90 CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY". 



of shortness of life leads to a short life ; the conduct pro- 

 ductive of length of life leads to longevity. The conduct 

 productive of continued sickness, leads to a state of disease, 

 and that which is productive of ugliness leads to a disgusting 

 appearance ; and that which is productive of comeliness leads 

 to personal beauty. The conduct productive of little in- 

 fluence leads to a state destitute of power, and that produc- 

 tive of great influence leads to a state of great authority. 

 The conduct productive of want leads to a state of poverty, 

 and that productive of wealth leads to opulence. The con- 

 duct productive of low birth leads to an ignoble parentage, 

 and that productive of honor leads to a noble birth. The con- 

 duct productive of ignorance leads to a state of mental im- 

 becility, and that productive of knowledge leads to a state 

 of wisdom. Living beings receive the results of their own 

 conduct ; their conduct forms their inheritance, their birth, 

 their relationship, their circumstances in life. Conduct ap- 

 portions to living Beings prosperity or adversity. 



When Goutamo ended the discourse Subha warmly ex- 

 pressed his admiration and embraced the Buddhist faith. 



simple, namely, That the present circumstances of men are the 

 results of actions performed in previous states of existence ; and 

 the same law will apply to future states : The destroyer of life 

 will, in a future state, soon die ; the conserver of life will live 

 long : the cruel will be diseased, the merciful enjoy constant 

 health. The passionate person will be ugly, the placid person 

 beautiful. The envious man will be destitute of power, but he 

 who rejoices in the prosperity of another will be in authority. 

 The covetous man will be poor, and the liberal man rich. Pride 

 and arrogance will lead to low birth : rendering respect and 

 honor to nobility. The irreligious man will become a fool, and 

 the religious man will become wise, 



