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This was said by the Blessed One,
said by the Arahant, so I have heard: "There are these three types of sons
& daughters existing in the world. Which three? One of heightened birth,
one of similar birth, one of lowered birth.
"And how is a son or daughter
of heightened birth? There is the case where a son or daughter's parents have
not gone to the Buddha for refuge, have not gone to the Dhamma for refuge, have
not gone to the Sangha for refuge. They do not abstain from taking life, from
stealing, from sexual misconduct, from false speech, from fermented &
distilled liquors that cause heedlessness. They are unprincipled & evil by
nature. However, their son or daughter has gone to the Buddha for refuge, has
gone to the Dhamma for refuge, has gone to the Sangha for refuge. He/she
abstains from taking life, from stealing, from sexual misconduct, from false
speech, from fermented & distilled liquors that cause heedlessness. He/she
is principled & admirable by nature. This is called a son or daughter of
heightened birth.
"And how is a son or daughter
of similar birth? There is the case where a son or daughter's parents have gone
to the Buddha for refuge, have gone to the Dhamma for refuge, have gone to the Sangha
for refuge. They abstain from taking life, from stealing, from sexual
misconduct, from false speech, from fermented & distilled liquors that
cause heedlessness. They are principled & admirable by nature. Their son or
daughter has also gone to the Buddha for refuge, has gone to the Dhamma for
refuge, has gone to the Sangha for refuge. He/she abstains from taking life,
from stealing, from sexual misconduct, from false speech, from fermented &
distilled liquors that cause heedlessness. He/she is principled & admirable
by nature. This is called a son or daughter of similar birth.
"And how is a son or daughter
of lowered birth? There is the case where a son or daughter's parents have gone
to the Buddha for refuge, have gone to the Dhamma for refuge, have gone to the
Sangha for refuge. They abstain from taking life, from stealing, from sexual
misconduct, from false speech, from fermented & distilled liquors that
cause heedlessness. They are principled & admirable by nature. However,
their son or daughter has not gone to the Buddha for refuge, has not gone to
the Dhamma for refuge, has not gone to the Sangha for refuge. He/she does not
abstain from taking life, from stealing, from sexual misconduct, from false
speech, from fermented & distilled liquors that cause heedlessness. He/she
is unprincipled & evil by nature. This is called a son or daughter of
lowered birth."
The wise hope for a child
of heightened or similar birth,
not for one
of lowered birth,
a disgrace to the family.
These children in the world,
lay followers,
consummate in virtue, conviction;
generous, free from stinginess,
shine forth in any gathering
like the moon
when freed from a cloud.
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