{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an5.179/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an5.179","id":"suttacentral_an5.179","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an5.179/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"Then the householder An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika, 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 S\u0101riputta: \u201cYou should know this, S\u0101riputta, 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: \u2018I\u2019ve finished with rebirth in hell, the animal realm, and the ghost realm. I\u2019ve finished with all places of loss, bad places, the underworld. I am a stream-enterer! I\u2019m not liable to be reborn in the underworld, and am assured, destined for awakening.\u2019 And what are the five precepts in which their actions are restrained? It\u2019s when a noble disciple doesn\u2019t 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. 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\u2019s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha: \u2018That 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.\u2019 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. Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the teaching: \u2018The teaching is well explained by the Buddha\u2014apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.\u2019 This is the second blissful meditation \u2026 Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Sa\u1e45gha: \u2018The Sa\u1e45gha of the Buddha\u2019s disciples is practicing the way that\u2019s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Sa\u1e45gha of the Buddha\u2019s 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.\u2019 This is the third blissful meditation \u2026 Furthermore, a noble disciple\u2019s 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. You should know this, S\u0101riputta, 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: \u2018I\u2019ve finished with rebirth in hell, the animal realm, and the ghost realm. I\u2019ve finished with all places of loss, bad places, the underworld. I am a stream-enterer! I\u2019m not liable to be reborn in the underworld, and am assured, destined for awakening.\u2019 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. You shouldn\u2019t harm living beings, so long as strength is found. Nor should you knowingly speak falsehood, or take what is not given. Content with your own partners, you should stay away from the partners of others. A personage shouldn\u2019t drink wine or toddy, as they confuse the mind. 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. 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. I will tell of the peaceful ones, S\u0101riputta, listen to me. Cows may be black or white, red or tawny, mottled or uniform, or pigeon-colored. But when one is born among them, the bull that\u2019s tamed\u2014 a behemoth, powerful, well-paced in pulling forward\u2014 they yoke the load just to him, regardless of his color. So it is for humans, wherever they may be born\u2014 among aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, menials, or corpse-workers and scavengers\u2014 but when one is born among them, tamed, true to their vows. Firm in principle, accomplished in ethical conduct, truthful, conscientious, they\u2019ve given up birth and death, and have completed the spiritual journey. With burden put down, detached, they\u2019ve completed the task <j>and are free of defilements. Gone beyond all things, they\u2019re quenched by not grasping. In that flawless field, a religious donation is abundant. Fools who don\u2019t understand\u2014 unlearned simpletons\u2014 give their gifts to those outside, and don\u2019t attend the peaceful ones. But those who do attend the peaceful ones\u2014 wise, esteemed as attentive\u2014 and whose faith in the Holy One has roots planted deep, they go to the realm of the gods, or are born here in a good family. Gradually those astute ones reach extinguishment.\u201d","title":"A Layperson","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":885}