[Buddha-l] Subahu sutra

[Richard P. Hayes]

On Wed, 2005-12-28 at 19:04 +0000, Mike Austin wrote:

> "If one perseveres for the sake of bringing happiness and benefit to an
>   infinite number of beings, then the infinite roots of virtue from this
>   infinite aim that bears in mind the happiness and benefit of all
>   sentient beings shall increase, expand and reach towards fulfilment
>   every moment, day and night, regardless of whether one is
>   unconscientious or even asleep."
> 
> Is the word 'unconscientious' correct? Or should it be 'unconscious', to 
> be more like 'asleep'?

I am not sure what the Sanskrit is of this particular passage, but I do
know of several other texts that express a similar idea. In those texts,
the basic idea is that once a good habit has been established, then its
merit increases even when one is distracted (that is, not paying
attention to it specifically and therefore perhaps unconscientious) or
even unconscious or asleep.

-- 
"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is
striking at the root." -- Henry David Thoreau