iti74:0.1So It Was Said 74
iti74:0.2The Book of the Threes
iti74:0.3Chapter Three
iti74:0.4A Child
iti74:1.1This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
iti74:2.1“These three kinds of children are found in the world.
iti74:2.2What three?
iti74:2.3One who betters their birth, one who equals their birth, one who fails their birth.
iti74:3.1And how does a child better their birth?
iti74:3.2It’s when a child’s parents
iti74:3.3have not gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.
iti74:3.4They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re immoral, of bad character.
iti74:3.5But their child
iti74:3.6has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.
iti74:3.7They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re ethical, of good character.
iti74:3.8That’s how a child betters their birth.
iti74:4.1And how does a child equal their birth?
iti74:4.2It’s when a child’s parents
iti74:4.3have gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.
iti74:4.4They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re ethical, of good character.
iti74:4.5And their child
iti74:4.6has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.
iti74:4.7They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re ethical, of good character.
iti74:4.8That’s how a child equals their birth.
iti74:5.1And how does a child fail their birth?
iti74:5.2It’s when a child’s parents
iti74:5.3have gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.
iti74:5.4They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re ethical, of good character.
iti74:5.5But their child
iti74:5.6has not gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.
iti74:5.7They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. They’re immoral, of bad character.
iti74:5.8That’s how a child fails their birth.
iti74:5.9These are the three kinds of children found in the world.”
iti74:5.10The Buddha spoke this matter.
iti74:5.11On this it is said:
iti74:6.1“The astute wish for a child
iti74:6.2who betters or equals their birth;
iti74:6.3not one who fails their birth,
iti74:6.4disgracing their family.
iti74:7.1These are the children in the world
iti74:7.2who become lay devotees;
iti74:7.3faithful, accomplished in ethics,
iti74:7.4bountiful, rid of stinginess.
iti74:7.5Like the moon freed from clouds,
iti74:7.6they dazzle in the assemblies.”
iti74:8.1This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.