First Lesson

The messengers and venerable ones of the past, present, and future, all say thus, speak thus, declare thus, explain thus: all breathing, existing, living, sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away. (1)

This is the pure, unchangeable, eternal law, which the clever ones, who understand the world, have declared: among the zealous and the not zealous, among the faithful and the not faithful, among the not cruel and the cruel, among those who have worldly weakness and those who have not, among those who like social bonds and those who do not: "that is the truth, that is so, that is proclaimed in this creed." (2)

Having adopted the law, one should not hide it, nor forsake it. Correctly understanding the law, one should arrive at indifference for the impressions of the senses, and "not act on the motives of the world." "He who is not of this mind, how should he come to the other?"

What has been said here, has been seen by the omniscient ones, heard by the believers, acknowledged by the faithful, and thoroughly understood by them. Those who acquiesce and indulge in worldly pleasures, go astray again and again. "Day and night exerting thyself, steadfast," always having ready wisdom, perceive that the careless stand outside of salvation; if careful, thou wilt always conquer. Thus I say. (3)

Second Lesson

There are as many inflows of sin as there are outflows of cleansing, and there are as many outflows of cleansing as there are inflows of sin. There are as many that stop the inflow as there are that stop the outflow, and there are as many that stop the outflow as there are that stop the inflow. He who well understands these words and regards the world according to the instruction, and understands that which has been distinctly declared, that "wise man proclaims the truth here to men," who still belong to the world, who are awakened, and have reached discrimination. (1)

"Those also who are afflicted and careless" will be instructed. I say this as a truth. There is nothing secure from the mouth of death. Those who are led by their desires, who are the tabernacle of fraud, "who seized by Time dwell in the heap of evil deeds," go astray again and again. Many who are again and again immersed in delusion, will often renew their acquaintance with the places of pain; they experience the pains that follow their deeds. He who often does cruel acts, often undergoes punishment in Hell. He who seldom does cruel acts, seldom undergoes punishment. (2)

Some say thus, also the wise ones; the wise ones say thus, also some others. Many and several in this world, scholars or ascetics, raise this discussion: We have seen, heard, acknowledged, thoroughly understood, in the upper, nether, and sidelong directions, and in all ways examined it: all sorts of living beings may be slain, or treated with violence, or abused, or tormented, or driven away. Know about this: there is no wrong in it. (3)

That is a doctrine of the unworthy. But those who are teachers, have said: You have wrongly seen, wrongly heard, wrongly acknowledged, wrongly understood, in the upper, nether, and sidelong directions, in all ways wrongly examined it, when you say thus, speak thus, declare thus, explain thus: All sorts of living beings may be slain, or treated with violence, or abused, or tormented, or driven away. Know about this: there is no wrong in it. That is a doctrine of the unworthy. (4) But we say thus, speak thus, declare thus, explain thus: All sorts of living beings should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away. Know about this, there is no wrong in it. This is the doctrine of the teachers. (5) First the persuasion of every one should be ascertained, and then we will ask them severally: Ye professors! is pain pleasant to you, or unpleasant? If they give the right answer, reply: For all sorts of living beings pain is unpleasant, disagreeable, and greatly feared. Thus I say. (6)

Third Lesson

"Reflect and observe that whether you go to this world or to that beyond, in the whole world those who are discerning beings, who abstain from cruelty, relinquish evil deeds. They are flesh-subduing, called duty-knowing, upright men, aware that pain results from actions." Thus say those who have right intuition. (1)

All the professors, conversant with pain, preach renunciation. Thus thoroughly knowing deeds, observing the commandment, wise, unattached to the world, recognising thy self as distinct from the world, subdue the body, discipline thyself, restrain thyself: "just as fire consumes old wood!" Thus with a composed mind, unattached, "unhesitatingly avoid wrath!" Considering the shortness of life, "know pain, or what will come;" one shall feel the several feelings; and perceive the world suffering under them. (2)

Those who are free from sinful acts are called free from craving. Hence a very wise man should not be inflamed by wrath. Thus I say. (3)

Fourth Lesson

One should discipline one's flesh in a low, high, and highest degree, quitting one's former connections, and entering tranquillity. Therefore a hero is careful, a person of pith, guarded, endowed with knowledge and the like, and always restrained. Difficult to go is the road of the heroes, who go to where there is no return (final salvation). Subdue blood and flesh. (1)

That man is called a worthy one, a hero, one to be followed, who living in chastity, guarding his eyes, shakes off the burden of evil deeds.

He who desires the current of evil deeds, is a fool who has not cut off the fetters of, nor conquered the connection with, the world. For such as dwell in darkness, and are without knowledge, there is no success in faith. Thus I say. (2)

"Whence should he have it, who does not get it early, late, or in the middle of life?" But the discerning one is awakened, and ceases to act wrongly. See that it is good to be so! Cutting off that "whence bondage, cruel death, and dreadful pain," "and the desire for external objects flow, he who among mortals knows freedom from evil acts," "seeing that acts will bear fruit, the knower of the sacred lore, parts from evil deeds." (3)

There are those who have established themselves in the truth, who were, are, or will be heroes, endowed with knowledge, always exerting themselves, full of equanimity, valuing the world as it deserves in the east, west, south, north. We shall tell the knowledge of them who were, are, or will be heroes, endowed with knowledge, always exerting themselves, full of equanimity, valuing the world as it deserves.

Is there any worldly weakness in the Seer? There exists none, there is none. Thus I say. (4)

End of the Fourth Lecture, called Righteousness.