1.
The First Discourse on Streams
1037.
"Monks, there are these four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, nutriments of happiness.
Which four?
Here, monks, 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.'
This is the first stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness.
"Furthermore, monks, a noble disciple towards the Teaching, etc. towards the Community, etc.
"Furthermore, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken, etc. conducive to concentration. This is the fourth stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness. These, monks, are the four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, nutriments of happiness.
"For a noble disciple endowed with these four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, it is not easy to reckon the measure of merit: 'This much is the stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness.' Rather, it is reckoned simply as an incalculable, immeasurable great mass of merit.
"Just as, monks, in the great ocean it is not easy to reckon the measure of water: 'So many gallons of water' or 'so many hundreds of gallons of water' or 'so many thousands of gallons of water' or 'so many hundreds of thousands of gallons of water.' Rather, it is reckoned simply as an incalculable, immeasurable great mass of water. So too, monks, for a noble disciple endowed with these four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, it is not easy to reckon the measure of merit: 'This much is the stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness.' Rather, it is reckoned simply as an incalculable, immeasurable great mass of merit."
This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this -
Full of many terrors, the abode of hosts of jewels;
Just as rivers frequented by multitudes of people,
Many flowing, approach the sea.
A donor of beds and coverings;
Streams of merit approach the wise one,
Just as rivers carrying water approach the ocean." The first.