Bases of Buddhist Ethics

Hiri:

SN 1.18- PTS: S i 7-CDB i 96

Hiri Sutta: Conscience

translated from the Pali by

Thanissaro Bhikkhu

© 1998–2010

Who in the world
is a man constrained by conscience,
who awakens to censure
like a fine stallion to the whip?
Those restrained by conscience
are rare —
those who go through life
always mindful.
Having reached the end
of suffering & stress,
they go through what is uneven
evenly;
go through what is out-of-tune
in tune.

• Provenance:
• ©1998 Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
• Transcribed from a file provided by the translator.
• This Access to Insight edition is ©1998–2010 John T. Bullitt.
• Terms of use: You may copy, reformat, reprint, republish, and redistribute this work in any medium whatsoever, provided that: (1) you only make such copies, etc. available free of charge; (2) you clearly indicate that any derivatives of this work (including translations) are derived from this source document; and (3) you include the full text of this license in any copies or derivatives of this work. Otherwise, all rights reserved. For additional information about this license, see the FAQ.
• How to cite this document (one suggested style): "Hiri Sutta: Conscience" (SN 1.18), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight, June 7, 2009, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn01/sn01.018.than.html.

8. Hirīsuttaṃ

18. ‘‘Hirīnisedho puriso, koci lokasmiṃ vijjati.

Yo nindaṃ apabodhati [apabodheti (syā. kaṃ. ka.)], asso bhadro kasāmivā’’ti.

‘‘Hirīnisedhā tanuyā, ye caranti sadā satā;

Antaṃ dukkhassa pappuyya, caranti visame sama’’nti.

See also this Hiri Sutta (Snp 2.3), (Pāli).

And this definition for Hiri and Ottappa:

hiri-ottappa [hiri-ottappa]:

"Conscience and concern"; "moral shame and moral dread." These twin emotions — the "guardians of the world" — are associated with all skillful actions. Hiri is an inner conscience that restrains us from doing deeds that would jeopardize our own self-respect; ottappa is a healthy fear of committing unskillful deeds that might bring about harm to ourselves or others. See kamma. [MORE]

Some notes/placeholders for my upcoming lectures in Buddhist Ethics...