The Just

Books: Sacred Books Of The East

A man is not just if he carries a matter by violence; no, he who

distinguishes both right and wrong, who is learned and guides others,

not by violence, but by the same law, being a guardian of the law and

intelligent, he is called just.



A man is not learned because he talks much; he who is patient, free from

hatred and fear, he is called learned.



A man is not a supporter of the law because h talks much; even if a man

has learnt little, but sees the law bodily, he is a supporter of the

law, a man who never neglects the law.



A man is not an elder because his head is gray; his age may be ripe, but

he is called "Old-in-vain."



He in whom there is truth, virtue, pity, restraint, moderation, he who

is free from impurity and is wise, he is called an elder.



An envious, stingy, dishonest man does not become respectable by means

of much talking only, or by the beauty of his complexion.



He in whom all this is destroyed, and taken out with the very root, he,

when freed from hatred, is called respectable.



Not by tonsure does an undisciplined man who speaks falsehood become a

Samana; can a man be a Samana who is still held captive by desire and

greediness?



He who always quiets the evil, whether small or large, he is called a

Samana (a quiet man), because he has quieted all evil.



A man is not a mendicant (Bhikshu) simply because he asks others for

alms; he who adopts the whole law is a Bhikshu, not he who only begs.



He who is above good and evil, who is chaste, who with care passes

through the world, he indeed is called a Bhikshu.



A man is not a Muni because he observes silence if he is foolish and

ignorant; but the wise who, as with the balance, chooses the good and

avoids evil, he is a Muni, and is a Muni thereby; he who in this world

weighs both sides is called a Muni.



A man is not an elect (Ariya) because he injures living creatures;

because he has pity on all living creatures, therefore is a man called

Ariya.



Not only by discipline and vows, not only by much learning, not by

entering into a trance, not by sleeping alone, do I earn the happiness

of release which no worldling can know. O Bhikshu, he who has obtained

the extinction of desires has obtained confidence.