4.
The Discourse on the Dear
115.
At Sāvatthī.
Seated to one side, King Pasenadi of Kosala said this to the Blessed One -
"Here, venerable sir, when I had gone to a private place and was in seclusion, this reflection arose in my mind:
'For whom is the self dear, and for whom is the self not dear?'
Then, venerable sir, this occurred to me:
'Whatever persons practise misconduct by body, practise misconduct by speech, practise misconduct by mind;
for them the self is not dear.'
Even though they might say thus -
'The self is dear to us,' yet for them the self is not dear.
What is the reason for this?
For what one who is not dear would do to one who is not dear, that they do to themselves by themselves;
therefore for them the self is not dear.
Whatever persons practise good conduct by body, practise good conduct by speech, practise good conduct by mind;
for them the self is dear.
Even though they might say thus -
'The self is not dear to us';
yet for them the self is dear.
What is the reason for this?
For what one who is dear would do to one who is dear, that they do to themselves by themselves;
therefore for them the self is dear."
"So it is, great king, so it is, great king! Whatever persons, great king, practise misconduct by body, practise misconduct by speech, practise misconduct by mind; for them the self is not dear. Even though they might say thus - 'The self is dear to us,' yet for them the self is not dear. What is the reason for this? For what, great king, one who is not dear would do to one who is not dear, that they do to themselves by themselves; therefore for them the self is not dear. Whatever persons, great king, practise good conduct by body, practise good conduct by speech, practise good conduct by mind; for them the self is dear. Even though they might say thus - 'The self is not dear to us'; yet for them the self is dear. What is the reason for this? For what, great king, one who is dear would do to one who is dear, that they do to themselves by themselves; therefore for them the self is dear." This is what he said, ...
For happiness is not easily obtained by one who does wrong.
What indeed is his own, and what does he take when he goes;
And what follows him, like a shadow that does not depart?
That indeed is his own, and that he takes when he goes;
And that follows him, like a shadow that does not depart.
Merits are a support for beings in the world beyond."