CHAPTER IX

EVIL

A man should hasten towards the good, and should keep his thought away

from evil; if a man does what is good slothfully, his mind delights in

evil.

If a man commits a sin, let him not do it again; let him not delight in

sin: the accumulation of evil is painful.

If a man does what is good, let him do it again; let him delight in it:

the accumulation of good is delightful.

Even an evil-doer sees happiness so long as his evil deed does not

ripen; but when his evil deed ripens, then does the evil-doer see evil.

Even a good man sees evil days so long as his good deed does not ripen;

but when his good deed ripens, then does the good man see good things.

Let no man think lightly of evil, saying in his heart, It will not come

nigh unto me. Even by the falling of water-drops a water-pot is filled;

the fool becomes full of evil, even if he gather it little by little.

Let no man think lightly of good, saying in his heart, It will not come

nigh unto me. Even by the falling of water-drops a water-pot is filled;

the wise man becomes full of good, even if he gather it little by

little.

Let a man avoid evil deeds, as a merchant, if he has few companions and

carries much wealth, avoids a dangerous road; as a man who loves life

avoids poison.

He who has no wound on his hand, may touch poison with his hand; poison

does not affect one who has no wound; nor is there evil for one who does

not commit evil.

If a man offend a harmless, pure, and innocent person, the evil falls

back upon that fool, like light dust thrown up against the wind.

Some people are born again; evil-doers go to hell; righteous people go

to heaven; those who are free from all worldly desires attain Nirvâna.

Not in the sky, not in the midst of the sea, not if we enter into the

clefts of the mountains, is there known a spot in the whole world where

a man might be freed from an evil deed.

Not in the sky, not in the midst of the sea, not if we enter into the

clefts of the mountains, is there known a spot in the whole world where

death could not overcome the mortal.

Sacred Books of the East · 第 9 / 31 章