6.
The Discourse on Sakka
46.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu in the Nigrodha Monastery.
Then several Sakyan lay followers on that Observance day approached the Blessed One;
having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
To the Sakyan lay followers seated to one side, the Blessed One said this:
"Do you, Sakyans, observe the Observance endowed with eight factors?"
"Sometimes we, venerable sir, observe the Observance endowed with eight factors, sometimes we do not observe it."
"It is a loss for you, Sakyans, it is ill-gained for you, that you, in a life beset with sorrow, in a life beset with death, sometimes observe the Observance endowed with eight factors, sometimes do not observe it.
"What do you think, Sakyans, suppose here a man, by whatever work, without committing anything unwholesome, were to earn half a coin a day. Would it be fitting to say 'He is a skilled man, accomplished in industriousness'?" "Yes, venerable sir."
"What do you think, Sakyans, suppose here a man, by whatever work, without committing anything unwholesome, were to earn one coin a day. Would it be fitting to say 'He is a skilled man, accomplished in industriousness'?" "Yes, venerable sir."
"What do you think, Sakyans, suppose here a man, by whatever work, without committing anything unwholesome, were to earn two coins a day... were to earn three coins... were to earn four coins... were to earn five coins... were to earn six coins... were to earn seven coins... were to earn eight coins... were to earn nine coins... were to earn ten coins... were to earn twenty coins... were to earn thirty coins... were to earn forty coins... were to earn fifty coins... were to earn a hundred coins. Would it be fitting to say 'He is a skilled man, accomplished in industriousness'?" "Yes, venerable sir."
"What do you think, Sakyans, would that man, earning day by day a hundred coins, a thousand coins, laying aside whatever is received, with a lifespan of a hundred years, living for a hundred years, attain a great mass of wealth?" "Yes, venerable sir."
"What do you think, Sakyans, would that man, because of wealth, on account of wealth, for the sake of wealth, for one night or one day or half a night or half a day, dwell experiencing exclusively happiness?" "No, Venerable Sir." "What is the reason for this?" "Sensual pleasures, venerable sir, are impermanent, hollow, false, having the nature of deception."
"But here, Sakyans, my disciple, dwelling for ten years diligent, ardent, and resolute, proceeding in accordance with my advice, would dwell experiencing exclusively happiness for a hundred years, for a hundred hundreds of years, for a hundred thousands of years. And he would be either a once-returner or a non-returner or surely a stream-enterer. Let alone ten years, Sakyans.
Here my disciple for nine years... eight years... seven years... six years... five years... four years... three years... two years... one year, dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, proceeding in accordance with my advice, would dwell experiencing exclusively happiness for a hundred years, for a hundred hundreds of years, for a hundred thousands of years, and he would be either a once-returner or a non-returner or surely a stream-enterer. Let alone one year, Sakyans.
Here my disciple, dwelling for ten months diligent, ardent, and resolute, proceeding in accordance with my advice, would dwell experiencing exclusively happiness for a hundred years, for a hundred hundreds of years, for a hundred thousands of years, and he would be either a once-returner or a non-returner or surely a stream-enterer. Let alone ten months, Sakyans.
Here my disciple for nine months... eight months... seven months... six months... five months... four months... three months... two months... one month... a fortnight, dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, proceeding in accordance with my advice, would dwell experiencing exclusively happiness for a hundred years, for a hundred hundreds of years, for a hundred thousands of years, and he would be either a once-returner or a non-returner or surely a stream-enterer. Let alone a fortnight, Sakyans.
Here, my disciple, dwelling for ten nights and days, diligent, ardent, and resolute, proceeding as instructed by me, would dwell experiencing exclusively happiness for a hundred years, for a hundred hundreds of years, for a hundred thousands of years, and he would be either a once-returner or a non-returner or surely a stream-enterer. Let be, Sakyans, ten nights and days.
Here, my disciple, for nine nights and days... eight nights and days... seven nights and days... six nights and days... five nights and days... four nights and days... three nights and days... two nights and days... one night and day, dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, proceeding as instructed by me, would dwell experiencing exclusively happiness for a hundred years, for a hundred hundreds of years, for a hundred thousands of years, and he would be either a once-returner or a non-returner or surely a stream-enterer. It is a loss for you, Sakyans, it is ill-gained for you, that you, in a life beset with sorrow, in a life beset with death, sometimes observe the Observance endowed with eight factors, and sometimes do not observe it." "We, venerable sir, from this day forth will observe the Observance endowed with eight factors." The sixth.