English
and it is not suffering? Yes. The origin of suffering is impermanent, and it is not suffering? It should not be said thus… (etc.) The origin of suffering is impermanent, and it is suffering? Yes. The Noble Path is impermanent, and it is suffering? It should not be said thus… (etc.) 790. Should it not be said – ‘Except for the Noble Path, all remaining formations are suffering’? Yes. But is it not that Is it the path leading to the cessation of suffering? Yes. If it is the path leading to the cessation of suffering, then indeed it should be said: "Except for the Noble Path, all other formations are suffering." The discussion on "Except for the Noble Path" is concluded. 17. The Seventeenth Chapter (171) 6. Discussion on "It should not be said that the Saṅgha receives offerings." 791. Should it not be said: "The Saṅgha receives offerings"? Yes. Is not the Saṅgha worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world? Yes. If the Saṅgha is worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world, then indeed it should be said: "The Saṅgha receives offerings." Should it not be said: "The Saṅgha receives offerings"? Yes. Were not the four pairs of men, the eight individuals, declared by the Blessed One as worthy of gifts? Yes. If the four pairs of men, the eight individuals, were declared by the Blessed One as worthy of gifts, then indeed it should be said: "The Saṅgha receives offerings." Should it not be said: "The Saṅgha receives offerings"? Yes. Do not some give alms to the Saṅgha? Yes. If some give alms to the Saṅgha, then indeed it should be said: "The Saṅgha receives offerings." Do not some give robes to the Saṅgha... almsfood... dwellings... requisites for the sick and medicine... solid food... soft food... drinks? Yes. If some give drinks to the Saṅgha, then indeed it should be said: "The Saṅgha receives offerings." Should it not be said: "The Saṅgha receives offerings"? Yes. Was it not said by the Blessed One: "As the fire receives the offering, as the earth receives the great rain, so the Saṅgha, endowed with concentration, receives the offering." Is there indeed such a Suttanta? Yes. Therefore the Saṅgha receives offerings. receives a debt? 792. The Sangha receives an offering? Yes. The Path receives, the Fruit receives? It should not be said thus... The discussion "It should not be said that the Sangha receives an offering" is concluded. 17. The Seventeenth Chapter (172) 7. The discussion "It should not be said that the Sangha purifies an offering" 793. It should not be said— "The Sangha purifies an offering"? Yes. Surely the Sangha is worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of donations, worthy of reverential salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world? Yes. If indeed the Sangha is worthy of offerings... the unsurpassed field of merit for the world, then indeed it should be said— "The Sangha purifies an offering." It should not be said— "The Sangha purifies an offering"? Yes. Surely the four pairs of men, the eight individual persons, were declared worthy of donations by the Blessed One? Yes. If indeed the four pairs of men, the eight individual persons, were declared worthy of donations by the Blessed One, then indeed it should be said— "The Sangha purifies an offering." It should not be said— "The Sangha purifies an offering"? Yes. Surely there are some who, having given a gift to the Sangha, accomplish the offering? Yes. If indeed there are some who, having given a gift to the Sangha, accomplish the offering, then indeed it should be said— "The Sangha purifies an offering." Surely there are some who, having given robes to the Sangha... having given almsfood... having given lodging... having given requisites for the sick, medicine... having given solid food... having given soft food... having given drinks, accomplish the offering? Yes. If indeed there are some who, having given drinks to the Sangha, accomplish the offering, then indeed it should be said— "The Sangha purifies an offering." 794. The Sangha purifies an offering? Yes. The Path purifies, the Fruit purifies? It should not be said thus... The discussion "It should not be said that the Sangha purifies an offering" is concluded. 