Kiṁsīla Sutta | Sn II-9
9. Kiṁsīla Sutta
What a Good Virtuousness is
326. What kind of virtuousness according to precepts both in observance and in abstinence, what kind of cultivation of volition, lead a person who follows the Buddha's Teaching to the state of being established in the Teaching and to the Arahatship? (1)
327. One should pay respect to respectable persons (for wisdom of attainments or caste or age), be free from jealousy, know the favourable time for seeing important persons such as teachers, etc., enjoy the precious moments for hearing the Dhamma and listen well to the well-uttered discourses whether on Vipassanā meditation or on meditation for concentration or on the noble attributes of the Buddha, etc. (2)
328. Subduing any arrogance in oneself, in a meek and mild attitude, one should at the appropriate times go and attend the teacher.
Then one should learn the meaning of the Text, learn the Text itself, and contemplate on as well as practise, the precepts and the 4 boundless states of the Noble practice. (3)
329. One should delight in meditation for Insight-Knowledge or for concentration, rejoice in the Dhamma, be well established in the Dhamma, and be able to ascertain the Dhamma.
One should not indulge in speaking anything detrimental to the Dhamma, but try to engage oneself in speaking the wholesome and beneficial truth. (4)
330. Leaving aside laughter, gossip, crying, bitterness, cunning, hypocrisy, greed, pride, antagonism, roughness, evil desires (that taint the mind like dyestuff), infatuation with sensual pleasures, one should overcome vanity and strive for a steadfast attitude. (5)
331. Well-spoken words have the essence of knowledge learnt. The knowledge thus learnt, if properly applied to reality, has the essence of concentration.
When one is driven by passion and acts impulsively, one is liable to be careless about righteousness. Then he will neither gain knowledge nor learning. (6)
332. Those persons, who delight in the discourses given by the Arahants, became supremely noble in speech, thought and deed.
They gain the concentration that elevates them to the bliss of Nibbāna (being on Noble Path).
-Thus they attain the fruition of Arahatship, the essence of learning and knowledge. (7)
End of the Ninth Kiṁsīla Sutta