Buddhism · Sutta Pitaka · Numbered Discourses (Aṅguttara)

AN 5.179

A Layperson · Gihisutta

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Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, escorted by around five hundred lay followers, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. Then the Buddha said to Venerable Sāriputta: “You should know this, Sāriputta, about those white-clothed laypeople whose actions are restrained in the five precepts, and who get four blissful meditations in this life belonging to the higher mind when they want, without trouble or difficulty. They may, if they wish, declare of themselves: ‘I’ve finished with rebirth in hell, the animal realm, and the ghost realm. I’ve finished with all places of loss, bad places, the underworld. I am a stream-enterer! I’m not liable to be reborn in the underworld, and am assured, destined for awakening.’

Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati pañcamattehi upāsakasatehi parivuto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ āmantesi: “yaṁ kañci, sāriputta, jāneyyātha gihiṁ odātavasanaṁ pañcasu sikkhāpadesu saṁvutakammantaṁ catunnaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhiṁ akicchalābhiṁ akasiralābhiṁ, so ākaṅkhamāno attanāva attānaṁ byākareyya: ‘khīṇanirayomhi khīṇatiracchānayoni khīṇapettivisayo khīṇāpāyaduggativinipāto, sotāpannohamasmi avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo’ti.

And what are the five precepts in which their actions are restrained? It’s when a noble disciple doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. These are the five precepts in which their actions are restrained.

Katamesu pañcasu sikkhāpadesu saṁvutakammanto hoti? Idha, sāriputta, ariyasāvako pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti. Imesu pañcasu sikkhāpadesu saṁvutakammanto hoti.

And what are the four blissful meditations in this life belonging to the higher mind that they get when they want, without trouble or difficulty? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ This is the first blissful meditation in this life belonging to the higher mind, which they achieve in order to purify the unpurified mind and cleanse the unclean mind.

Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī? Idha, sāriputta, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi, satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. Ayamassa paṭhamo ābhicetasiko diṭṭhadhammasukhavihāro adhigato hoti avisuddhassa cittassa visuddhiyā apariyodātassa cittassa pariyodapanāya.

Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the teaching: ‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’ This is the second blissful meditation …

Puna caparaṁ, sāriputta, ariyasāvako dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti: ‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti. Ayamassa dutiyo ābhicetasiko diṭṭhadhammasukhavihāro adhigato hoti avisuddhassa cittassa visuddhiyā apariyodātassa cittassa pariyodapanāya.

Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Saṅgha: ‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’ This is the third blissful meditation …

Puna caparaṁ, sāriputta, ariyasāvako saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti: ‘suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho ujuppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho ñāyappaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho sāmīcippaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā’ti. Ayamassa tatiyo ābhicetasiko diṭṭhadhammasukhavihāro adhigato hoti avisuddhassa cittassa visuddhiyā apariyodātassa cittassa pariyodapanāya.

Furthermore, a noble disciple’s ethical conduct is loved by the noble ones, unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to immersion. This is the fourth blissful meditation in this life belonging to the higher mind, which they achieve in order to purify the unpurified mind and cleanse the unclean mind. These are the four blissful meditations in this life belonging to the higher mind that they get when they want, without trouble or difficulty.

Puna caparaṁ, sāriputta, ariyasāvako ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi acchiddehi asabalehi akammāsehi bhujissehi viññuppasatthehi aparāmaṭṭhehi samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Ayamassa catuttho ābhicetasiko diṭṭhadhammasukhavihāro adhigato hoti avisuddhassa cittassa visuddhiyā apariyodātassa cittassa pariyodapanāya. Imesaṁ catunnaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

You should know this, Sāriputta, about those white-clothed laypeople whose actions are restrained in the five precepts, and who get four blissful meditations in this life belonging to the higher mind when they want, without trouble or difficulty. They may, if they wish, declare of themselves: ‘I’ve finished with rebirth in hell, the animal realm, and the ghost realm. I’ve finished with all places of loss, bad places, the underworld. I am a stream-enterer! I’m not liable to be reborn in the underworld, and am assured, destined for awakening.’

