Greed (1st) (ITI68)

So It Was Said 68

The Book of the Threes

Chapter Two

Greed (1st)

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Whoever has not given up greed, hate, and delusion

is said to be trapped. They’re caught in Māra’s snare, and the Wicked One can do with them what he wants.

Whoever has given up greed, hate, and delusion

is said to be free. They’re released from Māra’s snare, and the Wicked One cannot do with them what he wants.”

The Buddha spoke this matter.

On this it is said:

“Those in whom greed, hate, and ignorance

have faded away,

belong with those who are evolved;

A manifestation of divinity, realized,

awakened, beyond enmities and fears,

they’ve given up everything, they say.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.