5.
The Discourse on the Welfare of Many People
84.
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:
"These three persons, arising in the world, arise for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans. Which three? Here, monks, a Truth-finder arises in the world, a Worthy One, a 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. He expounds the Teaching, good in the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end, with meaning and with phrasing; he reveals the holy life that is complete in its entirety and pure. This, monks, is the first person arising in the world who arises for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.
"Furthermore, monks, a disciple of that very Teacher is a Worthy One, one who has eliminated the mental corruptions, one who has lived the holy life, one who has done what had to be done, one who has laid down the burden, one who has attained his own welfare, one who has utterly eliminated the fetters of existence, one completely liberated through final knowledge. He expounds the Teaching, good in the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end, with meaning and with phrasing; he reveals the holy life that is complete in its entirety and pure. This, monks, is the second person arising in the world who arises for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.
"Furthermore, monks, a disciple of that very Teacher is a learner, one who practises, very learned, endowed with morality. He too expounds the Teaching, good in the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end, with meaning and with phrasing; he reveals the holy life that is complete in its entirety and pure. This, monks, is the third person arising in the world who arises for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans. These, monks, are the three persons arising in the world who arise for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:
Then another, a learner who practises, very learned, endowed with morality.
They open the door to the Deathless, they release this generation from the mental bonds.
Right here they make an end of suffering, those who are heedful in the Fortunate One's Dispensation."
This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The fifth.