{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an3.68/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an3.68","id":"suttacentral_an3.68","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an3.68/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"\u201cMendicants, if wanderers of other religions were to ask: \u2018There are these three things. What three? Greed, hate, and delusion. These are the three things. What\u2019s the difference between them?\u2019 How would you answer them?\u201d \u201cOur teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The mendicants will listen and remember it.\u201d \u201cWell then, mendicants, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d they replied. The Buddha said this: \u201cMendicants, if wanderers of other religions were to ask: \u2018There are these three things. What three? Greed, hate, and delusion. These are the three things. What\u2019s the difference between them?\u2019 You should answer them: \u2018Greed, reverends, is mildly blameworthy, but slow to fade away. Hate is very blameworthy, but quick to fade away. Delusion is very blameworthy, and slow to fade away.\u2019 And if they ask: \u2018What is the cause, what is the reason why greed arises, and once arisen it increases and grows?\u2019 You should say: \u2018The feature of beauty. When you apply the mind irrationally to the feature of beauty, greed arises, and once arisen it increases and grows. This is the cause, this is the reason why greed arises, and once arisen it increases and grows.\u2019 And if they ask: \u2018What is the cause, what is the reason why hate arises, and once arisen it increases and grows?\u2019 You should say: \u2018The feature of aversion. When you apply the mind irrationally to the feature of aversion, hate arises, and once arisen it increases and grows. This is the cause, this is the reason why hate arises, and once arisen it increases and grows.\u2019 And if they ask: \u2018What is the cause, what is the reason why delusion arises, and once arisen it increases and grows?\u2019 You should say: \u2018Irrational application of mind. When you apply the mind irrationally, delusion arises, and once arisen it increases and grows. This is the cause, this is the reason why delusion arises, and once arisen it increases and grows.\u2019 And if they ask, \u2018What is the cause, what is the reason why greed doesn\u2019t arise, or if it\u2019s already arisen it\u2019s given up?\u2019 You should say: \u2018The feature of ugliness. When you apply the mind rationally on the ugly feature of things, greed doesn\u2019t arise, or if it\u2019s already arisen it\u2019s given up. This is the cause, this is the reason why greed doesn\u2019t arise, or if it\u2019s already arisen it\u2019s given up.\u2019 And if they ask, \u2018What is the cause, what is the reason why hate doesn\u2019t arise, or if it\u2019s already arisen it\u2019s given up?\u2019 You should say: \u2018The heart\u2019s release by love. When you apply the mind rationally on the heart\u2019s release by love, hate doesn\u2019t arise, or if it\u2019s already arisen it\u2019s given up. This is the cause, this is the reason why hate doesn\u2019t arise, or if it\u2019s already arisen it\u2019s given up.\u2019 And if they ask, \u2018What is the cause, what is the reason why delusion doesn\u2019t arise, or if it\u2019s already arisen it\u2019s given up?\u2019 You should say: \u2018Rational application of mind. When you apply the mind rationally, delusion doesn\u2019t arise, or if it\u2019s already arisen it\u2019s given up. This is the cause, this is the reason why delusion doesn\u2019t arise, or if it\u2019s already arisen it\u2019s given up.\u2019\u201d","title":"Followers of Other Religions","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":562}