17. The Seventeenth Chapter (173) 8. It should not be said The discussion on "It should be said that the Saṅgha eats" 795. Should it not be said: "The Saṅgha eats, drinks, chews, tastes"? Yes, it should not. Are there not some who offer meals to the Saṅgha, who offer designated meals, who offer rice gruel and drinks? Yes, there are. If there are some who offer meals to the Saṅgha, who offer designated meals, who offer rice gruel and drinks, then indeed it should be said: "The Saṅgha eats, drinks, chews, tastes." Should it not be said: "The Saṅgha eats, drinks, chews, tastes"? Yes, it should not. Was it not said by the Blessed One: "Group eating, successive eating, surplus eating, non-surplus eating"? Yes, it was. If it was said by the Blessed One: "Group eating, successive eating, surplus eating, non-surplus eating," then indeed it should be said: "The Saṅgha eats, drinks, chews, tastes." Should it not be said: "The Saṅgha eats, drinks, chews, tastes"? Yes, it should not. Were not eight drinks mentioned by the Blessed One: mango drink, rose-apple drink, banana drink, plantain drink, madhuka drink, muddika drink, sālukā drink, phārusaka drink? Yes, they were. If eight drinks were mentioned by the Blessed One: mango drink, rose-apple drink, banana drink, plantain drink, madhuka drink, muddika drink, sālukā drink, phārusaka drink, then indeed it should be said: "The Saṅgha eats, drinks, chews, tastes." 796. Does the Saṅgha eat, drink, chew, taste? Yes, it does. Does the Path eat, drink, chew, taste? Does the Fruit eat, drink, chew, taste? It should not be said so…and so on…. The discussion on "It should not be said that the Saṅgha eats" is finished. 17. The Seventeenth Chapter (174) 9. The discussion on "It should not be said that what is given to the Saṅgha is of great fruit" 797. Should it not be said: "What is given to the Saṅgha is of great fruit"? Yes, it should not. Is not the Saṅgha worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, an unsurpassed is the unsurpassed field of merit for the world? Yes. If the Sangha is worthy of offerings…pe… the unsurpassed field of merit for the world, then it should indeed be said – “An offering given to the Sangha is of great fruit.” Should it not be said – “An offering given to the Sangha is of great fruit”? Yes. Were not four pairs of men, eight individual persons, declared by the Blessed One to be worthy of offerings? Yes. If four pairs of men, eight individual persons, were declared by the Blessed One to be worthy of offerings, then it should indeed be said – “An offering given to the Sangha is of great fruit.” 798. Should it not be said – “An offering given to the Sangha is of great fruit”? Yes. Was it not said by the Blessed One – “Give to the Sangha, Gotami; when you have given to the Sangha, both I will be honored and the Sangha”? Is there such a Suttanta? Yes. Then an offering given to the Sangha is of great fruit. Should it not be said – “An offering given to the Sangha is of great fruit”? Yes. Did not Sakka, lord of devas, say this to the Blessed One – “For humans who make offerings, For beings seeking merit, Who perform meritorious deeds, Where is an offering of great fruit?” “Four are on the path, Four are established in the fruit; This Sangha is upright, Endowed with wisdom and virtue. “For humans who make offerings, For beings seeking merit, Who perform meritorious deeds, An offering given to the Sangha is of great fruit.” “For this Sangha is vast and great, It is immeasurable like the ocean, the sea; These are the best disciples of the hero of men, Shining forth, they proclaim the Dhamma. “Well-given, well-offered, well-sacrificed is it for them, Who give gifts intending for the Sangha; That offering, established in the Sangha, Is of great fruit, praised by those who know the world. “Remembering such a sacrifice, Those who, born of knowledge, wander in the world; Having uprooted the defilement of stinginess, Blameless, they go to the heavenly abode.” Is there such a Is it a Suttanta? Yes. Then indeed, what is given to the Saṅgha is of great fruit. The discussion "It should not be said that what is given to the Saṅgha is of great fruit" is concluded. 17. The Seventeenth Chapter (175) 10. The discussion "It should not be said that what is given to the Buddha is of great fruit" 799. Should it not be said: "What is given to the Buddha is of great fruit"? Yes. Is not the Blessed One the foremost of bipeds, the best of bipeds, the leader of bipeds, the highest of bipeds, the most excellent of bipeds, unequalled, peerless, incomparable, without counterpart, an unparalleled person? Yes. If indeed the Blessed One is the foremost of bipeds, the best of bipeds, the leader of bipeds, the highest of bipeds, the most excellent of bipeds, unequalled, peerless, incomparable, without counterpart, an unparalleled person, then indeed it should be said: "What is given to the Buddha is of great fruit." Should it not be said: "What is given to the Buddha is of great fruit"? Yes. Is there anyone equal to the Buddha – in virtue, in concentration, in wisdom? No. If there is no one equal to the Buddha – in virtue, in concentration, in wisdom, then indeed it should be said: "What is given to the Buddha is of great fruit." Should it not be said: "What is given to the Buddha is of great fruit"? Yes. Has it not been said by the Blessed One – "Neither in this world nor in the other, Is there found one superior or equal to the Buddha; Who has attained the foremost rank among those worthy of offerings,