SN12.19 — The Fool and the Wise Person Discourse
He was staying at Sāvatthī.
Disciples, for a fool hindered by ignorance and attached to craving, this body has arisen.
Thus, this body and external name-and-form, these two, depend on contact, the six sense bases, by which the fool experiences pleasure and pain through one or another of these.
For a wise person hindered by ignorance and attached to craving, this body has arisen.
Thus, this body and external name-and-form, these two, depend on contact, the six sense bases, by which the wise person experiences pleasure and pain through one or another of these.
Disciples, what is the distinction, the specific quality, the difference between the wise person and the fool?
Venerable sir, the teachings have the Blessed One as their root, their guide, and their refuge. It would be good if the Blessed One himself would explain the meaning of this statement. Having heard it from the Blessed One, the disciples will remember it.
Then listen pay close attention, I will speak.
Yes, venerable sir, the disciples replied to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this:
Disciples, the ignorance by which the fool is hindered and the craving with which he is attached, this body has arisen, and that ignorance of the fool is not abandoned, and that craving is not exhausted.
What is the reason for this?
Disciples, the fool has not lived the holy life for the complete ending of suffering.
Therefore, the fool, upon the breakup of the body, is reborn in a body.
Being reborn in a body, he is not freed from birth, aging, and death, from sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair.
I say he is not freed from suffering.
Disciples, the ignorance by which the wise person is hindered and the craving with which he is attached, this body has arisen, and that ignorance of the wise person is abandoned, and that craving is exhausted.
What is the reason for this?
Disciples, the wise person has lived the holy life for the complete ending of suffering.
Therefore, the wise person, upon the breakup of the body, is not reborn in a body.
Not being reborn in a body, he is freed from birth, aging, and death, from sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair.
I say he is freed from suffering.
This is the distinction, the specific quality, the difference between the wise person and the fool, namely, the living of the holy life.