Aspiring to three forms of bliss, wise people should guard their virtue

Sukhapatthanāsutta, Wishing for Happiness, Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, an astute person who wishes for three kinds of happiness should take care of their ethics. What three? ‘May I be be praised!’ ‘May I become rich!’ ‘When my body breaks up, after death, may I be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm!’ An astute person who wishes for these three kinds of happiness should protect their precepts.”

The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“Wishing for three kinds of happiness—

praise, prosperity,

and to delight in heaven after passing away—

the wise would take care of their ethics.

Though you do no wrong,

if you associate with one who does,

you’re suspected of wrong,

and your disrepute grows.

Whatever kind of friend you make,

with whom you associate,

that’s how you become,

for so it is when you share your life.

The one who associates and the one associated with,

the one contacted and the one who contacts another,

are like an arrow smeared with poison

that contaminates the quiver.

The attentive, fearing contamination,

would never have wicked comrades.

A man who wraps

putrid fish in blades of grass

makes the grass stink—

so it is when associating with fools.

But one who wraps

sandalwood incense in leaves

makes the leaves fragrant—

so it is when associating with the attentive.

So, knowing they’ll end up

like the wrapping, the astute

would shun the wicked,

and befriend the good.

The wicked lead you to hell,

the good help you to a good place.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.