V.BALAVAGGA. FOOLS

60. Long is the night to the wakeful; long is the league to the weary; long is samsãra to the foolish who know not the Sublime Truth.

61. If, as he fares, he meets no companion who is better or equal, let him firmly pursue his solitary career; there is no fellowship with the foolish.

62. "Sons have I; wealth have I" : Thus is the fool worried; verily, he himself is not his own. Whence sons? Whence wealth?

63. A fool who thinks that he is a fool is for that very reason a wise man; the fool who thinks that he is wise is called fool indeed.

64. Though a fool through all his life associates with a wise man, he no more understands the Dhamma than a spoon the flavour of soup.

65. Though an intelligent person only for a moment associates with a wise man, quickly he understands the Dhamma as the tongue the flavour of soup.

66. Fools of little wit move about with the very self as their own foe, doing evil deeds, the fruit of which is bitter.

67. That deed is not well done when after having done it one repents, and when one weeping and with tearful face reaps the fruit thereof.

68. That deed is well done when after having done it one repents not, and when one with joy and pleasure reaps the fruit thereof.

69. As sweet as honey the fool thinks an evil deed, so long as it ripens not; but, when it ripens, then he comes to grief.

70. Month after month, with a kusa-grass blade, a fool may eat his food; but he is not worth a sixteenth part of them who have comprehended the Truth.

71. Verily, an evil deed committed does not immediately bear fruit, just as milk curdles not at once; smouldering, it follows the fool like fire covered with ashes.

72. To his ruin, indeed, the fool gains knowledge and fame; they destroy his bright lot and cleave his head.

73. The fool will desire undue reputation, precedence among monks, authority in the monasteries, honour among other families.

74. Let both laymen and monks think, "by myself was this done; in every work, great or small, let them refer to me". Such is the ambition of the fool; his desires and pride increase.

75. Surely, the path that leads to worldly gain is one, and the path that leads to Nibbãna is another; thus understanding this the bhikkhu, the disciple of the Buddha, should not rejoice in worldly favours, but cultivate detachment.