Chapter 9: Evil

Those who want to progress toward good must keep their thoughts away from evil; those who perform good deeds without commitment will find their mind dwelling in evil instead.

When one commits a sin, one should not repeat it or take pleasure in sinful behavior, for pain inevitably follows evil.

One should perform good deeds repeatedly and find joy in doing them, since happiness naturally flows from good actions.

An evil-doer experiences temporary happiness until the consequences of the evil deed ripen, at which point suffering becomes apparent.

A good person may experience suffering until their good deed ripens into full consequence, at which point happiness manifests.

One should not dismiss evil as insignificant, for just as water drops gradually fill a pot, small evils accumulate to fill a fool with evil.

Similarly, one should not dismiss good deeds as insignificant, for the wise person gradually accumulates goodness through small, repeated good actions.

One should avoid evil deeds with the same vigilance a merchant avoids dangerous roads or a person avoids poison.

One without wounds can handle poison safely; similarly, one who does not commit evil is not affected by evil.

When someone harms an innocent and pure person, the evil rebounds upon the perpetrator like dust thrown against the wind.

The chapter catalogues the consequences of actions: some people are reborn, evil-doers go to hell, righteous people to heaven, and those free from desire attain Nirvana.

No place in the world—sky, sea, or mountain—offers escape from the consequences of one's evil deeds.

Similarly, no location in the world can provide refuge from death, which is universal and inescapable.