{"collection":"Buddhism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bud/sam/sn3-17.htm","path":"bud/sam/sn3-17.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bud/sam/sn3-17.htm","text":"\"There is one quality, great king, that keeps both kinds of benefits secure -- those pertaining to the present life and those to the future life.\"\n\"But what, venerable sir, is that one quality...?\"\n\"Heedfulness, great king. Just as the footprints of all living beings with legs can be encompassed by the footprint of the elephant, and the elephant's footprint is declared to be supreme among them in terms of its great size; in the same way, heedfulness is the one quality that keeps both kinds of benefits secure -- those in the present life and those in the future life.\"\nThat is what the Blessed One said. Having said that, the One Well-Gone, the Teacher, said further:\nFor one who desires\nlong life, health,\nbeauty, heaven, & noble birth,\n-- lavish delights, one after another --\nthe wise praise heedfulness\nin performing deeds of merit.\nThe wise person, heedful,\nachieves both benefits:\nthose in the here-&-now\nand those in the life to come.\nBy breaking through to his benefit,\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 he's called enlightened,\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 wise.","title":"SN III.17: Appamada Sutta","type":"page"}