Three Kinds of Child
Putta Sutta, Itivuttaka 74
Three kinds of child are found in the world.
1. Atijāto is the superior kind.
2. Anujāto is the similar kind.
3. Avajātoti is the inferior kind.
1. Who is Atijāto or the superior kind?
“Now what, bhikkhus, is the superior kind of child? In this instance a child has a mother and father who have not gone for refuge to the Buddha, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha; who do not abstain from taking life, from taking what has not been given, from wrong conduct in sensual desires, from false speech, and from intoxicating drink leading to negligence ; who are unvirtuous and of bad conduct.
But the child is one who has gone for refuge to the Buddha, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha; who abstains from taking life, from taking what has not been given, from wrong conduct in sensual desires, from false speech, and from intoxicating drink leading to negligence; who is virtuous and of good conduct. This, bhikkhus, is the superior kind of child.”
2. Who is Anujāto or the similar kind?
“Now what, bhikkhus, is the similar kind of child? In this instance a son has a mother and father who have gone for refuge to the Buddha, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha; who abstain from taking life, from taking what has not been given, from wrong conduct in sensual desires, from false speech, and from intoxicating drink leading to negligence; who are virtuous and of good conduct.
And the child also is one who has gone for refuge to the Buddha, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha; who abstains from taking life, from taking what has not been given, from wrong conduct in sensual desires, from false speech, and from intoxicating drink leading to negligence; who is virtuous and of good conduct. This, bhikkhus, is the similar kind of child.”
3. Who is Avajātoti or the inferior kind?
“Now what, bhikkhus, is the inferior kind of child? In this instance a son has a mother and father who have gone for refuge to the Buddha, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha; who abstain from taking life, from taking what has not been given, from wrong conduct in sensual desires, from false speech, and from intoxicating drink leading to negligence; who are virtuous and of good conduct.
But the son is one who has not gone for refuge to the Buddha, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha; who abstains from taking life, from taking what has not been given, from wrong conduct in sensual desires, from false speech, and from intoxicating drink leading to negligence; who is virtuous and of good conduct. This, bhikkhus, is the similar kind of child.”
“These, bhikkhus, are the three kinds of children found existing in the world.”
The wise wish for a child
Who is superior or similar.
They do not wish for an inferior child,
One who disgraces the family.
But such children in the world
Who are devoted lay followers,
Excelling in faith and virtue,
Liberal, without selfishness,
Shine forth in assemblies
Like the moon freed from clouds.
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