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Simile of the Saw

MN 21 Kakacupama: Simile of the Saw

Monks, there are these five aspects of speech by which others may address you:
timely or untimely,
true or false,
affectionate or harsh,
beneficial or unbeneficial,
with a mind of goodwill or with inner hate.

In any event, you should train yourselves: “Our minds will be unaffected and we will say no evil words. We will remain sympathetic to that person’s welfare, with a mind of goodwill, and with no inner hate.”

Monks, even if bandits were to carve you up savagely, limb by limb, with a two-handled saw, he among you who let his heart get angered even at that would not be doing my bidding.

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