Yaṁ kañci, sāriputta, jāneyyātha gihiṁ odātavasanaṁ—imesu pañcasu sikkhāpadesu saṁvutakammantaṁ, imesañca catunnaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhiṁ akicchalābhiṁ akasiralābhiṁ, so ākaṅkhamāno attanāva attānaṁ byākareyya: ‘khīṇanirayomhi khīṇatiracchānayoni khīṇapettivisayo khīṇāpāyaduggativinipāto, sotāpannohamasmi avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo’ti.

Seeing the peril in the hells, you should shun bad deeds. Taking up the teaching of the noble ones, an astute person should shun them.

Nirayesu bhayaṁ disvā, pāpāni parivajjaye; Ariyadhammaṁ samādāya, paṇḍito parivajjaye.

You shouldn’t harm living beings, so long as strength is found. Nor should you knowingly speak falsehood, or take what is not given.

Na hiṁse pāṇabhūtāni, vijjamāne parakkame; Musā ca na bhaṇe jānaṁ, adinnaṁ na parāmase.

Content with your own partners, you should stay away from the partners of others. A personage shouldn’t drink wine or toddy, as they confuse the mind.

Sehi dārehi santuṭṭho, paradārañca ārame; Merayaṁ vāruṇiṁ jantu, na pive cittamohaniṁ.

You should recollect the Buddha, and reflect on the teaching. You should develop a harmless mind of welfare, which leads to the realms of gods.

Anussareyya sambuddhaṁ, dhammañcānuvitakkaye; Abyāpajjaṁ hitaṁ cittaṁ, devalokāya bhāvaye.

When suitable gifts to give are available to someone who seeks and needs merit, a religious donation is abundant if given first to the peaceful ones.

Upaṭṭhite deyyadhamme, puññatthassa jigīsato; Santesu paṭhamaṁ dinnā, vipulā hoti dakkhiṇā.

I will tell of the peaceful ones, Sāriputta, listen to me. Cows may be black or white, red or tawny,

Santo have pavakkhāmi, sāriputta suṇohi me; Iti kaṇhāsu setāsu, rohiṇīsu harīsu vā.

mottled or uniform, or pigeon-colored. But when one is born among them, the bull that’s tamed—

Kammāsāsu sarūpāsu, gosu pārevatāsu vā; Yāsu kāsuci etāsu, danto jāyati puṅgavo.

a behemoth, powerful, well-paced in pulling forward— they yoke the load just to him, regardless of his color.

Dhorayho balasampanno, kalyāṇajavanikkamo; Tameva bhāre yuñjanti, nāssa vaṇṇaṁ parikkhare.

So it is for humans, wherever they may be born— among aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, menials, or corpse-workers and scavengers—

Evamevaṁ manussesu, yasmiṁ kismiñci jātiye; Khattiye brāhmaṇe vesse, sudde caṇḍālapukkuse.

but when one is born among them, tamed, true to their vows. Firm in principle, accomplished in ethical conduct, truthful, conscientious,

Yāsu kāsuci etāsu, danto jāyati subbato; Dhammaṭṭho sīlasampanno, saccavādī hirīmano.

they’ve given up birth and death, and have completed the spiritual journey. With burden put down, detached, they’ve completed the task and are free of defilements.

Pahīnajātimaraṇo, brahmacariyassa kevalī; Pannabhāro visaṁyutto, katakicco anāsavo.

Gone beyond all things, they’re quenched by not grasping. In that flawless field, a religious donation is abundant.

Pāragū sabbadhammānaṁ, anupādāya nibbuto; Tasmiñca viraje khette, vipulā hoti dakkhiṇā.

Fools who don’t understand— unlearned simpletons— give their gifts to those outside, and don’t attend the peaceful ones.

Bālā ca avijānantā, dummedhā assutāvino; Bahiddhā dadanti dānāni, na hi sante upāsare.

But those who do attend the peaceful ones— wise, esteemed as attentive— and whose faith in the Holy One has roots planted deep,

Ye ca sante upāsanti, sappaññe dhīrasammate; Saddhā ca nesaṁ sugate, mūlajātā patiṭṭhitā.

they go to the realm of the gods, or are born here in a good family. Gradually those astute ones reach extinguishment.”

Devalokañca te yanti, kule vā idha jāyare; Anupubbena nibbānaṁ, adhigacchanti paṇḍitā”ti. Navamaṁ.

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AN 5.179A Layperson · Gihisutta

AN 5.179

AN 5.179A Layperson · Gihisutta

AN 5.179