English
(7) 2. The Chapter on Accomplished Deeds 1. The Discourse on Accomplished Deeds Then Anāthapiṇḍika the householder approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. As Anāthapiṇḍika the householder sat to one side, the Blessed One said to him: “These four things, householder, are desirable, agreeable, pleasing, and hard to obtain in the world. Which four? ‘May wealth arise for me in a righteous way!’ This is the first thing, desirable, agreeable, pleasing, and hard to obtain in the world. ‘Having obtained wealth in a righteous way, may fame come to me together with my relatives, together with my teachers!’ This is the second thing, desirable, agreeable, pleasing, and hard to obtain in the world. ‘Having obtained wealth in a righteous way, having obtained fame together with my relatives, together with my teachers, may I live long, may I maintain a long life!’ This is the third thing, desirable, agreeable, pleasing, and hard to obtain in the world. ‘Having obtained wealth in a righteous way, having obtained fame together with my relatives, together with my teachers, having lived long, having maintained a long life, with the breaking up of the body, after death, may I reappear in a good destination, a heavenly world!’ This is the fourth thing, desirable, agreeable, pleasing, and hard to obtain in the world. These, householder, are the four things desirable, agreeable, pleasing, and hard to obtain in the world. For the attainment of these four things, householder, which are desirable, agreeable, pleasing, and hard to obtain in the world, four things conduce. Which four? Accomplishment in faith, accomplishment in virtue, accomplishment in generosity, accomplishment in wisdom. And what, householder, is accomplishment in faith? Here, householder, a noble disciple is faithful; he has faith in the Tathāgata’s enlightenment: ‘Indeed, the Blessed One is an Arahant, a fully self-awakened one, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, fortunate, knower of the world, unsurpassed trainer of persons to be tamed, teacher of devas and humans, the Awakened One, the Blessed One.’ This is called, householder, accomplishment in faith. And what, householder, is accomplishment in virtue? Here, householder, a noble disciple abstains from the destruction of life, ...and... he refrains from fermented and distilled liquors, which are the basis of heedlessness. This is called, householder, accomplishment in virtue. And what, householder, is accomplishment in generosity? Here, householder, a noble disciple with a mind free from the stain of stinginess, dwells in a home, freely generous, with open hands, delighting in giving up, responsive to requests, delighting in sharing gifts. This is called, householder, accomplishment in generosity. And what, householder, is accomplishment in wisdom? Dwelling, householder, with a mind overcome by covetousness and unrighteous greed, he does what should not be done, and neglects what should be done. Doing what should not be done, neglecting what should be done, he falls away from fame and happiness. Dwelling, householder, with a mind overcome by ill will, he does what should not be done, and neglects what should be done. Doing what should not be done, neglecting what should be done, he falls away from fame and happiness. Dwelling, householder, with a mind overcome by sloth and torpor, he does what should not be done, and neglects what should be done. Doing what should not be done, neglecting what should be done, he falls away from fame and happiness. Dwelling, householder, with a mind overcome by restlessness and remorse, he does what should not be done, and neglects what should be done. Doing what should not be done, neglecting what should be done, he falls away from fame and happiness. Dwelling, householder, with a mind overcome by doubt, he does what should not be done, and neglects what should be done. Doing what should not be done, neglecting what should be done, he falls away from fame and happiness. That noble disciple, householder, knowing, "Covetousness and unrighteous greed are defilements of the mind," abandons covetousness and unrighteous greed, defilements of the mind. Knowing, "Ill will is a defilement of the mind," abandons ill will, a defilement of the mind. Knowing, "Sloth and torpor are defilements of the mind," abandons sloth and torpor, defilements of the mind. Knowing, "Restlessness and remorse are defilements of the mind," abandons restlessness and remorse, defilements of the mind. Knowing, "Doubt is a defilement of the mind," abandons doubt, a defilement of the mind. And when... Ho, householder, that covetousness and unrighteous greed are defilements of the mind for a noble disciple, thus knowing, covetousness and unrighteous greed, defilements of the mind, are abandoned. That ill will is a defilement of the mind, thus knowing, ill will, a defilement of