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AN III Suttas 1-10 Bāla Vagga “The Section on Fools” 1. Bhaya Sutta (Fear Causing Perils) This is what I personally heard. Once, while The Blessed One was living in the monastery donated by the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, in Sāvatthī’s Jeta’s Park, He addressed the Bhikkhus by saying: “Bhikkhus!” “Yes, Blessed Lord!” those Bhikkhus replied. And The Blessed One continued by instructing: “Bhikkhus, all dangerous and fear causing situations result from the behavior and actions of fools, never from the actions of those who are wise. “Similarly, all perilous and disastrous circumstances take place due to the behavior and actions of fools, never from the actions of those who are wise. “Similarly, all troubles and catastrophes come from the behavior and actions of fools, never from the actions of those who are wise. “Imagine, Bhikkhus, a fire that starts spreading from a burning hut made of reeds and dry grass, proliferating and expanding as it engulfs bigger structures such as houses, villas, and luxurious mansions that are well-insulated, and even if they have all their doors and windows sealed shut, or every wall covered with plaster, both internally and externally, nevertheless, they will all burn due to that fire from the burning hut. “In just the same way, Bhikkhus, all dangerous and fear causing situations result from the behavior and actions of fools, never from the actions of those who are wise. “Similarly, all perilous and disastrous circumstances take place due to the behavior and actions of fools, never from the actions of those who are wise. “Similarly, all troubles and catastrophes come from the behavior and actions of fools, never from the actions of those who are wise. “Therefore, Bhikkhus, know that due to his behavior, the very presence of the fool indicates the presence of danger and fear-causing perils. But the opposite is true with the presence of the wise, in whose presence there is safety and no danger. “So, whereas the fool causes perilous and disastrous circumstances to occur, in the presence of the wise, however, there is none. “And similarly, while the fool brings with him troubles and catastrophes for both himself and others, the wise, on the other hand, does not cause any such things to occur. “For, truly, there can be no danger paused by the presence of the wise, no terrors or troublesome events, nor any fear-causing perils at all, due to the behavior or actions of those who are wise. “Therefore, Bhikkhus, it is in this manner that you must train yourselves, by reflecting: ‘We will fully relinquish and abandon all those qualities that designate one as a fool, those qualities with which a fool is identified. And instead, we will continuously develop and cultivate within us those qualities that transform us into wise individuals, chiseling for ourselves those bright characteristics and features that make one be recognized as truly skillful and wise!’ “It is in this manner, O Bhikkhus, that you must all train yourselves!”