EVIL

Be quick in doing

what's admirable.

Restrain your mind


from what's evil.


When you're slow


in making merit,


evil delights the mind.




If a person does evil,


he shouldn't do it again and again,


shouldn't develop a penchant for it.


To accumulate evil


brings pain.






If a person makes merit,


he should do it again and again,


should develop a penchant for it.


To accumulate merit


brings ease.




Even the evil


meet with good fortune


as long as their evil


has yet to mature.


But when it's matured


that's when they meet


with evil.






Even the good


meet with bad fortune


as long as their good


has yet to mature.


But when it's matured


that's when they meet


with good fortune.




Don't underestimate evil


('It won't amount to much').


A water jar fills,


even with water


falling in drops.


With evil — even if


bit


by


bit,


habitually —


the fool fills himself full.






Don't underestimate merit


('It won't amount to much').


A water jar fills,


even with water


falling in drops.


With merit — even if


bit


by


bit,


habitually —


the enlightened one fills himself full.

Like a merchant with a small


but well-laden caravan


— a dangerous road,


like a person who loves life


— a poison,


one should avoid


— evil deeds.

If there's no wound on the hand,


that hand can hold poison.


Poison won't penetrate


where there's no wound.


There's no evil


for those who don't do it.

Buddha