SN55:31 Streams of Merit (1)
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1At Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, there are these four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, nutriments of happiness. What four?
"Here, bhikkhus, a noble disciple possesses confirmed confidence in the Buddha thus: ‘The Blessed One is an arahant, perfectly enlightened, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, fortunate, knower of the world, unsurpassed leader of persons to be tamed, teacher of devas and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.’
This is the first stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness.
2"Again, bhikkhus, a noble disciple possesses confirmed confidence in the Dhamma thus: ‘The Dhamma is well expounded by the Blessed One, directly visible, immediate, inviting one to come and see, applicable, to be personally experienced by the wise.’
This is the second stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness.
3"Again, bhikkhus, a noble disciple possesses confirmed confidence in the Saṅgha thus: ‘The Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples is practising the good way, practising the straight way, practising the true way, practising the proper way; that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight types of individuals— this Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.’
This is the third stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness.
4"Again, householder, the instructed noble disciple possesses the virtues dear to the noble ones— unbroken, untorn, unblemished, unmottled, freeing, praised by the wise, ungrasped, leading to concentration.[n.320] The terms describing the noble one's virtue are explicated at Vism 221–22 (Ppn 7:101–6). Spk says that noble ones do not violate (na kopenti) the Five Precepts even when they pass on to a new existence; hence these virtues are dear to them.
This is the fourth stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness.
"These are the four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, nutriments of happiness."
1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. "Cattārome, bhikkhave, puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā. Katame cattāro?
Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti – itipi so bhagavā … pe … satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Ayaṁ paṭhamo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro.
2Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti – svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo … pe … paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhīti. Ayaṁ dutiyo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro.
3Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti – suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho … pe … anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassāti. Ayaṁ tatiyo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro.
4Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi … pe … samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Ayaṁ catuttho puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro.
Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā"ti.
Paṭhamaṁ.
