[1148] S. Does merit (puñña) accomplished through use (paribhogamaya) grow?
P. Yes.
S. A donor (dāyaka), having given a gift (dāna), thinks a thought of sensual pleasures (kāma-vitakka), thinks a thought of ill will (byāpāda-vitakka), thinks a thought of harming (vihiṃsā-vitakka) — and merit occurs?
P. Yes.
S. Is there a conjunction of two contacts (phassa) … of two minds (citta)?
P. It should not be said thus. …
S. Is there a conjunction of two contacts … of two minds?
P. Yes.
S. Do phenomena (dhammā) that are wholesome and unwholesome, blameworthy and blameless, inferior and superior, dark and bright with their counterparts come face to face?
P. It should not be said thus. …
S. Do phenomena that are wholesome and unwholesome, blameworthy and blameless, inferior and superior, dark and bright with their counterparts come face to face?
P. Yes.
S. Was it not said by the Blessed One: "Bhikkhus, these four things are far apart, very far apart. Which four? The sky, bhikkhus, and the earth: this is the first thing far apart, very far apart. The near shore of the ocean, bhikkhus, and the far shore: this is the second thing far apart, very far apart. Where the sun rises, bhikkhus, and where it sets: this is the third thing far apart, very far apart. The dhamma of the good (sataṃ dhammā), bhikkhus, and the dhamma of the bad (asataṃ dhammā): this is the fourth thing far apart, very far apart. These, bhikkhus, are the four things far apart, very far apart.
The sky is far and the earth is far;
far, so they say, is the ocean's farther shore;
and where the sun, the radiant one, comes up,
and where the maker of light goes down —
farther apart than these, they say,
are the dhamma of the good and the dhamma of the bad.
Imperishable is the company of the good;
as long as it may stand, it remains just so;
but swiftly indeed passes the company of the bad;
therefore the dhamma of the good is far from the bad."
Is there such a discourse (suttanta)?
P. Yes.
S. Then indeed it should not be said that phenomena that are wholesome and unwholesome, blameworthy and blameless, inferior and superior, dark and bright with their counterparts come face to face.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.