LESSON
224
COURSE PROGRAM
THE
BUDDHIST
ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER
Atta-rakkhita
Sutta: Self-protected
At
Savatthi. As he was sitting to one side, King Pasenadi Kosala said
to the Blessed One: “Just now, lord, while I was alone in seclusion, this
train of thought arose in my awareness: ‘Who have themselves protected, and who
leave themselves unprotected?’ Then it occurred to me: ‘Those who engage in
bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, & mental misconduct leave themselves
unprotected. Even though a squadron of elephant troops might protect them, a
squadron of cavalry troops, a squadron of chariot troops, a squadron of
infantry troops might protect them, still they leave themselves unprotected.
Why is that? Because that’s an external protection, not an internal one.
Therefore they leave themselves unprotected. But those who engage in good
bodily conduct, good verbal conduct, & good mental conduct have themselves
protected. Even though neither a squadron of elephant troops, a squadron of
cavalry troops, a squadron of chariot troops, nor a squadron of infantry troops
might protect them, still they have themselves protected. Why is that? Because
that’s an internal protection, not an external one. Therefore they have
themselves protected.’”
“That’s
the way it is, great king! That’s the way it is! Those who engage in bodily
misconduct, verbal misconduct, & mental misconduct leave themselves
unprotected. Even though a squadron of elephant troops might protect them, a
squadron of cavalry troops, a squadron of chariot troops, a squadron of
infantry troops might protect them, still they leave themselves unprotected.
Why is that? Because that’s an external protection, not an internal one.
Therefore they leave themselves unprotected. But those who engage in good
bodily conduct, good verbal conduct, & good mental conduct have themselves
protected. Even though neither a squadron of elephant troops, a squadron of
cavalry troops, a squadron of chariot troops, nor a squadron of infantry troops
might protect them, still they have themselves protected. Why is that? Because
that’s an internal protection, not an external one. Therefore they have
themselves protected.”
That
is what the Blessed One said. Having said that, the One Well-Gone, the Teacher,
said further:
Restraint with
the body is good,
good
is restraint with speech.
Restraint
with the heart is good,
good
is restraint everywhere.
Restrained
everywhere,
conscientious,
one
is said to be
protected.