Vol. 11 · pages 396–400

377 HIS SERMONS IV commits impurity, lies and indulges in fermented liquor, is wicked and sinful, with his heart possessed by avarice he lives the life of a householder and abuses and reviles virtuous people. Also his wife kills ; steals, commits impurity, lies, and indulges in fermented liquor, is wicked and sinful, with her heart possessed by avarice she lives the life of the family and abuses and reviles virtuous people. Thus indeed, householders, a vile man lives with a vile woman. 6. “Householders ! A husband kills, steals, commits impurity, lies and indulges in fermented liquor, is wicked and sinful, with his heart possessed by avarice, he lives the life of a householder and abuses and reviles virtuous people. But his wife abstains from killing, thieving, sexual impurity, lying and indulgence in fermented liquor. His wife is virtuous and of good behaviour; with her heart freed from the taint of avarice she lives the family life and abuses not nor reviles virtuous people. Thus indeed, householders, a vile man lives with a goddess. 7. “Householders! A husband abstains from killing, thieving, impurity, lying and indulgence in fermented liquor, is virtuous and of good behaviour; with his mind freed from the stains of avarice, he lives the family life and abuses not nor revile virtuous people. But his wife kills, steals, commits impurity, lies and indulges in fermented liquor, is wicked and sinful ; with her heart possessed by avarice she lives the family life and abuses and reviles virtuous people. Thus indeed, householders, a god lives with a vile woman. 8. “Householders! Herein, a husband and a wife both abstain from killing, thieving, impurity, lying and indulgence in fermented liquor, are virtuous and of good behaviour, with mind freed from taints of avarice they live the family life and abuse not nor revile virtuous people. Thus indeed, householders, a god lives with a goddess. 9. “These, householders, are the four ways of living together,”

378 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES IV SECTION II SERMONS ON THE NEED FOR MAINTAIN- ING CHARACTER § 1. What Constitutes the Downfall of Man 1. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling in the monastery of Anathapindika, in the Jeta Grove, near Shravasti. 2. Now when the night was far spent a certain Deva whose splendour illuminated the whole Jeta Grove, came to the presence of the Blessed One, and, drawing near, respectfully saluted Him and stood at one side. Standing thus, he addressed the Blessed One in verse : 3. “Having come to interrogate the Blessed One, I ask thee, O Gotama, about the falling man. Pray, tell me the cause of one’s downfall.” The Blessed One consented to explain the causes of man’s downfall. 4. “Easily known is the progressive one, easily known is the declining one. A lover of the Dhamma is the progressive one, a hater of the Dhamma is the declining one. 5. “The vicious are dear to him, in the virtuous he finds nothing pleasing; he favours the creeds of the vicious—this is the second cause of one’s downfall. 6. “The man who is drowsy, fond of society, not industrious, indolent, and who manifests anger—this is the third cause of one’s downfall. 7. “Whosoever, being rich, does not support his aged mother and father, who have passed their youth—this is the fourth cause of one’s downfall. 8. “He who, by falsehood, deceives a Brahmana or an ascetic or any other medicant—this is the fifth cause of one’s downfall. 9. “The man who owns much property, who has gold and food, but alone enjoys his delicacies—this is the sixth cause of one’s downfall. 10. “The man who prides in birth or wealth

