9.
The First Discourse on Persons
59.
"Monks, there are these eight persons worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world.
What are the eight?
A stream-enterer, one practising for the realisation of the fruition of stream-entry; a once-returner, one practising for the realisation of the fruition of once-returning; a non-returner, one practising for the realisation of the fruition of non-returning; a Worthy One, one practising for arahantship.
These, monks, are the eight persons worthy of offerings, etc.
an unsurpassed field of merit for the world."
This is the Community, upright, concentrated in wisdom and morality.
Making merit leading to acquisition, what is given to the Community is of great fruit." The ninth.