What sort of Dhamma practice leads to great good for oneself? Concerning this, the noble disciple reflects: "Here am I, fond of life, not wishing to die, fond of pleasure and averse to pain. If someone were to kill me I would not like it. Likewise, if I were to kill someone they would not like that. For what is unpleasant to me must be unpleasant to another and how could I burden someone with that?" As a result of such reflection one abstains from killing, encourages others to abstain from it and speaks in praise of such abstaining.

Again, the noble disciple reflects: "If someone were to steal what was mine, I would not like that. Likewise, if I were to steal what belonged to someone else they would not like that. For what is unpleasant to me must be unpleasant to another and how could I burden someone with that?" As a result of such reflection he abstains from stealing, encourages others to abstain from it and speaks in praise of such abstaining.

Again, the noble disciple reflects: "If someone were to have intercourse with my spouse I would not like it. Likewise, if I were to have intercourse with another’s spouse they would not like that. For what is unpleasant to me must be unpleasant to another and how could I burden someone with that?" As a result of such reflection one abstains from wrong sensual desire, encourages others to abstain from it and speaks in praise of such abstaining.

Once again, the noble disciple reflects: "If someone were to ruin my benefit by lying I would not like it. Likewise, if I were to ruin someone else’s benefit by lying they would not like that. For what is unpleasant to me must be unpleasant to another and how could I burden someone like that?" As a result of such reflection one abstains from lying, encourages others to abstain from it and speaks in praise of such abstaining. A noble disciple reflects further: "If someone were to estrange me from my friends by slander, speak harshly to me or distract me with pointless, frivolous chatter I would not like it. Likewise, if I were to do this to another they would not like that. For what is unpleasant to me must be unpleasant to another and how could I burden another with that?" As a result of such reflection one abstains from slander, harsh speech and pointless chatter, encourages others to abstain from it and speaks in praise of such abstaining.

* Selections from the Sacred Literature of Buddhism.