Saddhā Sutta (SN 1.36) – The Discourse on Faith

6. The Discourse on Faith

36. More Details On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Then many deities of the Satullapa group, when the night was far advanced, with surpassing beauty, having illuminated almost the entire Jeta's Grove, approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and stood to one side. Standing to one side, one deity spoke this verse in the Blessed One’s presence:

"Faith is a person's companion,

If faithlessness does not remain;

Fame and renown are his from that,

And he goes to heaven, having left the body."

Then another deity spoke these verses in the Blessed One’s presence:

"One should give up wrath, one should abandon conceit,

One should overcome every mental fetter;

Sufferings do not befall one who does not cling

To mentality-materiality, one who owns nothing."

"Foolish, imprudent people engage in negligence;

But the wise one guards diligence as the foremost wealth.

"Do not engage in negligence, do not be intimate with delight in sensual pleasures;

For the diligent one, meditating, attains the highest happiness."