Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

On Distinguishing Virtue 15What is Tearful virtue'? There is a man who through fear does notcommit evil — this is called 'fearful virtue'.What is 'anxious virtue'? A certain man, remembering an intimatefriend from whom he is separated, is troubled with anxiety; owing to anxietyhe does not commit evil — this is called 'anxious virtue'.What is 'fatuous virtue'? There is a man; he observes the precepts ofcow-asceticism 1 or dog-asceticism 2 — this is called 'fatuous virtue'.Tf a man fulfills 'fatuous virtue', he will become a cow or a dog. If hedoes not fulfil, he will fall into hell. 3EIGHTH GROUP OF THREE IN VIRTUEAnd again, there is a group of three in virtue: inferior, 1 middling^superior. 6What is 'inferior' ? (A certain man) is affected with much passion, excessivepassion, great passion and is impregnated with non-paucity of wishes — thisis called 'inferior' virtue.What is 'middling'? (A certain man) is affected with subtle passion andis impregnated with paucity of wishes — this is called 'middling' virtue.What is 'superior'? (A certain man) is not affected with passion and isimpregnated with paucity of wishes — this is called 'superior' virtue.Through the fulfilment of 'inferior' virtue, one is reborn as a man; throughthe fulfilment of'middling' virtue, one is reborn as a god; through the fulfilmentof 'superior' virtue, one attians to freedom. -FIRST GROUP OF FOUR IN VIRTUEAnd again, there is a group of four in virtue: partaking of deterioration,7 partaking of stagnation, 8 partaking of excellence, 9 partaking of penetration.10 What is 'partaking of deterioration' ? A certain man does not removewhat shuts out the attainment of the Path; he is not energetic; and he wilfullytransgresses (the precepts) and thereafter conceals (his fault) — this is called'partaking of deterioration'.What is 'partaking of stagnation'? A certain man keeps the preceptsand is not heedless, but he does not arouse aversion — this is called 'partakingof stagnation'.1. Go Site. 2. Kukkura si/a. For details of i and 2, see M.I, 388 f. (nole 3).3. M. J, 388-9: So go vat am bhdvetvd paripunnam abbokinnam... kayassa bhedd parammarattagunriam sahavyatam uppajjati. Sace kho panassa evarii ditthi hoti: imind 'ham silena vdvatena vd tapena vd brahmacariyena vd devo vd bhavissdmi devafinataro vdti sdssa hotimicchddittlii. Micchdditthikassa kho aham Seniya dvinnam gatinam annataram gat Mivaddmi: nirayaih vd tiracchdnayonhh vd. A similar result follows in the case of dogasceticism.4. Him si/a. 5. Majjhima si/a. 6. Panita si/a. Cp. Vis. Mag. 13.7. Hdnabhdgiya. 8. Thitibhdgiya. 9. Visesabhagiya,10. Nibbedhabhagiya. For 7-10; see A. Ill, 427, Vis. Mag. 15.