Page:Sacred Books of the Buddhists Vol 1.djvu/188

 mere folly to delight in it. It must have such consequences as are the result of wickedness.

As to your statement that a householder, too, may be able to observe the precepts of the Law, certainly, this is true. But it is a very, very difficult thing, methinks. The life in the world is crowded with business quite adverse to the precepts of the Law, and implies a great amount of toil. Do but consider it well, sir.

13. “The life of a householder is not suitable for one who desires nothing, nor for such a one as never speaks a falsehood, nor for him who never uses violence, nor for such a one as never injures others.

'And he whose heart is attached to the “comfort of home-life," cannot but strive to put into effect the means by which this is secured.

14. If you devote yourself to the Law, you must leave your house, and inversely, how can the Law exist for him who is attached to his house? It is tranquillity from which the road of the Law derives its flavour, but the success of a householder requires him to follow the way of courageous enterprise.

15, 16. Now, as the life of a householder is reprehensible for this reason, that it is in opposition to the Law, who, then, having got the true insight of his Self, will keep to it ? He, indeed, whom the prospect of pleasure has once induced to neglect the Law, will feel himself not at all restrained as to the means of procuring those pleasures. Besides, they will certainly be followed by the loss of good reputation, by remorse and misfortune. For this reason the wise do not embrace that state, which procures pleasures to the detriment of the Law; they rather look on it as a calamity.

'Further I should think, the statement that living in the world procures happiness is only supported by belief (not by evidence).

17, 18. 'The pain caused by earning wealth or by guarding it never ceases for the householder. He is more than anybody else exposed to murder, captivity,