{"collection":"Khuddaka Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_iti74/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_iti74","id":"suttacentral_iti74","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/iti74/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Khuddaka Nikaya"],"text":"This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard. \u201cThese three kinds of children are found in the world. What three? One who betters their birth, one who equals their birth, one who fails their birth. And how does a child better their birth? It\u2019s when a child\u2019s parents have not gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sa\u1e45gha. They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They\u2019re immoral, of bad character. But their child has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sa\u1e45gha. They don\u2019t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They\u2019re ethical, of good character. That\u2019s how a child betters their birth. And how does a child equal their birth? It\u2019s when a child\u2019s parents have gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sa\u1e45gha. They don\u2019t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They\u2019re ethical, of good character. And their child has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sa\u1e45gha. They don\u2019t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They\u2019re ethical, of good character. That\u2019s how a child equals their birth. And how does a child fail their birth? It\u2019s when a child\u2019s parents have gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sa\u1e45gha. They don\u2019t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They\u2019re ethical, of good character. But their child has not gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sa\u1e45gha. They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They\u2019re immoral, of bad character. That\u2019s how a child fails their birth. These are the three kinds of children found in the world.\u201d The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said: \u201cThe astute wish for a child who betters or equals their birth; not one who fails their birth, disgracing their family. These are the children in the world who become lay devotees; faithful, accomplished in ethics, bountiful, rid of stinginess. Like the moon freed from clouds, they dazzle in the assemblies.\u201d This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.","title":"A Child","tradition":"Khuddaka Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":409}