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B0102040803gahapativaggo (householder chapter)

English

when I attend upon a bhikkhu, I attend upon him respectfully, not disrespectfully. If that venerable one teaches me the Dhamma, I listen respectfully, not disrespectfully. If that venerable one does not teach me the Dhamma, I teach him the Dhamma. This, venerable sir, is my fifth wonderful, amazing quality that exists. And it is not amazing, venerable sir, that when the Saṅgha is invited, deities approach and announce: 'Such-and-such a bhikkhu, householder, is liberated both ways; such-and-such is liberated by wisdom; such-and-such is a body-witness; such-and-such has attained to view; such-and-such is liberated by faith; such-and-such is a Dhamma-follower; such-and-such is a faith-follower; such-and-such is virtuous, of good conduct; such-and-such is immoral, of bad conduct.' And, venerable sir, when serving the Saṅgha, I am not aware of generating such a thought: 'To this one I will give little, to this one I will give much.' But rather, venerable sir, I give with an even mind. This, venerable sir, is my sixth wonderful, amazing quality that exists. And it is not amazing, venerable sir, that deities approach me and announce: 'Well-proclaimed, householder, is the Dhamma by the Blessed One.' When this is said, venerable sir, I, those dei I say this: 'Whether you deities speak thus or not, the Dhamma has been well-proclaimed by the Blessed One.' But I, venerable sir, do not know of any elation of mind arising from that, 'that those deities approach me, or that I converse with deities.' This, venerable sir, is my seventh wonderful and amazing quality that exists. "If, venerable sir, I were to pass away before the Blessed One, it would not be surprising if the Blessed One were to declare concerning me thus: 'There is no fetter by which Ugga, the householder of Hatthigāma, bound, would return to this world again.'" This, venerable sir, is my eighth wonderful and amazing quality that exists. These, venerable sir, are my eight wonderful and amazing qualities that exist. But I do not know by which eight wonderful and amazing qualities I have been declared by the Blessed One to be endowed." Then that bhikkhu, having received alms food at the residence of Ugga, the householder of Hatthigāma, rose from his seat and departed. Then that bhikkhu, after his meal, having returned from his alms round, approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, that bhikkhu reported to the Blessed One all the conversation he had had with Ugga, the householder of Hatthigāma. "Good, good, bhikkhu! Just as Ugga, the householder of Hatthigāma, would rightly declare, with these very eight wonderful and amazing qualities, bhikkhu, Ugga, the householder of Hatthigāma, has been declared by me to be endowed. And with these eight wonderful and amazing qualities, bhikkhu, you should remember Ugga, the householder of Hatthigāma, as being endowed." The Second. 3. The First Hatthaka Sutta 23. At one time the Blessed One was staying in Āḷavī, at the Aggāḷava Shrine. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: He addressed them thus: "Monks, remember Hatthaka of Āḷavī as endowed with seven wonderful and amazing qualities. With which seven? Monks, Hatthaka of Āḷavī is endowed with faith; Monks, Hatthaka of Āḷavī is virtuous; Monks, Hatthaka of Āḷavī is conscientious; Monks, Hatthaka of Āḷavī is scrupulous; Monks, Hatthaka of Āḷavī is learned; Monks, Hatthaka of Āḷavī is generous; Monks, Hatthaka of Āḷavī is wise. Monks, remember Hatthaka of Āḷavī as endowed with these seven wonderful and amazing qualities." This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One rose from his seat and entered the monastery. Then a certain monk, having dressed in the morning, and taking his bowl and robe, approached the dwelling of Hatthaka of Āḷavī; having approached, he sat down on the seat prepared. Then Hatthaka of Āḷavī approached that monk; having approached, he paid homage to that monk and sat down to one side. To Hatthaka of Āḷavī, sitting to one side, that monk said this: "Friend, you have been declared by the Blessed One as endowed with seven wonderful and amazing qualities. With which seven? 