AN 5 The Book of the Fives – Pañcakanipāta > AN 5.179 A Layperson

Numbered Discourses 5.179 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.179

18. A Lay Follower – 18. Upāsakavagga

AN 5.179 A Layperson – Gihisutta

1.1

Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, escorted by around five hundred lay followers, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.

Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati pañcamattehi upāsakasatehi parivuto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

1.2

Then the Buddha said to Venerable Sāriputta:

Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ āmantesi:

1.3

“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 the present life belonging to the higher mind when they want, without trouble or difficulty. They may, if they wish, declare of themselves:

“yaṁ kañci, sāriputta, jāneyyātha gihiṁ odātavasanaṁ pañcasu sikkhāpadesu saṁvutakammantaṁ catunnaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhiṁ akicchalābhiṁ akasiralābhiṁ, so ākaṅkhamāno attanāva attānaṁ byākareyya:

1.4

‘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 bound for awakening.’

‘khīṇanirayomhi khīṇatiracchānayoni khīṇapettivisayo khīṇāpāyaduggativinipāto, sotāpannohamasmi avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo’ti.

2.1

And what are the five precepts in which their actions are restrained?

Katamesu pañcasu sikkhāpadesu saṁvutakammanto hoti?

2.2

It’s when a noble disciple doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or use alcoholic drinks that cause negligence.

Idha, sāriputta, ariyasāvako pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti.

2.3

These are the five precepts in which their actions are restrained.

Imesu pañcasu sikkhāpadesu saṁvutakammanto hoti.

3.1

And what are the four blissful meditations in the present life belonging to the higher mind that they get when they want, without trouble or difficulty?

Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī?

3.2

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

Idha, sāriputta, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti:

3.3

‘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.

3.4

This is the first blissful meditation in the present life belonging to the higher mind, which they achieve in order to purify the unpurified mind and cleanse the unclean mind.

Ayamassa paṭhamo ābhicetasiko diṭṭhadhammasukhavihāro adhigato hoti avisuddhassa cittassa visuddhiyā apariyodātassa cittassa pariyodapanāya.

4.1

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

Puna caparaṁ, sāriputta, ariyasāvako dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti:

4.2

‘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.

4.3

This is the second blissful meditation …

Ayamassa dutiyo ābhicetasiko diṭṭhadhammasukhavihāro adhigato hoti avisuddhassa cittassa visuddhiyā apariyodātassa cittassa pariyodapanāya.

5.1

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

Puna caparaṁ, sāriputta, ariyasāvako saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti:

5.2

‘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.

5.3

This is the third blissful meditation …

Ayamassa tatiyo ābhicetasiko diṭṭhadhammasukhavihāro adhigato hoti avisuddhassa cittassa visuddhiyā apariyodātassa cittassa pariyodapanāya.

6.1

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, sāriputta, ariyasāvako ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi acchiddehi asabalehi akammāsehi bhujissehi viññuppasatthehi aparāmaṭṭhehi samādhisaṁvattanikehi.

6.2

This is the fourth blissful meditation in the present life belonging to the higher mind, which they achieve in order to purify the unpurified mind and cleanse the unclean mind.

Ayamassa catuttho ābhicetasiko diṭṭhadhammasukhavihāro adhigato hoti avisuddhassa cittassa visuddhiyā apariyodātassa cittassa pariyodapanāya.

6.3

These are the four blissful meditations in the present life belonging to the higher mind that they get when they want, without trouble or difficulty.

Imesaṁ catunnaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

7.1

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 the present life belonging to the higher mind when they want, without trouble or difficulty. They may, if they wish, declare of themselves:

Yaṁ kañci, sāriputta, jāneyyātha gihiṁ odātavasanaṁ—imesu pañcasu sikkhāpadesu saṁvutakammantaṁ, imesañca catunnaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhiṁ akicchalābhiṁ akasiralābhiṁ, so ākaṅkhamāno attanāva attānaṁ byākareyya:

7.2

‘khīṇanirayomhi khīṇatiracchānayoni khīṇapettivisayo khīṇāpāyaduggativinipāto, sotāpannohamasmi avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo’ti.

8.1

Seeing the peril in the hells,

Nirayesu bhayaṁ disvā,

8.2

you should shun bad deeds.

pāpāni parivajjaye;

8.3

Taking up the teaching of the noble ones,

Ariyadhammaṁ samādāya,

8.4

an astute person should shun them.

paṇḍito parivajjaye.