the mind, is abandoned. That sloth and torpor are defilements of the mind, thus knowing, sloth and torpor, defilements of the mind, are abandoned. That restlessness and remorse are defilements of the mind, thus knowing, restlessness and remorse, defilements of the mind, are abandoned. That doubt is a defilement of the mind, thus knowing, doubt, a defilement of the mind, is abandoned. This, householder, is called a noble disciple of great wisdom, of broad wisdom, of quick insight, endowed with wisdom. This, householder, is called the accomplishment of wisdom. For the attainment of these four things, householder, desirable, agreeable, pleasing, and hard to find in the world, these four things conduce. That noble disciple, householder, with wealth gained by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous, righteously obtained, performs four meritorious deeds. Which four? Here, householder, the noble disciple, with wealth gained by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous, righteously obtained, makes himself happy and pleased, and maintains himself properly in happiness. He makes his parents happy and pleased, and maintains them properly in happiness. He makes his children, wife, slaves, workers, and servants happy and pleased, and maintains them properly in happiness. He makes his friends and associates happy and pleased, and maintains them properly in happiness. This is his first position, a meritorious deed, enjoyed in due measure. Furthermore, householder, the noble disciple, with wealth gained by energetic striving, amassed by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous, righteously obtained, from whatever dangers there are, from fire, or from water, or from kings, or from thieves, or from disliked ones, from heirs, it serves to ward off such misfortunes. He makes himself safe. This is his second proper use, a suitable use, a use in the right way. Furthermore, householder, a noble disciple, with wealth acquired by energetic striving, gathered by the strength of his arms, by the sweat of his brow, righteous, righteously gained, performs five offerings – to relatives, to guests, to departed ancestors, to the king, to deities. This is his third proper use, a suitable use, a use in the right way. Furthermore, householder, a noble disciple, with wealth acquired by energetic striving, gathered by the strength of his arms, by the sweat of his brow, righteous, righteously gained, for those ascetics and brahmins who abstain from intoxication and heedlessness, who are established in patience and gentleness, who tame themselves, who calm themselves, who attain final Nibbāna for themselves, for such ascetics and brahmins, he establishes an offering leading to higher states, bringing happiness as its result, conducive to heaven. This is his fourth proper use, a suitable use, a use in the right way. That noble disciple, householder, with wealth acquired by energetic striving, gathered by the strength of his arms, by the sweat of his brow, righteous, righteously gained, performs these four suitable actions. For whosoever, householder, wealth is exhausted apart from these four suitable actions, such wealth is called, householder, an improper use, an unsuitable use, a use in the wrong way. For whosoever, householder, wealth is exhausted through these four suitable actions, such wealth is called, householder, a proper use, a suitable use, a use in the right way. Wealth has been enjoyed, dependents have been supported, misfortunes have been overcome by me; Offerings leading to higher states have been given, and the five offerings have been made; The virtuous have been attended to, the restrained celibates. For whatever purpose one might desire wealth, paṇḍ- living in this house. My purpose has been attained, what is done is not regretted. "Remembering this, a mortal, a person established in the noble Dhamma; here they praise him, having passed away, he rejoices in heaven." This is the first. 2. The Discourse on Freedom from Debt 62. Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika approached the Blessed One; having approached, he saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, sitting to one side, the Blessed One spoke thus: "There are these four kinds of happiness, householder, to be attained by a householder who enjoys sensual pleasures, from time to time, at appropriate times. Which four? The happiness of ownership, the happiness of enjoyment, the happiness of freedom from debt, the happiness of blamelessness. "And what, householder, is the happiness of ownership? Here, householder, a son of good family has wealth acquired by energetic striving, accumulated by the strength of his arms, earned by the sweat of his brow, righteous, righteously gained. He, thinking 'I have wealth acquired by energetic striving, accumulated by the strength of my arms, earned by the sweat of my brow,