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18. Once, the Venerable Ānanda came and approached The Blessed One, and after paying homage to Him, he sat down to one side. Then, The Blessed One spoke, while addressing the Venerable Ānanda: “Ānanda, I categorically and definitively state that one should not engage in any kind of misconduct, whether done through the physical body, through speech or communication, and through thought or mental actions.” Then, the Venerable Ānanda asked The Blessed One, by saying: “Bhante, seeing that The Blessed One has categorically and definitively stated that one should not engage in any kind of misconduct, whether done through the physical body, through speech or communication, and through thought or mental actions, then, what might be the dangerous or harmful outcomes to be expected for someone who has engaged in such damaging behaviors?” “Ānanda, I categorically and definitively stated that one should not engage in any kind of misconduct, whether done through the physical body, through speech or communication, and through thought or mental actions, because if one has indeed engaged in such damaging behaviors, these dangerous and harmful outcomes are then to be expected – 1. The person is left with guilt and remorse, blaming himself; 2. Those who are truly wise, having carefully considered and investigated the matter, would turn and chastise that person by criticizing him, as they look down upon such behavior; 3. A bad reputation spreads about the person who has committed these actions; 4. One dies with a confused heart; 5. And with the body coming apart, after death, that person takes birth in places of misery, in horrible and miserable states of existence, in the hells. “Therefore, Ānanda, I categorically and definitively state that one should not engage in any kind of misconduct, whether done through the physical body, through speech or communication, and through thought or mental actions. Otherwise, these dangerous and harmful outcomes are to be expected for someone who has engaged in such damaging behavior. “On the other hand, Ānanda, I categorically and definitively state that one should engage in virtuous conduct, whether done through the physical body, through speech and all kinds of communication, and through thought and mental actions.” Then, the Venerable Ānanda asked The Blessed One, by saying: “Bhante, seeing that The Blessed One has categorically and definitively stated that one should engage in virtuous conduct, whether done through the physical body, through speech and all kinds of communication, and through thought and mental actions, then, what might be the benefits or advantageous outcomes to be expected for someone who has engaged in such beneficial behaviors?” “Ānanda, I categorically and definitively stated that one should engage in virtuous conduct, whether done through the physical body, through speech and all kinds of communication, and through thought and mental actions, because if one has indeed engaged in such beneficial behaviors, then these benefits and advantageous outcomes are to be expected – 1. The person feels neither guilt nor remorse, nor blames himself; 2. Those who are truly wise, having carefully considered and investigated the matter, would praise that person; 3. A good reputation spreads about the one who has committed these beneficial actions; 4. One dies with a heart that is calm and serene; 5. And with the body coming apart, after death, that person takes birth in places of ease and comfort, in happy and delightful states of existence, in the heavenly realms. “Therefore, Ānanda, I categorically and definitively state that one should engage in virtuous conduct, whether done through the physical body, through speech and all kinds of communication, and through thought and mental actions, because, as a result, these benefits and advantageous outcomes are to be expected.”