English
5. The Minor Chapter 1. The Discourse on Presence 41. By the presence of three things, monks, a faithful householder produces much merit. Which three? By the presence of faith, monks, a faithful householder produces much merit. By the presence of things to be given, monks, a faithful householder produces much merit. By the presence of those worthy of offerings, monks, a faithful householder produces much merit. Indeed, monks, by the presence of these three things, a faithful householder produces much merit. The first. 2. The Discourse on Three Qualities 42. By three things, monks, a faithful and confident person is to be known. Which three? He desires to see the virtuous, he desires to hear the true Dhamma, he dwells in a home with a mind free from the stain of stinginess, generous, with hands cleansed, delighting in relinquishment, responsive to requests, delighting in the distribution of gifts. Indeed, monks, by these three things, a faithful and confident person is to be known. Desiring to see the virtuous, wishing to hear the true Dhamma; removing the stain of stinginess, he is indeed called faithful. The second. 3. The Discourse on Benefits 43. By observing three benefits, monks, it is enough to teach the Dhamma to others. Which three? He who teaches the Dhamma experiences the meaning and experiences the Dhamma. He who hears the Dhamma experiences the meaning and experiences the Dhamma. Both he who teaches the Dhamma and he who hears the Dhamma experience the meaning and experience the Dhamma. Indeed, monks, by observing these three benefits, it is enough to teach the Dhamma to others. The third. 4. The Discourse on the Proceeding of a Talk 44. By three things, monks, a talk proceeds. Which three? He who teaches the Dhamma experiences the meaning and experiences the Dhamma. He who hears the Dhamma experiences the meaning and experiences the Dhamma. And he who... One who teaches the Dhamma and one who listens to the Dhamma— both experience the meaning and experience the Dhamma. Indeed, bhikkhus, by these three things, talk proceeds. Fourth. 5. The Discourse on the Wise 45. ‘‘These three, bhikkhus, are designated by the wise, designated by good people. Which three? Giving, bhikkhus, is designated by the wise, designated by good people. Going forth, bhikkhus, is designated by the wise, designated by good people. Supporting mother and father, bhikkhus, is designated by the wise, designated by good people. Indeed, bhikkhus, these three are designated by the wise, designated by good people.’’ ‘‘By the good, giving is designated, non-harming, restraint, self-control; Supporting mother and father, for the peaceful, for those who lead the holy life. ‘‘These are the states of the good, which the wise person should cultivate; The noble one, endowed with vision, attains a blessed world.’’ Fifth; 6. The Discourse on the Virtuous 46. ‘‘When, bhikkhus, virtuous renunciants dwell dependent on a village or a town, there people generate much merit by three things. Which three? By body, by speech, by mind. When, bhikkhus, virtuous renunciants dwell dependent on a village or a town, there people generate much merit by these three things.’’ Sixth. 7. The Discourse on the Characteristics of the Conditioned 47. ‘‘These three, bhikkhus, are the characteristics of the conditioned. Which three? Arising is apparent, passing away is apparent, the alteration of what is present is apparent. Indeed, bhikkhus, these three are the characteristics of the conditioned.’’ Seventh. 8. The Discourse on the Characteristics of the Unconditioned 48. ‘‘These three, bhikkhus, are the characteristics of the unconditioned. Which three? No arising is apparent, no passing away is apparent, no alteration of what is present is apparent. Indeed, bhikkhus, these three are the characteristics of the unconditioned.’’ Eighth. 