Iti 74A Child
Pāli / Sanskrit:Puttasutta
Three types of sons and daughters (when compared to their parents): of heightened birth, of similar birth, and of lowered birth.
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– So It Was Said 74
The Book of the Threes Chapter Three A Child
This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“These three kinds of children are found in the world. What three? One who betters their birth, one who equals their birth, one who fails their birth.
And how does a child better their birth? It’s when a child’s parents have not gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. They’re immoral, of bad character. But their child has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. They’re ethical, of good character. That’s how a child betters their birth.
And how does a child equal their birth? It’s when a child’s parents have gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. They’re ethical, of good character. And their child has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. They’re ethical, of good character. That’s how a child equals their birth.
And how does a child fail their birth? It’s when a child’s parents have gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. They’re ethical, of good character. But their child has not gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, and consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. They’re immoral, of bad character. That’s how a child fails their birth. These are the three kinds of children found in the world.”
The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.
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