Catukkanipāta 201

Numbered Discourses 4.201

21. A True Person

Training Rules

1 “Mendicants, I will teach you an untrue person and an even more untrue person, a true person and an even truer person. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

2 “And what is an untrue person? It’s someone who kills living creatures, steals, commits sexual misconduct, lies, and consumes intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. This is called an untrue person.

3 And what is an even more untrue person? It’s someone who kills living creatures, steals, commits sexual misconduct, lies, and consumes intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. And they encourage others to do these things. This is called an even more untrue person.

4 And what is a true person? It’s someone who doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. This is called a true person.

5 And what is an even truer person? It’s someone who doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. And they encourage others to refrain from these things. This is called an even truer person.”