The Reward of Dispraise

Translated by E. M. Hare

[1] Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, if a monk in residence
follow the course of five things,
as his reward he is surely cast into hell.

What five?

Without testing or plumbing the matter,
he speaks in praise of the unpraiseworthy;

■

without testing or plumbing the matter,
he speaks in dispraise of the praiseworthy;

■

without testing or plumbing the matter,
he shows his faith in things unbelievable;

■

without testing or plumbing the matter,
he shows his disbelief in things believable;

■

and he rejects the gift of faith.

Monks, if a monk in residence
follow the course of five things,
as his reward he is surely cast into hell.'

Monks, if a monk in residence
follow the course of five things,
as his reward he is surely set in heaven.

What five?

After testing and plumbing the matter,
he speaks in praise of the praiseworthy;

■

after testing and plumbing the matter,
he speaks in dispraise of the unpraiseworthy;

■

after testing and plumbing the matter,
he shows his faith in things believable;

■

after testing and plumbing the matter,
he shows his disbelief in things unbelievable;

■

and he accepts the gift of faith.

Monks, if a monk in residence
follow the course of these five things,
as his reward he is surely set in heaven.