The Highest Protection:
Many devas and human beings give thought to protection, desiring well-being. Tell, then, the highest protection.
The Buddha: Not consorting with fools, consorting with the wise, paying homage to those worthy of homage: This is the highest protection.
Living in a civilized land, having made merit in the past, directing oneself rightly: This is the highest protection.
Broad knowledge, skill, well-mastered discipline, well-spoken words: This is the highest protection.
Support for one’s parents, assistance to one’s wife and children, consistency in one’s work: This is the highest protection.
Giving, living in rectitude, assistance to one’s relatives, deeds that are blameless: This is the highest protection.
Avoiding, abstaining from evil; refraining from intoxicants, being heedful of the qualities of the mind: This is the highest protection.
Respect, humility, contentment, gratitude, hearing the Dhamma on timely occasions: This is the highest protection.
Patience, compliance, seeing contemplatives, discussing the Dhamma on timely occasions: This is the highest protection.
Austerity, celibacy, seeing the Noble Truths, realizing Unbinding: This is the highest protection.
A mind that, when touched by the ways of the world, is unshaken, sorrowless, dustless, at rest: This is the highest protection.
Everywhere undefeated when acting in this way, people go everywhere in well-being: This is their highest protection.
