(1) To enter the state of the householder without means of
sustenance produces self-imposed trouble as does an idiot
eating
aconite. [Aconite is a poisonous plant.]
(2) To live a thoroughly evil life and disregard the Doctrine
produces self-imposed trouble as does an insane person
jumping over a precipice.
(3) To live hypocritically produces self-imposed trouble
as does a person who puts poison in his own food.
(4) To be lacking in firmness of mind and yet attempt to
act as the head of a monastery produces self-imposed trouble
as does a feeble old person who attempts to herd cattle.
(5) To devote oneself wholly to selfish ambitions and not
to strive for the good of others produces self-imposed trouble
as does a blind man who allows himself to become lost in
a desert.
(6) To undertake difficult tasks and not have the ability to
perform them produces self-imposed trouble as does a man
without strength who tries to carry a heavy load.
(7) To transgress the commandments of the Buddha or of
the holy guru through pride and self-conceit produces self-imposed
trouble as does a king who follows a perverted policy.
(8) To waste one's time loitering about towns and villages
instead of devoting it to meditations produces self-imposed
trouble as does a deer that descends to the valley instead
of keeping to the mountains.
(9) To be absorbed in the pursuit of worldly things rather
than in nourishing the growth of Divine Wisdom produces
self-imposed trouble as does an eagle when it breaks its
wing.
(10) Shamelessly to misappropriate offerings which have
been dedicated to the guru or to the trinity [1] produces
self-imposed trouble as does a child swallowing live
coals. [2]
[1] The Buddhist trinity is the Buddha, the Dharma (or scriptures),
and the Sangha (or Priesthood). Neither gurus nor priests in a
Buddhist or Hindu community have the right to demand any form of
payment in return for their performance of religious duties. Their
disciples or laymen, however, being in duty bound to provide for
their maintenance, make voluntary offerings to them, chiefly in the
form of food and clothing, and sometimes in the form of property
endowments to their ashrams, monasteries, or temples. According to
the rule of Buddhist monasticism, no member of the Sangha should
touch money, but nowadays this rule is not usually observed; and the
offerings commonly include money, often for expenditure in some pious
work, such as building a stupa, making manuscript copies of the
Scriptures, restoring an image, or to help in the building or repair
of a shrine.
[2] The evil karma resulting from the act of impiety is for the
devotee as painful spiritually as the swallowing of live coals is for
the child physically.
These are The Ten Self-Imposed troubles.
