Confidence

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

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[1][pts][bodh] "Monks, there are these four supreme objects of confidence. Which four?

"Among whatever beings there may be—footless, two-footed, four-footed, many footed; with form or formless; percipient, non-percipient, neither percipient nor non-percipient—the Tathāgata, worthy and rightly self-awakened, is considered supreme. Those who have confidence in the Awakened One have confidence in what is supreme; and for those with confidence in the supreme, supreme is the result.

"Among whatever fabricated qualities there may be, the noble eightfold path is considered supreme. Those who have confidence in the noble eightfold path have confidence in what is supreme; and for those with confidence in the supreme, supreme is the result.

"Among whatever dhammas there may be, fabricated or unfabricated, dispassion—the subduing of intoxication, the elimination of thirst, the uprooting of attachment, the breaking of the round, the destruction of craving, dispassion, cessation, the realization of unbinding—is considered supreme. Those who have confidence in the dhamma of dispassion have confidence in what is supreme; and for those with confidence in the supreme, supreme is the result.

"Among whatever communities or groups there may be, the Saṅgha of the Tathāgata’s disciples is considered supreme—i.e., the four [groups of noble disciples] when taken as pairs, the eight when taken as persons.^[1] Those who have confidence in the Saṅgha have confidence in what is supreme; and for those with confidence in the supreme, supreme will be the result.

"These, monks, are the four supreme objects of confidence."

With 
					confidence,
						realizing the supreme Dhamma 
						to be supreme;
					confidence in the supreme Buddha,
						unsurpassed 
						in deserving offerings;
					confidence in the supreme Dhamma,
						the bliss of stilling, dispassion;
					confidence in the supreme Saṅgha,
						unsurpassed 
						as a field of merit;
					having given gifts to the supreme,
						one develops supreme merit,
						supreme long life and beauty, 
						status, honor, 
					bliss, and strength.

Having given to the supreme,
						the wise person, centered 
						in supreme Dhamma,
					whether becoming a divine or human being,
						rejoices, 
					having attained the supreme.

^[1] The four groups of noble disciples when taken as pairs are those who have attained (1) the path to stream-entry and the fruition of stream-entry; (2) the path to once-returning and the fruition of once-returning; (3) the path to non-returning and the fruition of non-returning; and (4) the path to arahantship and the fruition of arahantship. Taking each attainment singly gives eight "individuals."

This sutta is almost identical with Iti 90.

Of Related Interest:

SN 6:2;
SN 11:3;
AN 4:24;
AN 4:52;
AN 7:56;
AN 10:92;
Khp 6;
Dhp 188–192;
Iti 112

Aṇguttara Nikāya 4. Catukka Nipāta IV. Cakka Vagga

Sutta 34

Aggappasāda Suttaṃ

Confidence

Aṇguttara Nikāya
4. Catukka Nipāta
IV. Cakka Vagga