Skillful

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
Provenance, terms and conditons

[19][pts][olds] "Abandon what is unskillful, monks.

It is possible to abandon what is unskillful.

If it were not possible to abandon what is unskillful,
I would not say to you,
'Abandon what is unskillful.'

But because it is possible to abandon what is unskillful,
I say to you
'Abandon what is unskillful.'

If this abandoning of what is unskillful were conducive to harm and pain,
I would not say to you,
'Abandon what is unskillful.'

But because this abandoning of what is unskillful is conducive to benefit and pleasure,
I say to you,
'Abandon what is unskillful.'

"Develop what is skillful, monks.

It is possible to develop what is skillful.

If it were not possible to develop what is skillful,
I would not say to you,
'Develop what is skillful.'

But because it is possible to develop what is skillful,
I say to you,
'Develop what is skillful.'

If this development of what is skillful were conducive to harm and pain,
I would not say to you,
'Develop what is skillful.'

But because this development of what is skillful is conducive to benefit and pleasure,
I say to you,
'Develop what is skillful.'"

Of Related Interest:

DN 12;
SN 6.1;
SN 22.2;
ITI 39.