Page:Henry Mulford Tichenor - The Buddhist Philosophy of Life.djvu/42

 40 The deva said: "What causes ruin in the world?"

The Teacher replied: "Ignorance causes the ruin of the world."

The deva said: "I have but one more question: What is it that fire cannot burn, nor dampness corrode, nor wind blow down, and which is able to redeem the world?"

The Teacher replied: "Neither fire, nor dampness, nor wind can destroy the blessing of a good deed; and by good deeds shall the world be redeemed."

And the deva, hearing the words of the Teacher, bowed down before him in reverence.

Buddha said to his disciples: "What is evil?

"Killing is evil; stealing is evil; yielding to sexual passion is evil; lying is evil; slandering is evil; abuse is evil; gossip is evil; hatred is evil; false teaching is evil.

"And what is the root of evil?

"Lust is the root of evil; hatred is the root of evil; illusion is the root of evil.

"What is good?

"Not to kill is good; not to steal is good; abstaining from sensuality is good; speaking only the truth is good; not to slander is good; kindness is good; not to gossip is good; not to envy is good; to love, and not hate, is good.

"And what is the root of good?