Part 3: Sermon on saṃsāra

The Teacher of the World delivered a sermon in a speech similar to all dialects.

“Look you! The ocean of existence is boundless like a cruel sea; and the cause of that is karma and nothing else, see! like a seed of a tree. A creature devoid of discernment attains a low state of existence like a well-digger, by means of his karma created by himself only. A creature with a pure heart attains a high state of existence, like the builder of a palace, by his own karma alone. One should not destroy life, the cause of acquiring karma; one should be as intent on saving the lives of others as one’s own life. A person should certainly not speak falsely, but should speak what is pleasant and true, avoiding pain to others like pain to one's self. One should not take property that has not been given, for it resembles an external breath of men. Actual murder would be committed by taking their property. One should not have sexual relations which cause the destruction of many souls. The wise man should practice continence only, the cause of emancipation. One should not acquire possessions, for a man worried about his possessions falls down like an over-loaded ox. If people eager to abandon fully these things, destruction of life, et cetera, are not able to abandon them fully, in that case they should abandon gross offenses.”

The people, attentive, listening to this sermon of the Lord’s, stood as if painted in a picture, streaming with joy.