9.
The Discourse on the Lump of Salt
101.
"Whoever, monks, would say thus -
'In whatever way this person does action, in that way he experiences it,' this being so, monks, there is no abiding by the holy life, no opportunity is evident for the complete ending of suffering.
But whoever, monks, would say thus -
'In whatever way this person does action that is to be experienced, in that way he experiences its result,' this being so, monks, there is abiding by the holy life, opportunity is evident for the complete ending of suffering.
Here, monks, for a certain person even a trifling evil deed done leads him to hell.
Here again, monks, for a certain person that same trifling evil deed done is experienced in the present life, not even a little appears, how much less a lot.
"For what kind of person, monks, does even a trifling evil deed done lead him to hell? Here again, monks, a certain person is undeveloped in body, undeveloped in morality, undeveloped in mind, undeveloped in wisdom, limited, of small self, one who dwells in suffering with little. For such a person, monks, even a trifling evil deed done leads him to hell.
"For what kind of person, monks, is that same trifling evil deed done experienced in the present life, not even a little appears, how much less a lot? Here, monks, a certain person is developed in body, developed in morality, developed in mind, developed in wisdom, not limited, great of self, one who dwells immeasurably. For such a person, monks, that same trifling evil deed done is experienced in the present life, not even a little appears, how much less a lot.
"Just as, monks, a man might throw a lump of salt into a small water vessel. What do you think, monks, would that small amount of water become salty and undrinkable because of that lump of salt?" "Yes, venerable sir." "What is the reason for this?" "Because, venerable sir, the water in the small water vessel is little, it would become salty and undrinkable because of that lump of salt." "Just as, monks, a man might throw a lump of salt into the river Ganges. What do you think, monks, would that river Ganges become salty and undrinkable because of that lump of salt?" "No, Venerable Sir." "What is the reason for this?" "Because, venerable sir, there is a great mass of water in the river Ganges, it would not become salty and undrinkable because of that lump of salt."
"So too, monks, here for a certain person even a trifling evil deed done leads him to hell. Here, monks, for a certain person that same trifling evil deed done is experienced in the present life, not even a little appears, how much less a lot.
"For what kind of person, monks, does even a trifling evil deed done lead him to hell? Here, monks, a certain person is undeveloped in body, undeveloped in morality, undeveloped in mind, undeveloped in wisdom, limited, of small self, one who dwells in suffering with little. For such a person, monks, even a trifling evil deed done leads him to hell.
"For what kind of person, monks, is that same trifling evil deed done experienced in the present life, not even a little appears, how much less a lot? Here, monks, a certain person is developed in body, developed in morality, developed in mind, developed in wisdom, not limited, great of self, one who dwells immeasurably. For such a person, monks, that same trifling evil deed done is experienced in the present life, not even a little appears, how much less a lot.
"Here, monks, a certain one undergoes imprisonment even for half a coin, undergoes imprisonment even for a coin, undergoes imprisonment even for a hundred coins. Here, monks, a certain one does not undergo imprisonment even for half a coin, does not undergo imprisonment even for a coin, does not undergo imprisonment even for a hundred coins.
"What kind of person, monks, undergoes imprisonment even for half a coin, undergoes imprisonment even for a coin, undergoes imprisonment even for a hundred coins? Here, monks, a certain one is poor, possessing little, having little wealth. Such a person, monks, undergoes imprisonment even for half a coin, undergoes imprisonment even for a coin, undergoes imprisonment even for a hundred coins.
"What kind of person, monks, does not undergo imprisonment even for half a coin, does not undergo imprisonment even for a coin, does not undergo imprisonment even for a hundred coins? Here, monks, a certain one is wealthy, of great riches, of great possessions. Such a person, monks, does not undergo imprisonment even for half a coin, does not undergo imprisonment even for a coin, does not undergo imprisonment even for a hundred coins. So too, monks, here for a certain person a trifling evil deed has been done. That leads him to hell. Here, monks, for a certain person that same trifling evil deed done is experienced in the present life, not even a little appears, how much less a lot.
"For what kind of person, monks, has a trifling evil deed been done that leads him to hell? Here, monks, a certain person is undeveloped in body, undeveloped in morality, undeveloped in mind, undeveloped in wisdom, limited, of small self, one who dwells in suffering with little. For such a person, monks, that same trifling evil deed done leads him to hell.
"For what kind of person, monks, is that same trifling evil deed done experienced in the present life, not even a little appears, how much less a lot? Here, monks, a certain person is developed in body, developed in morality, developed in mind, developed in wisdom, not limited, great of self, one who dwells immeasurably. For such a person, monks, that same trifling evil deed done is experienced in the present life, not even a little appears, how much less a lot.
"Here, monks, a certain person is developed in body, developed in morality, developed in mind, developed in wisdom, unlimited, great, one who dwells immeasurably. For such a person, monks, that same trifling evil deed done is experienced in the present life, not even a little appears, how much less a lot. Just as, monks, a sheep owner or sheep butcher is able to kill or bind or fine or do as he wishes with a certain one taking a ram not given, but is not able to kill or bind or fine or do as he wishes with a certain one taking a ram not given.
"What kind of person, monks, is the sheep owner or sheep butcher able to kill or bind or fine or do as he wishes with when taking a ram not given? Here, monks, a certain one is poor, possessing little, having little wealth. Such a person, monks, the sheep owner or sheep butcher is able to kill or bind or fine or do as he wishes with when taking a ram not given.
"What kind of person, monks, is the sheep owner or sheep butcher not able to kill or bind or fine or do as he wishes with when taking a ram not given? Here, monks, a certain one is wealthy, of great riches, of great possessions, a king or a king's chief minister. Such a person, monks, the sheep owner or sheep butcher is not able to kill or bind or fine or do as he wishes with when taking a ram not given. On the contrary, with joined palms he requests him - 'Give me, sir, a ram or the price of a ram.' So too, monks, here for a certain person that same trifling evil deed done leads him to hell. But here, monks, for a certain person that same trifling evil deed done is experienced in the present life, not even a little appears, let alone much.
"For what kind of person, monks, does even a trifling evil deed done lead him to hell? Here, monks, a certain person is undeveloped in body, undeveloped in morality, undeveloped in mind, undeveloped in wisdom, limited, of small self, one who dwells in suffering with little. For such a person, monks, even a trifling evil deed done leads him to hell.
"For what kind of person, monks, is that same trifling evil deed done experienced in the present life, not even a little appears, how much less a lot? Here, monks, a certain person is developed in body, developed in morality, developed in mind, developed in wisdom, not limited, great of self, one who dwells immeasurably. For such a person, monks, that same trifling evil deed done is experienced in the present life, not even a little appears, how much less a lot.
"Whoever, monks, would say thus - 'In whatever way this person does an action, in that way he experiences it' - that being so, monks, there is no abiding by the holy life, no opportunity is evident for the right making an end of suffering. But whoever, monks, would say thus - 'In whatever way this person does an action that is to be experienced, in that way he experiences its result' - that being so, monks, there is abiding by the holy life, opportunity is evident for the right making an end of suffering." The ninth.