AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.52 Overflowing Merit (2nd)

Numbered Discourses 4.52 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.52

6. Overflowing Merit – 6. Puññābhisandavagga

AN 4.52 Overflowing Merit (2nd) – Dutiyapuññābhisandasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, there are these four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness. They nurture happiness and are conducive to heaven, ripening in happiness and leading to heaven. They lead to what is likable, desirable, agreeable, to welfare and happiness.

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā sovaggikā sukhavipākā saggasaṁvattanikā iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṁvattanti.

1.2

What four?

Katame cattāro?

1.3

It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha:

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti:

1.4

‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

1.5

This is the first kind of overflowing merit …

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro sovaggiko sukhavipāko saggasaṁvattaniko iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṁvattati.

2.1

Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the teaching:

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti:

2.2

‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—visible in this very life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’

‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti.

2.3

This is the second kind of overflowing merit …

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro sovaggiko sukhavipāko saggasaṁvattaniko iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṁvattati.

3.1

Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Saṅgha:

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti:

3.2

‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, methodical, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individuals. 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 joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’

‘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.

3.3

This is the third kind of overflowing merit …

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro sovaggiko sukhavipāko saggasaṁvattaniko iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṁvattati.

4.1

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 samādhi.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi acchiddehi asabalehi akammāsehi bhujissehi viññuppasatthehi aparāmaṭṭhehi samādhisaṁvattanikehi.

4.2

This is the fourth kind of overflowing merit …

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro sovaggiko sukhavipāko saggasaṁvattaniko iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṁvattati.

4.3

These are the four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness. They nurture happiness and are conducive to heaven, ripening in happiness and leading to heaven. They lead to what is likable, desirable, agreeable, to welfare and happiness.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā sovaggikā sukhavipākā saggasaṁvattanikā iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṁvattantīti.

5.1

Whoever has faith in the Realized One,

Yassa saddhā tathāgate,

5.2

unwavering and well grounded;

acalā suppatiṭṭhitā;

5.3

whose ethical conduct is good,

Sīlañca yassa kalyāṇaṁ,

5.4

praised and loved by the noble ones;

ariyakantaṁ pasaṁsitaṁ.

6.1

who has confidence in the Saṅgha,

Saṅghe pasādo yassatthi,

6.2

and correct view:

ujubhūtañca dassanaṁ;

6.3

they’re said to be prosperous,

Adaliddoti taṁ āhu,

6.4

their life is not in vain.

amoghaṁ tassa jīvitaṁ.

7.1

So let the wise devote themselves

Tasmā saddhañca sīlañca,

7.2

to faith, ethical behavior,

pasādaṁ dhammadassanaṁ;

7.3

confidence, and insight into the teaching,

Anuyuñjetha medhāvī,

7.4

remembering the instructions of the Buddhas.

saraṁ buddhāna sāsanan”ti.

7.5

Dutiyaṁ.