Tapanīya sutta: Mortifying

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

“These two things, mendicants, are mortifying. What two? It’s when someone hasn’t done good and skillful things that keep them safe, but has done bad things, violence and sin. Thinking, ‘I haven’t done good things’, they’re mortified. Thinking, ‘I have done bad things’, they’re mortified. These are the two things that are mortifying.”

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

“Having done bad things
by way of body,
speech, and mind,
and whatever else is corrupt;

not having done good deeds,
and having done many bad,
when their body breaks up, that witless person
is reborn in hell.”

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