowed with two qualities of being moved on occasions that inspire a sense of urgency and by wisely striving when aroused with urgency, dwells in the here and now with abundant ease and joy, and his mind is directed towards the wearing away of the taints.
The Blessed One explains the two thoughts that frequently arise in him - the thought of safety for beings and the thought of seclusion.
The Blessed One outlines two sequential teachings of the Dhamma: first, see harm as harm; second, become dispassionate and detached from it.
Ignorance is the forerunner in the arising of unwholesome qualities, and true knowledge is the forerunner in the arising of wholesome qualities.
The Buddha describes the sentient beings who lack in wisdom as truly deprived, dwelling in suffering, annoyance, hardship, and distress.
These two bright qualities protect the world - 1) sense of right and wrong and 2) moral dread.
The Buddha shares on the state that is unborn, unbecome, unmade, and unconditioned, which is beyond the realm of thought and enduring.
The Buddha describes the distinction between the two Nibbāna elements - 1.) one with residue remaining pertaining to this life, and 2.) one with no residue remaining and of relevance to the hereafter.
The Buddha instructs to dwell in seclusion, enjoying solitude, being devoted to tranquility of mind, meditating with diligence, being endowed with discernment, practicing in an empty dwelling.
The Buddha advises to live with training as the benefit, wisdom as the north star, liberation as the essence, ruled by mindfulness.
One of two results is to be expected for a bhikkhu who dwells wakeful, mindful, clearly aware, collected, joyful, tranquil, and discerning with clarity at a suitable occasion in regard to the wholesome mental qualities — 1.) full awakening here and now, or 2.) the state of non-returning.
The Buddha describes the two behaviors that lead to suffering and rebirth in hell if not abandoned.
Overcome by two kinds of wrong views, some get stuck, while others overreach. But those with vision see.