1At one time the Buddha was staying near Āḷavī, at the Aggāḷava Tree-shrine. Then the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī, escorted by around five hundred lay followers, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to Hatthaka:

“Hatthaka, you have a large congregation. How do you bring together such a large congregation?”

“Sir, I bring together such a large congregation by using the four ways of being inclusive as taught by the Buddha. When I know that a person can be included by a gift, I include them by giving a gift. When I know that a person can be included by kindly words, I include them by kindly words. When I know that a person can be included by taking care of them, I include them by caring for them. When I know that a person can be included by equality, I include them by treating them equally. But also, sir, my family is wealthy. They wouldn’t think that a poor person was worth listening to in the same way.”

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“Good, good, Hatthaka! This is the right way to bring together a large congregation. Whether in the past, future, or present, all those who have brought together a large congregation have done so by using these four ways of being inclusive.”

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2Then the Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired Hatthaka of Āḷavī with a Dhamma talk, after which he got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha before leaving.

Then, not long after Hatthaka had left, the Buddha addressed the mendicants: “Mendicants, you should remember the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī as someone who has eight amazing and incredible qualities. What eight? He’s faithful, ethical, conscientious, prudent, learned, generous, wise, and has few wishes. You should remember the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī as someone who has these eight amazing and incredible qualities.”

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā āḷaviyaṁ viharati aggāḷave cetiye. Atha kho hatthako āḷavako pañcamattehi upāsakasatehi parivuto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: 

"Mahatī kho tyāyaṁ, hatthaka, parisā. Kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, hatthaka, imaṁ mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgaṇhāsī"ti?

"Yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā desitāni cattāri saṅgahavatthūni, tehāhaṁ imaṁ mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgaṇhāmi. Ahaṁ, bhante, yaṁ jānāmi:  ‘Ayaṁ dānena saṅgahetabbo’ti, taṁ dānena saṅgaṇhāmi; yaṁ jānāmi:  ‘Ayaṁ peyyavajjena saṅgahetabbo’ti, taṁ peyyavajjena saṅgaṇhāmi; yaṁ jānāmi:  ‘Ayaṁ atthacariyāya saṅgahetabbo’ti, taṁ atthacariyāya saṅgaṇhāmi; yaṁ jānāmi:  ‘Ayaṁ samānattatāya saṅgahetabbo’ti, taṁ samānattatāya saṅgaṇhāmi. Saṁvijjanti kho pana me, bhante, kule bhogā. Daliddassa kho no tathā sotabbaṁ maññantī"ti.

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"Sādhu sādhu, hatthaka. Yoni kho tyāyaṁ, hatthaka, mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgahetuṁ. Ye hi keci, hatthaka, atītamaddhānaṁ mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgahesuṁ, sabbe te imeheva catūhi saṅgahavatthūhi mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgahesuṁ. Yepi hi keci, hatthaka, anāgatamaddhānaṁ mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgaṇhissanti, sabbe te imeheva catūhi saṅgahavatthūhi mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgaṇhissanti. Yepi hi keci, hatthaka, etarahi mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgaṇhanti, sabbe te imeheva catūhi saṅgahavatthūhi mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgaṇhantī"ti.

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2Atha kho hatthako āḷavako bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassito samādapito samuttejito sampahaṁsito uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

Atha kho bhagavā acirapakkante hatthake āḷavake bhikkhū āmantesi:  "aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgataṁ hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ dhāretha. Katamehi aṭṭhahi? Saddho, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako; sīlavā, bhikkhave … pe … hirīmā … ottappī … bahussuto … cāgavā … paññavā, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako; appiccho, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgataṁ hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ dhārethā"ti.

Catutthaṁ.