15. What sort of Dhamma practice leads to great good for oneself? Concerning this, the noble disciple reflects: ‘Here am I, fond of life, not wishing to die, fond of pleasure and averse to pain. If someone killed me, I would not like it. Likewise, if I were to kill someone they would not like it. For what is unpleasant to me must be unpleasant to another, so how could I inflict unpleasantness on them?’ As a result of such reflection one abstains from killing, encourages others to abstain from it and speaks in praise of such abstaining.
Again, the noble disciple reflects: ‘If someone were to steal what was mine, I would not like it. Likewise, if I were to steal what belonged to someone they would not like it. For what is unpleasant to me must be unpleasant to another and how could I inflict unpleasantness on them?’ As a result of such reflection one abstains from stealing, encourages others to abstain from it and speaks in praise of such abstaining.
Again, the noble disciple reflects: ‘If someone were to have intercourse with my spouse I would not like it. Likewise, if I were to have intercourse with another’s spouse they would not like it. For what is unpleasant to me must be unpleasant to another and how could I inflict unpleasantness on them?’ As a result of such reflection one abstains from wrong sexual desire, encourages others to abstain from it and speaks in praise of such abstaining.
Once again, the noble disciple reflects: ‘If someone were to ruin my benefit by lying I would not like it. Likewise, if I were to ruin someone’s benefit by lying they would not like it. For what is unpleasant to me must be unpleasant to another and how could I inflict unpleasantness on them?’ As a result of such reflection one abstains from lying, encourages others to abstain from it and speaks in praise of such abstaining.
A noble disciple reflects further: ‘If someone were to estrange me from my friends by slander, I would not like it. Likewise, if I were to do this to another, they would not like it. For what is unpleasant to me must be unpleasant to another and how could I inflict unpleasantness on them?’ As a result of such reflection, one abstains from slander, harsh speech and pointless chatter, encourages others to abstain from it and speaks in praise of such abstaining.
A noble disciple reflects further: ‘If someone were to speak harshly to me, I would not like it. Likewise, if I were to speak harshly to another they would not like it. For what is unpleasant to me must be unpleasant to another and how could I inflict unpleasantness on them?’ As a result of such reflection one abstains from harsh speech, encourages others to abstain from it and speaks in praise of such abstaining.
S.V,353-5 (SN 55.7)
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