Section outline
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Lesson 3.5.6 Daṇḍasuttaṃ – Laying Aside Violence Toward All Living Beings
In the Daṇḍasutta, some boys injured or killed (hananti) a snake that was simply searching for food. When the Buddha asked them why, they said they were afraid of being bitten. Recognizing their error, the Buddha explained that trying to find happiness and safety by harming other beings is a skillful deception born of ignorance. He declared, "By ignoring and acting against the pivotal principle, that all beings like to live, like to live in happiness and peace, and that all beings loathe suffering, happiness for oneself can never be achieved!"