Aṅgulimālasutta

mn86:18.1 Later, Venerable Aṅgulimāla was experiencing the bliss of release while in private retreat.

mn86:18.2 On that occasion he expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

mn86:18.3 “He who once was heedless,

mn86:18.4 but turned to heedfulness,

mn86:18.5 shines upon this world,

mn86:18.6 like the moon freed from clouds.

mn86:18.7 Someone whose bad deed

mn86:18.8 is supplanted by the good,

mn86:18.9 shines upon this world,

mn86:18.10 like the moon freed from clouds.

mn86:18.11 A young mendicant

mn86:18.12 devoted to the Buddha’s teaching,

mn86:18.13 shines upon this world,

mn86:18.14 like the moon freed from clouds.

mn86:18.15 May even my enemies <j>hear a Dhamma talk!

mn86:18.16 May even my enemies <j>devote themselves to the Buddha’s teaching!

mn86:18.17 May even my enemies associate with those good men

mn86:18.18 who establish others in the Dhamma!

mn86:18.19 May even my enemies <j>hear Dhamma at the right time,

mn86:18.20 from those who teach acceptance,

mn86:18.21 praising acquiescence;

mn86:18.22 and may they follow that path!

mn86:18.23 For then they’d never wish harm

mn86:18.24 upon myself or others.

mn86:18.25 Having arrived at ultimate peace,

mn86:18.26 they’d look after creatures firm and frail.

mn86:18.27 For while irrigators guide water,

mn86:18.28 fletchers bend arrows straight,

mn86:18.29 and carpenters bend timber straight,

mn86:18.30 the astute tame themselves.

mn86:18.31 Some tame by using the rod,

mn86:18.32 some with goads, and some with whips.

mn86:18.33 But the unaffected one tamed me

mn86:18.34 without rod or sword.

mn86:18.35 My name is ‘Harmless’,

mn86:18.36 though I used to be harmful.

mn86:18.37 The name I bear today is true,

mn86:18.38 for I do no harm to anyone.

mn86:18.39 I used to be a bandit,

mn86:18.40 the notorious Aṅgulimāla.

mn86:18.41 Swept away in a great flood,

mn86:18.42 I went to the Buddha as a refuge.

mn86:18.43 I used to have blood on my hands,

mn86:18.44 the notorious Aṅgulimāla.

mn86:18.45 See the refuge I’ve found—

mn86:18.46 the leash to existence is eradicated.

mn86:18.47 I’ve done many of the sort of deeds

mn86:18.48 that lead to a bad destination.

mn86:18.49 The result of my deeds has already struck me,

mn86:18.50 so I enjoy my food free of debt.

mn86:18.51 Fools and simpletons

mn86:18.52 devote themselves to negligence.

mn86:18.53 But the wise protect diligence

mn86:18.54 as their best treasure.

mn86:18.55 Don’t devote yourself to negligence,

mn86:18.56 or delight in erotic intimacy.

mn86:18.57 For if you’re diligent and practice absorption,

mn86:18.58 you’ll attain abundant happiness.

mn86:18.59 It was welcome, not unwelcome,

mn86:18.60 the advice I got was good.

mn86:18.61 Of the well-explained teachings,

mn86:18.62 I arrived at the best.

mn86:18.63 It was welcome, not unwelcome,

mn86:18.64 the advice I got was good.

mn86:18.65 I’ve attained the three knowledges

mn86:18.66 and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.”