Itivuttaka — Assim Foi Dito — 28 — Living in Suffering

1This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

2“Mendicants, when a mendicant has two qualities they live unhappily in this very life—with distress, anguish, and fever— and when the body breaks up, after death, they can expect a bad rebirth. What two? Not guarding the sense doors and eating too much. When a mendicant possesses these two qualities they live unhappily in this very life—with distress, anguish, and fever— and when the body breaks up, after death, they can expect a bad rebirth.”

3The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

4“Eye, ear, nose,
tongue, body, and likewise mind:
a mendicant who leaves these
sense doors unguarded—

5immoderate in eating,
sense faculties unrestrained—
reaps suffering
both physical and mental.

6Burning in body,
burning in mind,
by day or by night
such a person lives in suffering.”

7This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.