'Monks, Hatthaka of Āḷavī is endowed with faith; virtuous... conscientious... scrupulous... learned... generous... wise, Monks, Hatthaka of Āḷavī,' he said. Friend, you have been declared by the Blessed One as endowed with these seven wonderful and amazing qualities." "Was there, venerable sir, no lay follower there, dressed in white?" "No, friend, there was no lay follower there, dressed in white." "It is good, venerable sir, that there was no lay follower there, dressed in white." Then that monk, having received alms food at the dwelling of Hatthaka of Āḷavī, rose from his seat and departed. Then that monk, after his meal, having returned from his alms round, approached the Blessed One; having approached... Having greeted and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. As he sat to one side, that bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: “Here, venerable sir, in the forenoon, having dressed, taking my bowl and robe, I approached the dwelling of Hatthaka the Āḷavaka; having approached, I sat down on the seat prepared. Then, venerable sir, Hatthaka the Āḷavaka approached me; having approached, he paid homage to me and sat down to one side. As he sat to one side, venerable sir, I said to Hatthaka the Āḷavaka: ‘You, friend, are declared by the Blessed One to be endowed with seven wonderful and amazing qualities. Which seven? Hatthaka the Āḷavaka, bhikkhus, is endowed with faith; with virtue… with shame… with fear of wrongdoing… with much learning… with generosity… with wisdom, bhikkhus, Hatthaka the Āḷavaka. You, friend, are declared by the Blessed One to be endowed with these seven wonderful and amazing qualities.’ “When this was said, venerable sir, Hatthaka said to me: ‘Was there, venerable sir, no layperson there, dressed in white?’ ‘No, friend, there was no layperson there, dressed in white.’ ‘Good, venerable sir, that there was no layperson there, dressed in white.’” “Good, good, bhikkhu! That young man of good family is of few wishes, bhikkhu. He does not wish for the wholesome qualities within himself to be known by others [to be made known]. Therefore, bhikkhu, you should remember Hatthaka the Āḷavaka as endowed with this eighth wonderful and amazing quality, namely, being of few wishes.” The third. 4. The Second Discourse on Hatthaka 24. At one time the Blessed One was staying in Āḷavī, at the Aggāḷava Shrine. Then Hatthaka the Āḷavaka, surrounded by some five hundred lay followers, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. As Hatthaka the Āḷavaka sat to one side, the Blessed One said to him: “Great, Hatthaka, is this assembly of yours. How "How then, Hatthaka, do you gather this great assembly?" "These four bases of fellowship, venerable sir, taught by the Blessed One, by them I gather this great assembly. Venerable sir, whom I know: 'This one should be gathered by giving,' him I gather by giving; whom I know: 'This one should be gathered by kindly speech,' him I gather by kindly speech; whom I know: 'This one should be gathered by beneficial conduct,' him I gather by beneficial conduct; whom I know: 'This one should be gathered by impartiality,' him I gather by impartiality. And indeed, venerable sir, there are riches in my family. For the poor, they do not think it should be listened to in the same way." "Good, good, Hatthaka! This indeed is the way, Hatthaka, to gather a great assembly. For whoever, Hatthaka, in the past gathered a great assembly, all of them gathered a great assembly by these same four bases of fellowship. And whoever, Hatthaka, in the future will gather a great assembly, all of them will gather a great assembly by these same four bases of fellowship. And whoever, Hatthaka, now gathers a great assembly, all of them gather a great assembly by these same four bases of fellowship." Then Hatthaka the Alavaka, instructed, incited, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a Dhamma talk, rose from his seat, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him clockwise, and departed. Then, not long after Hatthaka the Alavaka had departed, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Monks, remember Hatthaka the Alavaka as endowed with eight wonderful and amazing qualities. With which eight? Monks, Hatthaka the Alavaka is faithful; Monks, he is virtuous; he is modest; he is conscientious; he is learned; he is generous; Monks, Hatthaka the Alavaka is wise; he is of few wishes." Ho, monks, Hatthaka of Āḷavī! Monks, remember Hatthaka of Āḷavī as endowed with these eight wonderful and amazing qualities. Fourth. 5. Mahānāma Sutta 25. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans in Kapilavatthu at the Nigrodha Park. Then Mahānāma the Sakyan approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Mahānāma the Sakyan said to the Blessed One: "To what extent, venerable sir, is one a lay follower?" "When, Mahānāma, one has gone for refuge to the Buddha, one has gone for refuge to the Dhamma, one has gone for refuge to the Saṅgha; to this extent, Mahānāma, one is a lay follower." "To what extent, venerable sir, is a lay follower virtuous?" "When, Mahānāma, a lay follower abstains from the destruction of life, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct, abstains from false speech, abstains from fermented and distilled intoxicants which are the basis of heedlessness; to this extent, Mahānāma, a lay follower is virtuous." "To what extent, venerable sir, is a lay follower practicing for his own benefit, not for the benefit of others?" "When, Mahānāma, a lay follower is himself endowed with faith, but does not encourage others to be endowed with faith;