3.
The Discourse on Godha the Sakyan
1019.
The Origin at Kapilavatthu.
Then Mahānāma the Sakyan approached Godhā the Sakyan;
having approached, he said this to Godhā the Sakyan -
"With how many qualities, Godhā, do you recognise a stream-enterer person as being no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment?"
"I, Mahānāma, recognise a stream-enterer person endowed with three qualities as being no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment. With which three? Here, Mahānāma, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha - 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Towards the Teaching... etc. He is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Community: 'The Community of the Blessed One's disciples is practising well, etc. an unsurpassed field of merit for the world.' I, Mahānāma, recognise a stream-enterer person endowed with these three qualities as being no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment.
"But you, Mahānāma, with how many qualities do you recognise a stream-enterer person as being no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment?" "I, Godhā, recognise a stream-enterer person endowed with four qualities as being no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment. With which four? Here, Godhā, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha - 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. He is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken... etc. conducive to concentration. I, Godhā, recognise a stream-enterer person endowed with these four qualities as being no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment."
"Wait, Mahānāma, wait, Mahānāma! The Blessed One alone would know whether one is endowed with these qualities or not endowed." "Come, Godhā, let us approach the Blessed One; having approached, we will report this matter to the Blessed One." Then Mahānāma the Sakyan and Godhā the Sakyan approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Mahānāma the Sakyan said this to the Blessed One -
"Here, venerable sir, I approached Godha the Sakyan; having approached, I said this to Godha the Sakyan - 'With how many qualities do you, Godha, understand a stream-enterer person to be endowed, one who is no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment?' When this was said, venerable sir, Godha the Sakyan said this to me -
"I, Mahānāma, recognise a stream-enterer person endowed with three qualities as being no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment. With which three? Here, Mahānāma, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha - 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Towards the Teaching... etc. He is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Community: 'The Community of the Blessed One's disciples is practising well, etc. an unsurpassed field of merit for the world.' I, Mahānāma, recognise a stream-enterer person endowed with these three qualities as being no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment. But you, Mahānāma, with which qualities do you understand a stream-enterer person to be endowed, one who is no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment?"
"When this was said, venerable sir, I said this to Godha the Sakyan - 'I, Godha, understand a stream-enterer person endowed with four qualities to be no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment. With which four? Here, Godhā, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha - 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. He is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken... etc. conducive to concentration. I, Godha, understand a stream-enterer person endowed with these four qualities to be no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment.'
"When this was said, venerable sir, Godha the Sakyan said this to me - 'Wait, Mahānāma, wait, Mahānāma! The Blessed One alone would know whether one is endowed or not endowed with these qualities.' "Here, venerable sir, if any doctrinal dispute were to arise, with the Blessed One on one side and the Community of monks on the other, I would be on whichever side the Blessed One is. May the Blessed One remember me as thus devoted, venerable sir. Here, venerable sir, if any doctrinal dispute were to arise, with the Blessed One on one side and the Community of monks and the Community of nuns on the other, I would be on whichever side the Blessed One is. May the Blessed One remember me as thus devoted, venerable sir. Here, venerable sir, if any doctrinal dispute were to arise, with the Blessed One on one side and the Community of monks, the Community of nuns, and the male lay followers on the other, I would be on whichever side the Blessed One is. May the Blessed One remember me as thus devoted, venerable sir. Here, venerable sir, if any doctrinal dispute were to arise, with the Blessed One on one side and the Community of monks, the Community of nuns, the male lay followers, and the female lay followers on the other, I would be on whichever side the Blessed One is. May the Blessed One remember me as thus devoted, venerable sir. Here, venerable sir, if any doctrinal dispute were to arise, with the Blessed One on one side and the Community of monks, the Community of nuns, the male lay followers, the female lay followers, and the world with its gods, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, with its gods and humans on the other, I would be on whichever side the Blessed One is. May the Blessed One remember me as thus devoted, venerable sir." "Speaking thus, Godha, what do you say about Mahānāma the Sakyan?" "Speaking thus, venerable sir, I say nothing about Mahānāma the Sakyan except what is good, except what is wholesome." The third.