Once, the Persian King of Kosala came to visit Buddha and paid his respects. After sitting down beside him, he asked, "World Honored One, is there a method in this world that can benefit both my present life and future lives? Is there a way to gain advantages for both my current and future generations?"

Buddha replied, "Great King, there is indeed such a method that can bring benefits to both your present and future lives."

The king then asked Buddha what this method was.

Buddha said: "Great King, the way to achieve benefits for both your present and future lives is by not being negligent. What does it mean not being negligent? It means doing only good deeds while refraining from evil ones. This involves controlling one's behavior, speech and thoughts. Do not engage in harmful actions with your body; do not speak harsh words with your mouth; do not harbor unwholesome thoughts within yourself. Instead use your body to perform virtuous deeds; speak kind words with your mouth; cultivate wholesome thoughts within yourself so as to accumulate merit and virtue which will prevent you from falling into negative states of mind such as greediness or anger or ignorance. Your body should no longer act recklessly nor should you speak without restraint or think wildly in your mind until eventually you are free from all attachments towards worldly matters."

"Great King," continued Buddha," just like how animals living in forests leave footprints behind them when they walk around - among these animals elephants have the largest footprints which other animals' footprints cannot compare with - if any animal walks on an elephant's footprint their own footprint will be contained within it too because an elephant's footprint is the biggest among all forest creatures'. Similarly Great King ,not being negligent is the foremost practice that brings benefits for both our present life as well as our future lives."

People in this world hope for longevity, beauty, wealth and good health. They aspire to be born into wealthy families and enjoy the pleasures of heaven. Wise people with great virtue know that doing more good deeds will help them accumulate merit and virtue. They praise and practice the method of not being negligent. These wise people use their bodies to perform virtuous deeds; they speak kind words with their mouths; they cultivate wholesome thoughts within themselves so as to refrain from engaging in harmful actions, speaking harsh words or harboring unwholesome thoughts within themselves. By persistently practicing this way, they can gain benefits for both their present life as well as their future lives. Those who are able to maintain this practice without negligence over a long period of time - even forever - will reap countless benefits and become truly wise individuals." 

At this moment, the Buddha recited a verse:

"Life without illness, beauty leads to heaven,

Every day make aspirations for rebirth in noble families.

The wise practice virtuous deeds and do not indulge in praise,

By not indulging in praise, they benefit from the present law.

Even future benefits will be obtained by gaining these two advantages.

Based on obtaining this meaning, heroes call them wise."

Pali original scripture

SN.3.17/(7). Appamādasuttaṃ

　　 128. Sāvatthinidānaṃ Ekamantaṃ nisīdi. Ekamantaṃ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṃ etadavoca – “atthi nu kho, bhante, eko dhammo yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati– diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṃ samparāyikañcā”ti?

　　 “Atthi kho, mahārāja, eko dhammo yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati– diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṃ samparāyikañcā”ti.

　　 “Katamo pana, bhante, eko dhammo, yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati– diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṃ samparāyikañcā”ti?

　　 “Appamādo kho, mahārāja, eko dhammo, yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati– diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṃ samparāyikañcāti. Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, yāni kānici jaṅgalānaṃ pāṇānaṃ padajātāni, sabbāni tāni hatthipade samodhānaṃ gacchanti, hatthipadaṃ tesaṃ aggamakkhāyati– yadidaṃ mahantattena; evameva kho, mahārāja, appamādo eko dhammo, yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati– diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṃ samparāyikañcā”ti. Idamavoca …pe…

　　 “Āyuṃ arogiyaṃ vaṇṇaṃ, saggaṃ uccākulīnataṃ;

　　 Ratiyo patthayantena, uḷārā aparāparā.

　　 “Appamādaṃ pasaṃsanti, puññakiriyāsu paṇḍitā;

　　 Appamatto ubho atthe, adhiggaṇhāti paṇḍito.

　　 “Diṭṭhe dhamme ca yo attho, yo cattho samparāyiko.

　　 Atthābhisamayā dhīro, paṇḍitoti pavuccatī”ti.