2.
Discourse on Lack of Moral Dread
145.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Venerable Mahākassapa and the Venerable Sāriputta were dwelling at Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana.
Then the Venerable Sāriputta, in the evening, having emerged from seclusion, approached the Venerable Mahākassapa;
having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Venerable Mahākassapa.
Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Venerable Mahākassapa -
"It is said, friend Kassapa, that one who is not ardent, who has no moral fear, is incapable of highest enlightenment, incapable of Nibbāna, incapable of the achievement of the unsurpassed freedom from bondage;
but one who is ardent, who has moral fear, is capable of highest enlightenment, capable of Nibbāna, capable of the achievement of the unsurpassed freedom from bondage."
"In what way, friend, is one not ardent, has no moral fear, incapable of highest enlightenment, incapable of Nibbāna, incapable of the achievement of the unsurpassed freedom from bondage; and in what way, friend, is one ardent, has moral fear, capable of highest enlightenment, capable of Nibbāna, capable of the achievement of the unsurpassed freedom from bondage?" "Here, friend, a monk does not make ardour thinking 'unarisen evil unwholesome mental states, if arising, would lead to my harm'; does not make ardour thinking 'arisen evil unwholesome mental states, if not abandoned, would lead to my harm'; does not make ardour thinking 'unarisen wholesome mental states, if not arising, would lead to my harm'; does not make ardour thinking 'arisen wholesome mental states, if ceasing, would lead to my harm'. Thus, friend, one is not ardent."
"And how, friend, does one have no moral fear? Here, friend, a monk does not feel moral fear thinking 'unarisen evil unwholesome mental states, if arising, would lead to my harm'; does not feel moral fear thinking 'arisen evil unwholesome mental states, if not abandoned, would lead to my harm'; does not feel moral fear thinking 'unarisen wholesome mental states, if not arising, would lead to my harm'; does not feel moral fear thinking 'arisen wholesome mental states, if ceasing, would lead to my harm'. Thus, friend, one has no moral fear. Thus, friend, one who is not ardent, who has no moral fear, is incapable of highest enlightenment, incapable of Nibbāna, incapable of the achievement of the unsurpassed freedom from bondage.
"And how, friend, is one ardent? Here, friend, a monk makes ardour thinking 'unarisen evil unwholesome mental states, if arising, would lead to my harm'; makes ardour thinking 'arisen evil unwholesome mental states, if not abandoned, would lead to my harm'; unarisen wholesome mental states... etc. he makes ardour. Thus, friend, one is ardent.
"And how, friend, does one have moral fear? Here, friend, a monk feels moral fear thinking 'unarisen evil unwholesome mental states, if arising, would lead to my harm'; feels moral fear thinking 'arisen evil unwholesome mental states, if not abandoned, would lead to my harm'; feels moral fear thinking 'unarisen wholesome mental states, if not arising, would lead to my harm'; feels moral fear thinking 'arisen wholesome mental states, if ceasing, would lead to my harm'. Thus, friend, one has moral fear. Thus, friend, one who is ardent, who has moral fear, is capable of highest enlightenment, capable of Nibbāna, capable of the achievement of the unsurpassed freedom from bondage." The second.