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Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One. The Numerical Discourses The Book of the Threes 1. The First Fifty 1. The Fool 1. Discourse on Fear Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling in Savatthi, at Jeta's Grove, in Anathapindika's monastery. There, indeed, the Blessed One addressed the monks, "Monks!" "Venerable sir," those monks replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One spoke thus: "Whatever fears, monks, arise, all of them arise from the fool, not from the wise. Whatever dangers arise, all of them arise from the fool, not from the wise. Whatever misfortunes arise, all of them arise from the fool, not from the wise. Just as, monks, a reed house or a grass house, when fire is released, burns even gabled houses plastered inside and out, free from drafts, with bolted doors, and closed windows; even so, monks, whatever fears arise, all of them arise from the fool, not from the wise. Whatever dangers arise, all of them arise from the fool, not from the wise. Whatever misfortunes arise, all of them arise from the fool, not from the wise. Thus, monks, the fool is full of fear, the wise is fearless. The fool is full of danger, the wise is free from danger. The fool is full of misfortune, the wise is free from misfortune. There is no fear, monks, from the wise, there is no danger from the wise, there is no misfortune from the wise. Therefore, monks, you should train yourselves thus: 'Having abandoned those three qualities by which a fool is known, and having undertaken those three qualities by which a wise person is known, we will live.' Thus, monks, you should train yourselves." The First. 2. Discourse on Characteristics 2. "Monks, characterized by action, A fool, by deeds. A wise one, by conduct. This is declared. By three things, monks, a fool is to be known. Which three? By bad bodily conduct, by bad verbal conduct, by bad mental conduct. Indeed, by these three things, monks, a fool is to be known. By three things, monks, a wise one is to be known. Which three? By good bodily conduct, by good verbal conduct, by good mental conduct. Indeed, by these three things, monks, a wise one is to be known. Therefore, monks, thus should you train: 'Having abandoned those three things by which a fool is known, having undertaken those three things by which a wise one is known, we will live.' Thus indeed, monks, should you train. These three, monks, are the marks of a fool, the signs of a fool, the characteristics of a fool. Which three? Here, monks, a fool thinks bad thoughts, speaks bad speech, and does bad deeds. If, monks, a fool did not think bad thoughts, speak bad speech, and do bad deeds, how would the wise know him— 'This venerable one is a fool, an ignoble person'? But because, monks, a fool thinks bad thoughts, speaks bad speech, and does bad deeds, therefore the wise know him— 'This venerable one is a fool, an ignoble person.' Indeed, these three are the marks of a fool, the signs of a fool, the characteristics of a fool. These three, monks, are the marks of a wise one, the signs of a wise one, the characteristics of a wise one. Which three? Here, monks, a wise one thinks good thoughts, speaks good speech, and does good deeds. If, monks, a wise person were not one who thinks well-thought thoughts, and speaks well-spoken words, and does well-done deeds, how would the wise know him — ‘This venerable one is a wise, good person’? But because, monks, a wise person is one who thinks well-thought thoughts, and speaks well-spoken words, and does well-done deeds, therefore the wise know him — ‘This venerable one is a wise, good person’. These, monks, are the three marks of a wise person, signs of a wise person, characteristics of a wise person. Therefore…. The Third. 4. The Discourse on Transgression By three qualities, monks, a fool is to be known. Which three? He does not see a transgression as a transgression, having seen a transgression as a transgression, he does not make amends according to the Dhamma, and when another confesses a transgression, he does not accept it according to the Dhamma. By these three qualities, monks, a fool is to be known. By three qualities, monks, a wise person is to be known. Which three? He sees a transgression as a transgression, having seen a transgression as a transgression, he makes amends according to the Dhamma, and when another confesses a transgression, he accepts it according to the Dhamma. By these three qualities, monks, a wise person is to be known. Therefore…. The Fourth. 5. The Discourse on Unwise Approach By three qualities, monks, a fool is to be known. Which three? He asks a question unwisely, he answers a question unwisely, and when another has answered a question wisely, with well-rounded words and phrases, coherent and appropriate, he does not approve. By these three qualities, monks, a fool is to be known. By three qualities, monks, a wise person is to be known. Which three? He asks a question wisely, he answers a question wisely, and when another has answered a question wisely, with well-rounded words and phrases, coherent and appropriate, he approves. is. Indeed, monks, endowed with these three qualities, a wise person is to be known. Therefore, here... The Fifth. 6. Discourse on Unwholesome 6. Monks, endowed with three qualities, a fool is to be known. Which three? By unwholesome bodily action, by unwholesome verbal action, by unwholesome mental action. Indeed, monks, endowed with these three qualities, a fool is to be known. Monks, endowed with three qualities, a wise person is to be known. Which three? By wholesome bodily action, by wholesome verbal action, by wholesome mental action. Indeed, monks, endowed with these three qualities, a wise person is to be known. Therefore, here... The Sixth. 7. Discourse on Blameworthy 7. Monks, endowed with three qualities, a fool is to be known. Which three? By blameworthy bodily action, by blameworthy verbal action, by blameworthy mental action. Monks, endowed with three qualities, a wise person is to be known. Which three? By blameless bodily action, by blameless verbal action, by blameless mental action. Indeed, monks, endowed with these three qualities, a wise person is to be known. Therefore, here... The Seventh. 8. Discourse on Afflictive 8. Monks, endowed with three qualities, a fool is to be known. Which three? By afflictive bodily action, by afflictive verbal action, by afflictive mental action. Monks, endowed with three qualities, a wise person is to be known. Which three? By non-afflictive bodily action, by non-afflictive verbal action, by non-afflictive mental action. Indeed, monks, endowed with these three qualities, a wise person is to be known. Therefore, monks, thus should you train: ‘Having avoided those three qualities with which a fool is known, having undertaken those three qualities with which a wise person is known, we will live.’ Thus, indeed, monks, should you train. The Eighth. 9. Discourse on Ruined 9. Monks, endowed with three qualities, a fool, an unskilled person, an ignoble person, carries himself as ruined, as damaged, is blameworthy and reproachable by the wise, and produces much demerit. Which three? Bodily miscon by bodily misconduct, by verbal misconduct, by mental misconduct. Endowed with these three things, monks, a fool, an unskilled, an ignoble person harms and injures himself, is blameworthy and reproachable by the wise, and produces much demerit. Endowed with three things, monks, a wise, a skilled, a noble person does not harm or injure himself, is blameless and irreproachable by the wise, and produces much merit. With which three? By bodily good conduct, by verbal good conduct, by mental good conduct. Endowed with these three things, monks, a wise, a skilled, a noble person does not harm or injure himself, is blameless and irreproachable by the wise, and produces much merit.” The Ninth. 10. The Stain Sutta 10. “Endowed with three things, monks, not having abandoned three stains, one is deposited in hell just as one was brought. With which three? One is immoral, and the stain of immorality is not abandoned; one is envious, and the stain of envy is not abandoned; one is stingy, and the stain of stinginess is not abandoned. Endowed with these three things, monks, not having abandoned these three stains, one is deposited in hell just as one was brought. Endowed with three things, monks, having abandoned three stains, one is deposited in heaven just as one was brought. With which three? One is virtuous, and the stain of immorality is abandoned; one is not envious, and the stain of envy is abandoned; one is not stingy, and the stain of stinginess is abandoned. Endowed with these three things, monks, having abandoned these three stains, one is deposited in heaven just as one was brought.” The Tenth. The Fool Chapter, the First. Its summary: Fear, characteristics, and thought, and transgression, and improper; Unwholesome, and blameworthy, with vexation, harmed, and stain.