9.1

You shouldn’t harm living beings,

Na hiṁse pāṇabhūtāni,

9.2

so long as strength is found.

vijjamāne parakkame;

9.3

Nor should you knowingly speak falsehood,

Musā ca na bhaṇe jānaṁ,

9.4

or take what is not given.

adinnaṁ na parāmase.

10.1

Content with your own partners,

Sehi dārehi santuṭṭho,

10.2

you should stay away from the partners of others.

paradārañca ārame;

10.3

A man shouldn’t drink liquor or wine,

Merayaṁ vāruṇiṁ jantu,

10.4

as they confuse the mind.

na pive cittamohaniṁ.

11.1

You should recollect the Buddha,

Anussareyya sambuddhaṁ,

11.2

and reflect on the teaching.

dhammañcānuvitakkaye;

11.3

You should develop a harmless mind of welfare,

Abyāpajjaṁ hitaṁ cittaṁ,

11.4

which leads to the realms of gods.

devalokāya bhāvaye.

12.1

When suitable gifts to give are available

Upaṭṭhite deyyadhamme,

12.2

to someone who seeks and needs merit,

puññatthassa jigīsato;

12.3

a religious donation is abundant

Santesu paṭhamaṁ dinnā,

12.4

if given first to the peaceful ones.

vipulā hoti dakkhiṇā.

13.1

I will tell of the peaceful ones,

Santo have pavakkhāmi,

13.2

Sāriputta, listen to me.

sāriputta suṇohi me;

13.3

Cows may be black or white,

Iti kaṇhāsu setāsu,

13.4

red or tawny,

rohiṇīsu harīsu vā.

14.1

mottled or uniform,

Kammāsāsu sarūpāsu,

14.2

or pigeon-colored.

gosu pārevatāsu vā;

14.3

But when one is born among them,

Yāsu kāsuci etāsu,

14.4

the bull that’s tamed,

danto jāyati puṅgavo.

15.1

—a behemoth, powerful,

Dhorayho balasampanno,

15.2

well-paced in pulling forward—

kalyāṇajavanikkamo;

15.3

they yoke the load just to him,

Tameva bhāre yuñjanti,

15.4

regardless of his color.

nāssa vaṇṇaṁ parikkhare.

16.1

So it is for humans,

Evamevaṁ manussesu,

16.2

wherever they may be born,

yasmiṁ kismiñci jātiye;

16.3

—among aristocrats, brahmins, merchants,

Khattiye brāhmaṇe vesse,

16.4

workers, or outcastes and scavengers—

sudde caṇḍālapukkuse.

17.1

but when one is born among them,

Yāsu kāsuci etāsu,

17.2

tamed, true to their vows.

danto jāyati subbato;

17.3

Firm in principle, accomplished in ethical conduct,

Dhammaṭṭho sīlasampanno,

17.4

truthful, conscientious,

saccavādī hirīmano.

18.1

they’ve given up birth and death,

Pahīnajātimaraṇo,

18.2

and have completed the spiritual journey.

brahmacariyassa kevalī;

18.3

With burden put down, detached,

Pannabhāro visaṁyutto,

18.4

they’ve completed the task and are free of defilements.

katakicco anāsavo.

19.1

Gone beyond all things,

Pāragū sabbadhammānaṁ,

19.2

they’re extinguished by not grasping.

anupādāya nibbuto;

19.3

In that flawless field,

Tasmiñca viraje khette,

19.4

a religious donation is abundant.

vipulā hoti dakkhiṇā.

20.1

Fools who don’t understand

Bālā ca avijānantā,

20.2

—stupid, uneducated—

dummedhā assutāvino;

20.3

give their gifts to those outside,

Bahiddhā dadanti dānāni,

20.4

and don’t attend the peaceful ones.

na hi sante upāsare.

21.1

But those who do attend the peaceful ones

Ye ca sante upāsanti,

21.2

—wise, esteemed as sages—

sappaññe dhīrasammate;

21.3

and whose faith in the Holy One

Saddhā ca nesaṁ sugate,

21.4

has roots planted deep,

mūlajātā patiṭṭhitā.

22.1

they go to the realm of the gods,

Devalokañca te yanti,

22.2

or are born here in a good family.

kule vā idha jāyare;

22.3

Gradually those astute ones

Anupubbena nibbānaṁ,

22.4

reach extinguishment.”

adhigacchanti paṇḍitā”ti.

22.5

Navamaṁ.