English
a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha— ‘Indeed, that Blessed One is… …teacher of gods and humans, the Buddha, the Blessed One.’ In the Dhamma… …in the Saṅgha… …is endowed with the virtues dear to the noble ones, unbroken… …conducive to concentration. “Just as, Mahānāma, a tree inclined towards the east, tending towards the east, gravitating towards the east, if its roots are cut, in which direction would it fall?” “In the direction, venerable sir, it is inclined, it tends, it gravitates.” “Even so, Mahānāma, a noble disciple endowed with these four qualities is inclined towards Nibbāna, tending towards Nibbāna, gravitating towards Nibbāna.” The second. 3. The Godha Sakka Sutta 1019. Occasioned in Kapilavatthu. Then Mahānāma the Sakyan approached Godha the Sakyan; having approached, he said to Godha the Sakyan: “By how many qualities, Godha, do you recognize a stream-enterer as one not bound for lower realms, certain, bound for full enlightenment?” “I, Mahānāma, recognize a stream-enterer as one not bound for lower realms, certain, bound for full enlightenment, by three qualities. Which three? Here, Mahānāma, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha— ‘Indeed, that Blessed One is… …teacher of gods and humans, the Buddha, the Blessed One.’ In the Dhamma… …in the Saṅgha is endowed with unwavering faith— ‘The Saṅgha of the Blessed One’s disciples is practicing well… …an unsurpassed field of merit for the world.’ By these three qualities, Mahānāma, I recognize a stream-enterer as one not bound for lower realms, certain, bound for full enlightenment. “But you, Mahānāma, by how many qualities do you recognize a stream-enterer as one not bound for lower realms, certain, bound for full enlightenment?” “I, Godha, recognize a stream-enterer by four qualities, I know one not subject to falling, assured, bound for full enlightenment. By which four? Here, Godha, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha – 'Indeed, that Blessed One is... ...teacher of gods and humans, the Buddha, the Blessed One.' In the Dhamma... ...in the Saṅgha... ...is endowed with the virtues dear to the noble ones, unbroken... ...conducive to concentration. By these four qualities, Godha, I know a stream-enterer to be not subject to falling, assured, bound for full enlightenment. "Wait, Mahānāma, wait, Mahānāma! Only the Blessed One would know this, whether one is endowed with these qualities or not." "Come, Godha, let us approach the Blessed One; having approached, let us report this matter to the Blessed One." Then Mahānāma the Sakyan and Godha the Sakyan approached the Blessed One. Having approached, they paid homage 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 – 'By how many qualities, Godha, do you know a stream-enterer to be not subject to falling, assured, bound for full enlightenment?' When this was said, venerable sir, Godha the Sakyan said this to me – "By three qualities, Mahānāma, I know a stream-enterer to be not subject to falling, assured, bound for full enlightenment. By which three? Here, Mahānāma, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha – 'Indeed, that Blessed One is... ...teacher of gods and humans, the Buddha, the Blessed One.' In the Dhamma... ...in the Saṅgha is endowed with unwavering faith – 'The Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing well... ...the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.' By these three qualities, Mahānāma, I know a stream-enterer to be not subject to falling, assured, bound for full enlightenment." to enlightenment. But you, Mahānāma, by what qualities do you recognize a stream-enterer, one not bound for lower realms, certain of enlightenment?” “When I was thus asked, venerable sir, I said to Godha the Sakyan: ‘Indeed, Godha, by four qualities do I recognize a stream-enterer, one not bound for lower realms, certain of enlightenment. By what four? Here, Godha, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha: ‘Indeed, that Blessed One is… …teacher of gods and humans, the Awakened One, the Blessed One.’ In the Dhamma… …in the Saṅgha… …and is endowed with the virtues dear to the noble ones, unbroken… …leading to concentration. Indeed, Godha, by these four qualities do I recognize a stream-enterer, one not bound for lower realms, certain of enlightenment.’” “When I was thus spoken to, venerable sir, Godha the Sakyan said to me: ‘Wait, Mahānāma, wait, Mahānāma! Only the Blessed One would know this, whether one is endowed with these qualities or not.’” “Here, venerable sir, should some matter arise, on one side would be the Blessed One, on the other side the community of monks. Wherever the Blessed One is, there would I be. May the Blessed One remember me, venerable sir, as thus confident. Here, venerable sir, should some matter arise, on one side would be the Blessed