379 HIS SERMONS IV or clan, and despises his own kinsmen—this is the seventh cause of one’s downfall. 11. “The man who is a debauchee, drunkard, a gambler, who squanders whatever he possesses—this is the eighth cause of one’s downfall. 12. “Not contented with one’s own wives, if one is seen amongst courtesans and the wives of others —this is the ninth cause of one’s downfall. 13. “He who places in authority an intemperate spend-thrift woman, or a man of similar nature—this is the eleventh cause of one’s downfall. 14. “He who, of slender means, but vast ambition, of warrior birth, aspires to sovereignty—this is the twelfth cause of one’s downfall. 15. “Know these causes of downfall, ye noble Deva, and if ye succeed in overcoming them ye will be saved.” § 2. The Wicked Man 1. The Blessed Lord while he was on journey gave as was his usual practice the following discourse to the Bhikkhus who were accompanying him. 2. Addressing the Bhikkhus the Lord said : “Do you know how to recognize a wicked man ?” “No, Lord” replied the Bhikkhus. 3. “I will tell you the characteristics of a wicked man. 4. “There is a man who shows up the faults of another even when unasked, not to say when asked. Being indeed asked and plied with questions, he speaks ill of another without suppressing or concealing, but with full details. Brethren, such a man is a wicked man. 5. “There is a man who, being asked, does not point out the good qualities of another, not to say when unasked. Being indeed asked and plied with questions, he speaks, well of another. 6. “There is a man who, being asked, does not disclose his own bad qualities, not to say when unasked. Being indeed asked and plied with questions, he points out his own bad qualities, but suppresses and conceals

380 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES IV them and does not give full details. Brethren, such a man is a wicked man. 7. “Then again, brethren, there is a man who, even unasked, discloses his good qualities, not to say when asked. Brethren, being asked and plied with questions, he points out his own good qualities without suppressing or concealing them and giving full details. Brethren, such a man is a wicked man.” § 3. The Best Man 1. The Blessed One while he was on journey gave as was his practice the following discourse to the Bhikkhus who were accompanying him : 2. Addressing the Bhikkhus the Lord said : “There are four classes of persons, brethren, to be found in the world. 3. “He who has not striven for his own welfare nor that of others; he who has striven for others’ welfare, but not his own; he who has striven for his own welfare but not others’; he who has striven for both his own welfare and that of others. 4. “One who has striven neither for his own welfare nor for that of others is like a torch from a funeral pyre, lit at both ends, and in the middle smeared with dung. He kindles no fuel either in village or in forest. He is useless to the world. And he is useless to himself. 5. “One who has striven for the welfare of others at the cost of his own is both excellent and eminent of the two. 6. “Then again, brethren, in the case of the person who has striven both for his own welfare and for that of others—of these four persons this is best and chief, topmost and highest and supreme.” § 4. The Enlightened Man 1. At one time, the Exalted One had reached the high road between (the two towns of) Ukkattha and Setabbya. Then the Brahmin named Dona had also reached the high road between Ukkattha and Setabbya.

381 HIS SERMONS IV 2. Just then the Exalted One left the road and sat down at the foot of a tree cross-legged. Then Dona the Brahman, following the footsteps of the Exalted One, saw Him seated at the foot of that tree resplendent and of a comely appearance, with sense controlled, with mind appeased, supremely tamed, restrained and powerful. So seeing he approached where the Exalted One was. 3. Having come he said thus to Him : “Is not the Venerable One a Deva ?” “Brahman, I am indeed not a Deva.” “Is not the Venerable One then a Gandhabba?” “Brahman, I am indeed not a Gandhabba.” “Is not the Venerable One then a Yakkha ?” “Brahman, I am indeed not a Yakkha.” “Is not the Venerable One then a man ?” “Brahman, I am indeed not a man.” 4. Having heard the Blessed One reply thus, the Brahman Dona said : “When Thou art asked : Are ye a Deva ? Thou sayest : No. When Thou art questioned : Are ye a Gandhabba? Thou sayest: No. When Thou art asked : Are ye a Yakkha ? Thou sayest : No. When Thou art questioned : Are ye then a man? Thou sayest : No. Who then can the Venerable One be ?” 5. “Brahman, verily I was a Deva, a Gandhabba, Yakkha, a man, so long as I had not purged myself of the intoxicants. These very intoxicants have I now given up with roots cut out like unto a palm-tree, with its base destroyed and rendered unable to sprout again, so that in future they do not come into existence. 6. “Just as a lotus or a water-lily born of the water, grown in the water, risen out of the water, stands unstained by the water even so, Brahman, being born of the world, grown in the world, having overcome the world I abide unstained by the world. 7. “Therefore, O Brahman, consider me as the Enlightened One.”