Numbered Discourses 3.2

1. Fools

Characteristics

“A fool is characterized by their deeds, and an astute person is characterized by their deeds, for wisdom shows in its traces. A fool is known by three things. What three? Bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.

These are the three things by which a fool is known.

An astute person is known by three things. What three? Good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.

These are the three things by which an astute person is known.

So you should train like this: ‘We will reject the three things by which a fool is known, and we will undertake and follow the three things by which an astute person is known.’ That’s how you should train.”