{"collection":"Buddhism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bud/snp/snp1-6.htm","path":"bud/snp/snp1-6.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bud/snp/snp1-6.htm","text":"From Everyman's Ethics: Four Discourses by the Buddha (WH 14), translated by Narada Thera (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1985).\nNow when the night was far spent a certain deity whose surpassing splendour illuminated the entire Jeta Grove, came to the presence of the Exalted One and, drawing near, respectfully saluted Him and stood at one side. Standing thus, he addressed the Exalted One in verse:\nThe Deity:\nHaving come here with our questions to the Exalted One, we ask thee, O Gotama, about man's decline. Pray, tell us the cause of downfall!\nThe Buddha:\nEasily known is the progressive one, easily known he who declines. He who loves Dhamma progresses; he who is averse to it, declines.\nThus much do we see: this is the first cause of one's downfall. Pray, tell us the second cause.[1]\nThe wicked are dear to him, with the virtuous he finds no delight, he prefers the creed of the wicked -- this is a cause of one's downfall.\nBeing fond of sleep, fond of company, indolent, lazy and irritable -- this is the cause of one's downfall.\nThough being well-to-do, not to support father and mother who are old and past their youth -- this is a cause of one's downfall.\nTo deceive by falsehood a brahmin or ascetic or any other mendicant -- this is a cause of one's downfall.\nTo have much wealth and ample gold and food, but to enjoy one's luxuries alone -- this is a cause of one's downfall.\nTo be proud of birth, of wealth or clan, and to despise one's own kinsmen -- this is a cause of one's downfall.\nTo be a rake, a drunkard, a gambler, and to squander all one earns -- this is a cause of one's downfall.\nNot to be contented with one's own wife, and to be seen with harlots and the wives of others -- this is a cause of one's downfall.\nBeing past one's youth, to take a young wife and to be unable to sleep for jealousy of her -- this is a cause of one's downfall.\nTo place in authority a woman given to drink and squandering, or a man of a like behaviour -- this is a cause of one's downfall.\nTo be of noble birth, with vast ambition and of slender means, and to crave for rulership -- this is a cause of one's downfall.\nKnowing well these causes of downfall in the world, the noble sage endowed with insight shares a happy realm.\n1. These lines are repeated after each stanza, with the due enumeration. [Go back]","title":"Sn I.6: Parabhava Sutta","type":"page"}