One, on the other side the community of monks and the community of nuns. Wherever the Blessed One is, there would I be. May the Blessed One remember me, venerable sir, as thus confident. Here, venerable sir, should some matter arise, on one side would be the Blessed One, on the other side the community of monks, the community of nuns, and the male lay followers. Wherever the Blessed One is, there would I be. May the Blessed One remember me, venerable sir, as thus confident. Here, venerable sir, should some matter arise, on one side would be the Blessed One, on the other side the community of monks, the community of nuns, the male lay followers, and the female lay followers. Wherever the Blessed One is, there would I be. May the Blessed One hold me. Here, venerable sir, should any teaching arise, may the Blessed One be on one side, and the community of monks, the community of nuns, the male lay followers, the female lay followers, the world with its devas, with its Māra, with its Brahmā, with its ascetics and brahmins, its devas and humans, all be on one side. And wherever the Blessed One is, there may I be. May the Blessed One hold me, venerable sir, as one thus devoted.” “When you speak thus, Godhā, what do you say to Mahānāma the Sakyan?” “When I speak thus, venerable sir, I say nothing to Mahānāma the Sakyan except what is good, except what is wholesome.” The third. 4. The First Discourse on Saraṇāni’s Not Turning Away 1020. Occasioned in Kapilavatthu. Now at that time, Saraṇāni the Sakyan had passed away. He was declared by the Blessed One: “A stream-enterer, not subject to falling into lower states, certain, bound for full enlightenment.” Thereupon, many Sakyans gathered together, came together, and grumbled, complained, and spread it around: “Oh, how wonderful! Oh, how amazing! Who then will not be a stream-enterer? Since Saraṇāni the Sakyan has passed away; and he was declared by the Blessed One: ‘A stream-enterer, not subject to falling into lower states, certain, bound for full enlightenment.’ Saraṇāni the Sakyan had fallen into weakness in training, he drank intoxicating liquor.” Then Mahānāma the Sakyan approached the Blessed One; having approached, he saluted 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, Saraṇāni the Sakyan has passed away. And he was declared by the Blessed One: ‘A stream-enterer, not subject to falling into lower states, certain, bound for full enlightenment.’ Thereupon, venerable sir, many Sakyans gathered together, came together, and grumbled, complained, and spread it around: ‘Oh, how wonderful! Oh, how amazing! Who then will not be a stream-enterer? Since Saraṇāni the Sakyan has passed away; and he was declared by the Blessed One: ‘A stream-enterer, not subject to falling into lower states, certain, bound for full enlightenment.’ Saraṇāni S Sakko has fallen into weakness in training, he has drunk intoxicating liquor.” “How, Mahānāma, could that lay follower, who for a long time has gone for refuge to the Buddha, gone for refuge to the Dhamma, gone for refuge to the Saṅgha, go to a state of woe? Indeed, Mahānāma, if one were to speak rightly, one would say: ‘For a long time the lay follower has gone for refuge to the Buddha, gone for refuge to the Dhamma, gone for refuge to the Saṅgha.’ Sakko has gone for refuge, Mahānāma, for a long time the lay follower has gone for refuge to the Buddha, gone for refuge to the Dhamma, gone for refuge to the Saṅgha. How could he go to a state of woe? Here, Mahānāma, a certain individual is endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha: ‘Indeed, that Blessed One is… …teacher of gods and humans, the Buddha, the Blessed One.’ In the Dhamma… …in the Saṅgha… He is swift in wisdom, quick in wisdom, and endowed with liberation. He, by the destruction of the taints, having realized for himself with direct knowledge in this very life the taintless liberation of mind, the liberation by wisdom, enters upon and abides in it. This individual too, Mahānāṇma, is freed from hell, freed from the animal realm, freed from the realm of hungry ghosts, freed from states of woe, bad destinations, and ruin. But here, Mahānāma, a certain individual is endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha: ‘Indeed, that Blessed One is… …teacher of gods and humans, the Buddha, the Blessed One.’ In the Dhamma… …in the Saṅgha… He is swift in wisdom, quick in wisdom, but not endowed with liberation. He, by the destruction of the five lower fetters, is an apparitional rebirth, there attaining final Nibbāna, not liable to return from that world. This individual too, Mahānāma, is freed from hell, freed from the animal realm, freed from the realm of hungry ghosts, freed from states of woe, bad destinations, and ruin. But here, Mahānāma, a certain individual is endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha: