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(18) 3. The Chapter on Lay Followers 1. The Discourse on Apprehension Thus have I heard – at one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Savatthi, in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus – "Bhikkhus!" "Venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One spoke this: "Bhikkhus, a lay follower endowed with five qualities enters into apprehension. Which five? He is a killer of living beings, he is a taker of what is not given, he is a wrongdoer in sensual pleasures, he is a speaker of falsehoods, he is one who indulges in fermented and distilled liquors, which are the basis of heedlessness. Indeed, bhikkhus, a lay follower endowed with these five qualities enters into apprehension. "Bhikkhus, a lay follower endowed with five qualities is confident. Which five? He abstains from killing living beings, he abstains from taking what is not given, he abstains from wrongdoing in sensual pleasures, he abstains from speaking falsehoods, he abstains from fermented and distilled liquors, which are the basis of heedlessness. Indeed, bhikkhus, a lay follower endowed with these five qualities is confident." First. 2. The Discourse on Confidence "Bhikkhus, a lay follower endowed with five qualities dwells in a home without confidence. Which five? He is a killer of living beings, he is a taker of what is not given, he is a wrongdoer in sensual pleasures, he is a speaker of falsehoods, he is one who indulges in fermented and distilled liquors, which are the basis of heedlessness. Indeed, bhikkhus, a lay follower endowed with these five qualities dwells in a home without confidence. "Bhikkhus, a lay follower endowed with five qualities dwells in a home with confidence. Which five? He abstains from killing living beings, he abstains from taking what is not given, he abstains from wrongdoing in sensual pleasures, he abstains from speaking falsehoods, he abstains from fermented and distilled liquors, which are the basis of heedlessness. Indeed, bhikkhus, a lay follower endowed with these five qualities dwells in a home with confidence." Second. 3. The Discourse on Hell "Bhikkhus, a lay follower endowed with five qualities is cast into hell just as he was brought there. Which five? He is a killer of living beings, he is a taker of what is not given, he is a wrongdoer in sensual pleasures, he is a speaker of falsehoods, he is one who indulges in fermented and distilled liquors, which are the basis of heedlessness." Indeed, monks, a lay follower endowed with these five qualities, is like one brought and placed in hell. “Monks, a lay follower endowed with five qualities, is like one brought and placed in heaven. Which five? He abstains from taking life... ...he abstains from distilled and fermented intoxicants, which are a basis for heedlessness. Indeed, monks, a lay follower endowed with these five qualities, is like one brought and placed in heaven.” The Third. 4. Discourse on Enmity 174. Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. To the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, sitting to one side, the Blessed One spoke thus: “Householder, not abandoning five dangers and enmities, one is called ‘immoral’, and is reborn in hell. Which five? Taking life, taking what is not given, sexual misconduct, false speech, distilled and fermented intoxicants, which are a basis for heedlessness – Indeed, householder, not abandoning these five dangers and enmities, one is called ‘immoral’, and is reborn in hell. “Householder, abandoning five dangers and enmities, one is called ‘virtuous’, and is reborn in a good destination. Which five? Taking life, taking what is not given, sexual misconduct, false speech, distilled and fermented intoxicants, which are a basis for heedlessness – Indeed, householder, abandoning these five dangers and enmities, one is called ‘virtuous’, and is reborn in a good destination. “Householder, whoever takes life, due to taking life, generates fear and enmity in this very life, generates fear and enmity in the next life, and experiences mental suffering and distress. One who abstains from taking life does not generate fear and enmity in this very life, does not generate fear and enmity in the next life, and does not experience mental suffering and distress. For one who abstains from taking life, that fear and enmity are thus appeased. “Householder, whoever takes what is not given... “Householder, whoever (engages in) sexual misconduct one of wrong conduct... Whatever, householder, a liar... Whatever, householder, one who indulges in intoxicants causing heedlessness, because of indulging in intoxicants causing heedlessness, generates fear and enmity in this very life, generates fear and enmity in the next life, and experiences mental suffering and distress. One who abstains from intoxicants causing heedlessness generates neither fear nor enmity in this very life, generates neither fear nor enmity in the next life, nor experiences mental suffering and distress. For one who abstains from intoxicants causing heedlessness, thus that fear and enmity are allayed. Whoever takes life, and speaks falsehood; takes what is not given in the world, and goes to another's wife; and the drinking of intoxicants, that person indulges in. Not abandoning these five enmities, he is called immoral; at the breaking up of the body, the unwise one, is reborn in hell. Whoever does not take life, and does not speak falsehood; does not take what is not given in the world, and does not go to another's wife; and the drinking of intoxicants, that person does not indulge in. Abandoning these five enmities, he is called virtuous; at the breaking up of the body, the wise one, is reborn in a good destination. Fourth. 5. The Outcaste Discourse Monks, a lay follower endowed with five qualities is an outcaste lay follower, a defilement of lay followers, an abomination of lay followers. Which five? He is faithless; he is immoral; he is superstitious about omens, believing in omens, not in kamma; he seeks for worthy recipients outside (the Sangha); and he performs the first offering there. Monks, a lay follower endowed with these five qualities is an outcaste lay follower, a defilement of lay followers, an abomination of lay followers. Monks, a lay follower endowed with five qualities is a jewel among lay followers, a lotus among lay followers, a white lotus among lay followers. Which five? Faithful is pure; is virtuous; is not superstitious about omens, he believes in kamma, not omens; he does not seek for worthies outside of this (teaching); and here he performs prior good deeds. With these five qualities, bhikkhus, an lay follower is a jewel of lay followers, a lotus of lay followers, a white lotus of lay followers.” The Fifth. 6. Discourse on Joy 176. Then Anāthapiṇḍika the householder, surrounded by about five hundred lay followers, approached the Blessed One. Having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. To Anāthapiṇḍika the householder, who was sitting to one side, the Blessed One said this: “You, householder, attend to the community of bhikkhus with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines for the sick. But, householder, you should not be content with just that, thinking: ‘We attend to the community of bhikkhus with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines for the sick.’ Therefore, householder, you should train yourselves thus: ‘How can we, from time to time, enter and dwell in the joy of seclusion?’ Thus, householder, you should train yourselves.” When this was said, Venerable Sāriputta said to the Blessed One: “It is wonderful, Bhante! It is amazing, Bhante! How well spoken this is by the Blessed One: ‘You, householder, attend to the community of bhikkhus with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines for the sick. But, householder, you should not be content with just that, thinking: “We attend to the community of bhikkhus with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines for the sick.” Therefore, householder, you should train yourselves thus: “How can we, from time to time, enter and dwell in the joy of seclusion?” Thus, householder, you should train yourselves.’ Bhante, when a noble disciple enters and dwells in the joy of seclusion, five things do not exist for him at that time. Whatever is connected with sensual pleasures that suffering and displeasure, that does not exist for him at that time. And that pleasure and joy associated with sensual desires, that does not exist for him at that time. And that suffering and displeasure associated with unwholesome things, that does not exist for him at that time. And that pleasure and joy associated with unwholesome things, that does not exist for him at that time. And that suffering and displeasure associated with wholesome things, that does not exist for him at that time. Venerable Sir, at the time when a noble disciple dwells having entered upon the rapture of seclusion, these five states do not exist for him at that time.” “Good, good, Sāriputta! Sāriputta, at the time when a noble disciple dwells having entered upon the rapture of seclusion, five states do not exist for him at that time. And that suffering and displeasure associated with sensual desires, that does not exist for him at that time. And that pleasure and joy associated with sensual desires, that does not exist for him at that time. And that suffering and displeasure associated with unwholesome things, that does not exist for him at that time. And that pleasure and joy associated with unwholesome things, that does not exist for him at that time. And that suffering and displeasure associated with wholesome things, that does not exist for him at that time. Sāriputta, at the time when a noble disciple dwells having entered upon the rapture of seclusion, these five states do not exist for him at that time.” The Sixth. 7.