182 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
talk; speculations about the creation of the land or sea, or about existence and non-existence. Gotama the recluse holds aloof from such low conversation.
- Or he might say: “Whereas some recluses and Brahmans, while living on food provided by the faithful, continue addicted to the use of wrangling phrases: such as:
“You don’t understand this doctrine and discipline, I do.”
“How should you know about this doctrine and discipline?”
“You have fallen into wrong views. It is I who am in the right.”
“I am speaking to the point, you are not.”
“You are putting last what ought to come first, and first what ought to come last.”
“What you’ve excogitated so long, that’s all quite upset.”
“Your challenge has been taken up.”
“You are proved to be wrong.”
“Set to work to clear your views.”
“Disentangle yourself if you can.” Gotama the recluse holds aloof from such wrangling phrases.”
- Or he might say: “Whereas some recluses and Brahmans, while living on food provided by the faithful, continue addicted to taking messages, going on errands, and acting as go-betweens; to wit, on kings, ministers of state, Kshatriyas, Brahmans, or young men, saying: ‘Go there, come hither, take this with you, bring that from thence.’
Gotama the recluse abstains from such servile duties.”
- Or he might say: “Whereas some recluses and Brahmans, while living on food provided by the faithful, are tricksters, droners out (of holy words for pay), diviners, and exorcists, ever hungering to add gain to gain.
Gotam the recluse holds aloof from such deception and patter.”
Here ends the Majjhima Sila (the Longer Paragraphs on Conduct).
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- Or he might say: “Whereas some recluses and Brahmans, while living on food provided by the faithful, earn their living by wrong means of livelihood, by low arts, such as these:
(1) Palmistry—prophesying long life, prosperity, &c, (or the reverse), from marks on a child’s hands, feet, &c.
(2) Divining by means of omens and signs.
(3) Auguries drawn from thunderbolts and other celestial portents.
(4) Prognostication by interpreting dreams.
(5) Fortune-telling from marks on the body.