Chapter 5: The Fool

The author uses three parallel comparisons (night for the awake, mile for the tired, life for the foolish) to illustrate how subjective experience distorts perception, particularly for those ignorant of the true law.

The author argues that a traveller should maintain solitary conduct rather than seek companionship with fools, as foolish company offers no benefit.

The author shows how fools torment themselves with the false belief that they own sons and wealth, when in fact they do not even own themselves.

The author distinguishes between the fool who recognizes his foolishness (possessing some wisdom) and the fool who believes himself wise (the worst kind of fool).

The author uses the metaphor of a spoon that cannot taste soup to argue that a fool, even if lifelong associated with a wise man, will not perceive truth.

The author contrasts the fool's imperviousness with the intelligent person's receptivity, showing that even brief association with the wise allows truth to be perceived.

The author asserts that fools, through their own lack of understanding, act as their own greatest enemies by committing evil deeds that produce bitter consequences.

The author defines a deed as ill-done if the doer must repent and receive its fruits with sorrow and tears.

The author defines a deed as well-done when the doer does not repent and receives its results gladly and cheerfully.

The author explains that the fool mistakes unripe evil deeds for good (like honey), but suffers when they eventually mature and bear bitter fruit.

The author uses hyperbole (eating with a blade of grass) to argue that material asceticism without understanding the law is infinitesimally inferior to those who have truly grasped the law.

The author uses the metaphor of milk gradually souring and fire hidden under ashes to illustrate how evil deeds, though initially appearing to disappear, follow and eventually harm the fool.

The author asserts that when an evil deed becomes known and matures, it destroys the fool's good reputation and causes severe personal ruin.

The author catalogues the fool's desires for false reputation, superiority among monks, power in convents, and worship from others.

The author depicts the fool's desire that both laypeople and ascetics obey him in all matters, leading to increased desire and pride.

The author concludes by teaching that a true disciple of Buddha understands that wealth and Nirvana are distinct paths, and will therefore renounce worldly pursuits for separation from the world.