9.
The Discourse on the Layman
179.
Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, surrounded by about five hundred lay followers, approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Sāriputta -
"Whomever you would know, Sāriputta, to be a householder clothed in white, whose actions are restrained by the five training rules, who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble, the four states pertaining to the higher mind, which are pleasant abidings in the present life, he may, if he wishes, declare of himself:
'For me, hell is eliminated, the animal realm is eliminated, the sphere of ghosts is eliminated, the realm of misery, the unfortunate realm, the nether world is eliminated; I am a stream-enterer, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment.'"
"In which five training rules is one whose actions are restrained? Here, Sāriputta, a noble disciple abstains from killing living beings, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct, abstains from lying, abstains from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence. In these five training rules one's actions are restrained.
"Of which four states pertaining to the higher mind, which are pleasant abidings in the present life, is one an obtainer at will, an obtainer without difficulty, an obtainer without trouble? Here, Sāriputta, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha - 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One: the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, the Fortunate One, knower of the world, unsurpassed trainer of persons to be tamed, Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' This is his first state pertaining to the higher mind, a pleasant abiding in the present life, attained for the purification of the impure mind, for the cleansing of the mind that is not pure.
"Furthermore, Sāriputta, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Teaching - 'Well proclaimed by the Blessed One is the Teaching, visible here and now, immediately effective, inviting one to come and see, leading onward, to be individually experienced by the wise.' This is his second state pertaining to the higher mind, a pleasant abiding in the present life, attained for the purification of the impure mind, for the cleansing of the mind that is not pure.
"Furthermore, Sāriputta, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Community - 'The Community of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing well, the Community of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing uprightly, the Community of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing by the true method, the Community of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing properly, that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight types of individuals; this Community of the Blessed One's disciples is worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world.' This is his third state pertaining to the higher mind, a pleasant abiding in the present life, attained for the purification of the impure mind, for the cleansing of the mind that is not pure.
"Furthermore, Sāriputta, a noble disciple is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken, without gaps, spotless, unblemished, liberating, praised by the wise, not adhered to, conducive to concentration. This is his fourth state pertaining to the higher mind, a pleasant abiding in the present life, attained for the purification of the impure mind, for the cleansing of the mind that is not pure. Of these four states pertaining to the higher mind, which are pleasant abidings in the present life, one is an obtainer at will, an obtainer without difficulty, an obtainer without trouble.
"Whomever you would know, Sāriputta, to be a householder clothed in white - whose actions are restrained by these five training rules, and who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble, these four states pertaining to the higher mind, which are pleasant abidings in the present life, he may, if he wishes, declare of himself: 'For me, hell is eliminated, the animal realm is eliminated, the sphere of ghosts is eliminated, the realm of misery, the unfortunate realm, the nether world is eliminated; I am a stream-enterer, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment.'"
Having undertaken the noble teaching, the wise one should avoid them.
And one should not speak falsehood knowingly, one should not touch what is not given.
A being should not drink fermented liquor or spirits, which delude the mind.
One should develop a mind free from ill-will, beneficial, for the world of the gods.
Given first to the peaceful ones, the offering is abundant.
Thus among black, white, red, or tawny cows.
In whichever of these a tamed bull is born.
Him alone they yoke to the burden, they do not consider his colour.
Warriors, brahmins, merchants, workers, outcasts, and refuse-collectors.
Righteous, accomplished in morality, a speaker of truth, with a sense of shame.
With burden laid down, unbound, with obligations fulfilled, without mental corruptions.
In that stainless field, the offering is abundant.
They give gifts outside, for they do not attend upon the peaceful ones.
Their faith in the Fortunate One is rooted and established.
Gradually the wise attain Nibbāna." The ninth.