Threats (AN5.174)

Numbered Discourses 5.174

18. A Lay Follower

Threats

Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

“Householder, unless these five fears and enmities are given up, one is said to be unethical, and is reborn in hell.

What five?

Killing living creatures, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.

Unless these five fears and enmities are given up, one is said to be unethical, and is reborn in hell.

Once these five fears and enmities are given up, one is said to be ethical, and is reborn in a good place.

What five?

Killing living creatures, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.

Once these five fears and enmities are given up, one is said to be ethical, and is reborn in a good place.

Anyone who kills living creatures brims with fear and enmity both in this life and in lives to come, and experiences mental pain and sadness. Anyone who refrains from killing living creatures does not brim with fear and enmity either in this life or in lives to come, and doesn’t experience mental pain and sadness.

So that fear and enmity is quelled for anyone who refrains from killing living creatures.

Anyone who steals …

Anyone who commits sexual misconduct …

Anyone who lies …

Anyone who consumes beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants brims with fear and enmity both in this life and in lives to come, and experiences mental pain and sadness. Anyone who refrains from beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants does not brim with fear and enmity either in this life or in lives to come, and doesn’t experience mental pain and sadness.

So that fear and enmity is quelled for anyone who refrains from beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants.

Someone in this world

who kills living creatures,

speaks falsely, steals,

commits adultery,

and indulges in drinking

beer and wine—

unless they give up these five threats,

they’re said to be unethical.

When their body breaks up, that witless person

is reborn in hell.

But someone in this world

who doesn’t kill living creatures,

speak falsely, steal,

commit adultery,

or indulge in drinking

beer and wine—

having given up these five threats,

they’re said to be ethical.

When their body breaks up, that wise person

is reborn in a good place.”