9. The Discourse on the King of Mountains 49. ‘‘Indeed, Monks, relying on the Himavanta, the king of mountains, great sal trees grow with three growths. With which three? They grow with branches, leaves, and foliage. They grow with bark and inner bark. They grow with heartwood and sapwood. Monks, relying on the Himavanta, the king of mountains, great sal trees grow with these three growths. Even so, monks, relying on a householder who has faith, the household members grow with three growths. With which three? They grow with faith. They grow with virtue. They grow with wisdom. Monks, relying on a householder who has faith, the household members grow with these three growths. Just as a mountain, a rock, in a great forest wilderness; Relying on it, the trees, those forest plants, grow. Even so, here, a householder endowed with virtue, who has faith; Relying on him, children and wives, and relatives grow; Ministers, and groups of kinsmen, and those who depend on him for their livelihood. They, seeing the virtue of that virtuous one, his generosity, and his good conduct; The discerning ones imitate him, for their own welfare. Having practiced the Dhamma here, the path leading to a good destination; Rejoicing in the deva-world, they delight, desiring pleasures. The ninth. 10. The Discourse on What Should Be Striven For Monks, striving should be done for three reasons. For which three? Striving should be done for the non-arising of unarisen evil, unwholesome states. Striving should be done for the arising of unarisen wholesome states. Striving should be done for the endurance of arisen bodily feelings that are painful, sharp, severe, bitter, disagreeable, unpleasant, and life-threatening. For these three reasons, monks, striving should be done. When, monks, a bhikkhu strives for the non-arising of unarisen evil, unwholesome states, strives for the arising of unarisen wholesome states, strives for the endurance of arisen bodily feelings that are painful, sharp, severe, bitter, for unpleasant, disagreeable, life-threatening things. This, monks, is called a monk who is ardent, wise, mindful, for the complete ending of suffering.” The Tenth. 11. The Great Thief Discourse 51. “With three factors, monks, a great thief endowed breaks into houses, commits robbery, plunders single homes, and stands on the highway. Which three? Here, monks, a great thief relies on uneven ground, relies on dense thickets, and relies on power. And how, monks, does a great thief rely on uneven ground? Here, monks, a great thief relies on a river ford difficult to cross or uneven mountain terrain. Thus, monks, a great thief relies on uneven ground. “And how, monks, does a great thief rely on dense thickets? Here, monks, a great thief relies on a thicket of grass, or a thicket of trees, or a dense growth, or a great forest grove. Thus, monks, a great thief relies on dense thickets. “And how, monks, does a great thief rely on power? Here, monks, a great thief relies on kings or royal ministers. He thinks thus: ‘If anyone says anything to me, these kings or royal ministers will speak in my defense.’ If anyone says anything to him, those kings or royal ministers speak in his defense. Thus, monks, a great thief relies on power. These, monks, are the three factors with which a great thief endowed breaks into houses, commits robbery, plunders single homes, and stands on the highway. “Even so, monks, with three factors endowed, a wicked monk carries himself as ruined and damaged, is blameworthy and reproachable by the wise, and generates much demerit. Which three? Here, monks, a wicked monk relies on uneven ground, relies on dense thickets, and relies on power. o and. “And how, monks, is a bad monk dependent on uneven ground? Here, monks, a bad monk is endowed with uneven bodily action, is endowed with uneven verbal action, is endowed with uneven mental action. Thus, monks, is a bad monk dependent on uneven ground. “And how, monks, is a bad monk dependent on a thicket? Here, monks, a bad monk has wrong view, is endowed with a view that grasps at extremes. Thus, monks, is a bad monk dependent on a thicket. “And how, monks, is a bad monk dependent on power? Here, monks, a bad monk is dependent on kings or royal ministers. He thinks thus: ‘If anyone says anything to me, these kings or royal ministers will speak on my behalf, clearing me.’ If anyone says anything to him, these kings or royal ministers speak on his behalf, clearing him. Thus, monks, is a bad monk dependent on power. Endowed with these three qualities, monks, a bad monk carries himself as ruined and damaged, is blameworthy and censurable by the wise, and produces much demerit.” The eleventh. The Minor Section, the fifth. Its summary: Face-to-face, the basis, power, Occurrence, the wise, virtue; The conditioned, the mountain, heat, With the great thief, eleven. The first fifty is concluded. 2. The Second Fifty