A Manual Of Buddhism Part 11

The Vyagghapajja Sutta Thus have I heard: - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling amongst the Koliyans in their market town named Kakkarapatta. Then Dighajanu, a Koliyan son, approached the Blessed One, respectfully saluted Him and sat on one side. Thus seated, he addressed the Blessed One as follows: - "We, Lord are laymen who enjoy worldly pleasures. We lead a life enc.u.mbered by wife and children. We use sandalwood of Kasi. We deck ourselves with garlands, perfume and unguents. We suffer the use of gold and silver. To such as us, Lord, let the Blessed One preach the Doctrine, teach those things that lead to the weal and happiness in this life and to the happiness of the other world.

Causes Of Worldly Progress These four things, Vyagghapajja, conduce to the good and happiness of a clansman in this very life. What four?

"The achievement of persistent effort - Utthanasampada, the achievement pf wariness - Arakkhasampada, good friendship - Kalyanamittata and the balanced livelihood - Samajivikata."

"Herein, Vyagghapajja, by whatsoever activity a clansman earns his living, whether by the plough, by trading, by watching cattle, by archery, by ministering to kings or by any other kind of craft - at that he becomes skillful and is nit lazy. He is endowed with reasoning as to ways and means thereof. He is able to do and manage (his job).

"This is called the achievement of persistent effort."

"What is the achievement of wariness?"

"Herein, Vyagghapajja, in whatsoever village or market town a clansman dwells, he stands together, converses, engages in discussions with householders of householders' sons, whether young or highly cultured or old and highly cultured, full of faith - Saddha, full of virtue - Sila, full of charity - Caga, full of wisdom - Panna. He acts in accordance with the faith of those full of faith, with the virtue of those full of virtue, with the charity of those full of charity, with the wisdom of those full of wisdom, "This is called good company."

"What is balanced livelihood?"

"Herein, Vyagghapajja, a clansman knowing his income and expenses leads a steady life, being neither too extravagant nor too sordid, thinking that thus his income will stand in excess of his expenses, but his expenses in excess of his income.

"Just as the goldsmith, or an apprentice of his, knows, on holding up a balance, that by such so much it has dipped down, by so much it has tiled up; even so a clansman knowing his income and expenses, leads his steady life, being neither too extravagant nor too sordid, thinking that thus his income will stand in excess of his expenses, but not his expenses in excess of his income."

"If, Vyagghapajja, a clansman with little income were to lead a luxurious life, there would be those who say - 'Thus clansman enjoys his wealth like one who eats wood-apple. If, Vyagghapajja, a clansman, with large income were to lead a wretched life, there would be those who say: - 'This clansman will die like a starveling.'

"The wealth thus ama.s.sed, Vyagghapajja, has four sources of destruction: - I. Debauchery - Ittidhutto, II. Drunkenness - Suradhutto, III. Indulgence in gambling - Akkhadhutto, and IV. Friendship, companionship and intimacy with evil-doers.

"Just as in the case of a great tank with for inlets and outlets, if a man should close the inlets and open the outlets and there should be no adequate rainfall, decrease (of water) is to be expected in that tank and not an increase; even so there are four sources for the destruction of ama.s.sed wealth - debauchery, drunkenness, indulgence in gambling and friendship, companionship and intimacy with evil-doer.

There are four sources for the development of ama.s.sed wealth: - I. Abstinence from debauchery, II. Abstinence from drunkenness, III. Non-indulgence in gambling, and IV. Friendship, companionship and intimacy with the good.

"Just as in the case of a great tank with four inlets and four outlets, if a person were to open the inlets and close the outlets, and there should also be adequate rainfall, and increase of ware is certainly to be expected in that tank and not a decrease, even, so the four above-mentioned are the sources of development of ama.s.sed wealth."

"These four things are conducive to the good and happiness of a n.o.ble son in this life itself."

Causes Of Spiritual Progress "These four things are conducive to the good and happiness of a n.o.ble son in the other world."

"Which four?"

I. Achievement of Faith-Saddhasampada II. Achievement of Virtue-Silasampada III. Achievement of Charity-Cagasampada IV. Achievement of Wisdom-Pannasampada "What is the achievement of faith?"

"Herein a clansman is possessed of faith, believes in he Enlightenment of the Tathagata: - Thus, indeed is that Blessed One, An Exalted One, Omniscient, Endowed with wisdom and conduct, Auspicious Knower of worlds, an Incomparable Charioteer for the training of individuals, Teacher of G.o.ds and men, Enlightened and Holy."

"This is called the achievement of virtue?"

"Herein a clansman abstains from killing, stealing, un-chast.i.ty, lying and intoxicants that cause infatuation and heedlessness."

"This is called the achievement of virtue."

"What is the achievement of charity?"

"Herein a clansman, dwells at home with heart free from the stain of avarice, devoted to charity, open-handed, delighting in generosity, fit to be asked (for alms), rejoicing in sharing alms."

"What is the achievement of wisdom?"

"Herein a clansman is wise, is endowed with wisdom that leads to one's development and with n.o.ble penetrative insight - Nibbedikaya that leads to the complete destruction of suffering."

"This is called the achievement of wisdom."

"These four things are conducive to the good and happiness of a clansman in the other world."

"Strenuous in spheres of work, heedful and ordering, he lives well, protecting what he has ama.s.sed."

"Endowed with faith and virtue, generous and free from avarice, he ever clears the path of happiness to the other world."

"Thus for the believing home-seekers, these eight things that lead to the happiness in both worlds - well-being in this and happiness in the other - have been declared by Him who owns a truthful name. In this way do the charity and merit of laymen grow."