{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn55.37/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn55.37","id":"suttacentral_sn55.37","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn55.37/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery. Then Mah\u0101n\u0101ma the Sakyan went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: \u201cSir, how is a lay follower defined?\u201d \u201cMah\u0101n\u0101ma, when you\u2019ve gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sa\u1e45gha, you\u2019re considered to be a lay follower.\u201d \u201cBut how is an ethical lay follower defined?\u201d \u201cWhen a lay follower doesn\u2019t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor, they\u2019re considered to be an ethical lay follower.\u201d \u201cBut how is a faithful lay follower defined?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s when a lay follower has faith in the Realized One\u2019s awakening: \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 Then they\u2019re considered to be a faithful lay follower.\u201d \u201cBut how is a generous lay follower defined?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s when a lay follower lives at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share. Then they\u2019re considered to be a generous lay follower.\u201d \u201cBut how is a wise lay follower defined?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s when a lay follower is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. Then they\u2019re considered to be a wise lay follower.\u201d","title":"With Mah\u0101n\u0101ma","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":260}