Lord Buddha Sermons on Righteousness : Need for Righteousness.

2. Need for Righteousness.

• Then the Exalted One addressed the lay brethren of Pataligama: 
• " There are losses, householders, which attend the wicked and immoral man. 
• " The wicked, immoral man, as the result of sloth, comes to great loss of wealth. 
• " Then again, an evil report prevails about him which defames him in the eyes of the world. 
• " Whatever company he may enter, be it a company of the nobles, or the Brahmins, or the housefathers, or a company of recluses, he enters shyly and confused in mind. He is not fearless. This is the third loss. 
• " Again, he has no peace of mind and is troubled in mind when he dies. This is the fourth loss.
• " Such, householders, are the losses that attend the wicked and immoral man.
• " Consider the profits which attend the righteous man who lives virtuously. 
• ' ' The righteous man who lives virtuously comes by a great mass of wealth, due to his own exertions. 
• " Then, again, a good reputation prevails about him. He is honoured everywhere. 
• " Into whatsoever company he enters, be it of the nobles or the Brahmins or the housefathers or the recluses, he enters bold and confident. 
• " Again, he enjoys peace of mind and makes an end with mind untroubled. 
• " The fool in doing ill knows not his folly: His own deeds like a fire, the fool consume. 
• He who offends the harmless innocent soon reaches grievous disaster, or a mind distraught, loss of relations, loss of all his wealth.