[508] [69] "Bhikkhus, if wanderers of other sects should ask thus: 'Friends, there are these three things (dhammas). What three? Lust (rāga), hatred (dosa), and delusion (moha). These, friends, are the three things. Friends, among these three things, what is the distinction, what is the disparity, what is the difference?' — being asked thus, bhikkhus, how would you answer those wanderers of other sects?"
"Venerable sir, our teachings are rooted in the Blessed One, guided by the Blessed One, have the Blessed One as their resort. It would be good indeed, venerable sir, if the meaning of this statement would become clear to the Blessed One himself. Having heard it from the Blessed One, the bhikkhus will remember it."
"Then, bhikkhus, listen and attend carefully; I shall speak."
"Yes, venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"Bhikkhus, if wanderers of other sects should ask thus: 'Friends, there are these three things. What three? Lust, hatred, and delusion. These, friends, are the three things. Friends, among these three things, what is the distinction, what is the disparity, what is the difference?' — being asked thus, bhikkhus, you should answer those wanderers of other sects thus: 'Friends, lust is of little blame and slow to fade away; hatred is of great blame and quick to fade away; delusion is of great blame and slow to fade away.'
"'But, friends, what is the cause, what is the condition, whereby unarisen lust arises, or arisen lust leads to increase and abundance?' — 'The sign of the beautiful (subhanimitta),' it should be said. 'For one attending unwisely to the sign of the beautiful, unarisen lust arises and arisen lust leads to increase and abundance. This, friends, is the cause, this is the condition, whereby unarisen lust arises, or arisen lust leads to increase and abundance.'
"'But, friends, what is the cause, what is the condition, whereby unarisen hatred arises, or arisen hatred leads to increase and abundance?' — 'The sign of the repulsive (paṭighanimitta),' it should be said. 'For one attending unwisely to the sign of the repulsive, unarisen hatred arises and arisen hatred leads to increase and abundance. This, friends, is the cause, this is the condition, whereby unarisen hatred arises, or arisen hatred leads to increase and abundance.'
"'But, friends, what is the cause, what is the condition, whereby unarisen delusion arises, or arisen delusion leads to increase and abundance?' — 'Unwise attention (ayoniso manasikāra),' it should be said. 'For one attending unwisely, unarisen delusion arises and arisen delusion leads to increase and abundance. This, friends, is the cause, this is the condition, whereby unarisen delusion arises, or arisen delusion leads to increase and abundance.'
"'But, friends, what is the cause, what is the condition, whereby unarisen lust does not arise, or arisen lust is abandoned?' — 'The sign of the unattractive (asubhanimitta),' it should be said. 'For one attending wisely to the sign of the unattractive, unarisen lust does not arise and arisen lust is abandoned. This, friends, is the cause, this is the condition, whereby unarisen lust does not arise, or arisen lust is abandoned.'
"'But, friends, what is the cause, what is the condition, whereby unarisen hatred does not arise, or arisen hatred is abandoned?' — 'The liberation of mind by loving-kindness (mettā cetovimutti),' it should be said. 'For one attending wisely to the liberation of mind by loving-kindness, unarisen hatred does not arise and arisen hatred is abandoned. This, friends, is the cause, this is the condition, whereby unarisen hatred does not arise, or arisen hatred is abandoned.'
"'But, friends, what is the cause, what is the condition, whereby unarisen delusion does not arise, or arisen delusion is abandoned?' — 'Wise attention (yoniso manasikāra),' it should be said. 'For one attending wisely, unarisen delusion does not arise and arisen delusion is abandoned. This, friends, is the cause, this is the condition, whereby unarisen delusion does not arise, or arisen delusion is abandoned.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.