Chapter 19: The Just

A truly just person distinguishes right from wrong, is learned, and leads others through law and equity rather than violence.

Learning is not measured by how much one speaks, but by patience, freedom from hatred and fear.

A supporter of the law is not one who merely talks about it, but one who sees and embodies the law through consistent practice.

Mere age or grey hair does not make one an elder; advancing years without wisdom make one 'Old-in-vain.'

A true elder possesses truth, virtue, love, restraint, moderation, and freedom from impurity and foolishness.

An envious, greedy, and dishonest man cannot become respectable through mere talk or physical beauty.

True respectability comes from destroying evil at its root and achieving freedom from hatred and wisdom.

Shaving one's head or adopting external signs does not make one a Samana if one lacks discipline and speaks falsehood.

A true Samana is one who quiets all evil, whether small or large.

A mendicant is not one who simply asks for alms, but one who fully adopts and embodies the law.

A true Bhikshu transcends good and evil, maintains chastity, and navigates the world with knowledge.

Observing silence does not make one wise if one is foolish and ignorant; true wisdom involves discerning and choosing good over evil.

A true Muni is one who weighs both sides of matters and chooses wisely.

One is not called an Ariya (elect) for injuring living creatures, but for having compassion on all living beings.

Neither discipline, vows, learning, trance, nor ascetic solitude can alone earn the happiness of release; desire extinction is essential.

A mendicant should remain vigilant and not grow confident until desires are fully extinguished.