Aṇguttara Nikāya
VIII. Aṭṭhaka Nipāta
VIII. Yamaka-Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
VIII. The Book of the Eights
Chapter VIII: The Pairs
Sutta 71
Paṭhama Samanta-Pāsādika Suttaṃ
Faith (a)[1]
Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.
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[1] Thus have I heard:
Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī.
There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
2. "Monks, a monk has faith,
but is not virtuous;
so in that part he is not perfect.
Then must that part be perfected.
Let him think:
'Oh that I might have both faith and virtue!'
Monks, when a monk has both faith and virtue,
then is he in that part perfect.
§
3. Monks, a monk has both faith and virtue,
but is not learned;
so in that part he is not perfect.
Then must that part be perfected.
Let him think:
'Oh that I might have faith and virtue and learning!'
Monks, when a monk has faith, virtue and learning,
then in that part he is perfect.
§
4. Monks, a monk has faith, virtue and learning,
but is no Dhamma preacher;
so in that part he is not perfect.
Then must that part be perfected.
Let him think:
'Oh that I might have faith, virtue and learning,
and be a Dhamma preacher!'
Monks, when a monk has faith, virtue and learning,
and is a Dhamma preacher,
then in that part he is perfect.
§
5. Monks, a monk has faith, virtue and learning,
and is a Dhamma preacher;
but his walk[2] is not in the assembly,
so in that part he is not perfect.
Then must that part be perfected.
Let him think:
'Oh that I might have faith, virtue and learning,
and be a Dhamma preacher
and walk in the assembly!'
Monks, when a monk has faith, virtue and learning,
and is a Dhamma preacher,
and walks in the assembly,
then in that part he is perfect.
§
6. Monks, a monk has faith, virtue and learning,
and is a Dhamma preacher;
and his walk is in the assembly,
but he teaches Dhamma in the assembly without confidence,
so in that part he is not perfect.
Then must that part be perfected.
Let him think:
'Oh that I might have faith, virtue and learning,
and be a Dhamma preacher
and walk in the assembly
and teach Dhamma in the assembly with confidence!'
Monks, when a monk has faith, virtue and learning,
and is a Dhamma preacher,
and walks in the assembly,
and teaches Dhamma in the assembly with confidence,
then in that part he is perfect.
§
7. Monks, a monk has faith, virtue and learning,
and is a Dhamma preacher;
and his walk is in the assembly,
and he teaches Dhamma in the assembly with confidence,
but cannot attain at will,
easily and without difficulty
to those pleasant states of living even in this life,
the four musings,
wholly mental,
so in that part he is not perfect.
Then must that part be perfected.
Let him think:
'Oh that I might have faith, virtue and learning,
and be a Dhamma preacher
and walk in the assembly
and teach Dhamma in the assembly with confidence
and attain at will,
easily and without difficulty
to those pleasant states of living even in this life,
the four musings,
wholly mental!'
Monks, when a monk has faith, virtue and learning,
and is a Dhamma preacher,
and walks in the assembly,
and teaches Dhamma in the assembly with confidence,
and attains at will,
easily and without difficulty
to those pleasant states of living even in this life,
the four musings,
wholly mental,
then in that part he is perfect.
§
8. Monks, a monk has faith, virtue and learning,
and is a Dhamma preacher;
and his walk is in the assembly,
and he teaches Dhamma in the assembly with confidence,
and can attain at will,
easily and without difficulty
to those pleasant states of living even in this life,
the four musings,
wholly mental,
but he enters not
nor abides in
the emancipation of the mind and wisdom,
which by the destruction of the cankers
is free thereof,
and which is realized in this world
by personal experience
so in that part he is not perfect.
Then must that part be perfected.
Let him think:
'Oh that I might have faith, virtue and learning,
and be a Dhamma preacher
and walk in the assembly
and teach Dhamma in the assembly with confidence
and attain at will,
easily and without difficulty
to those pleasant states of living even in this life,
the four musings,
wholly mental
and enter and abide in
the emancipation of the mind and wisdom,
which by the destruction of the cankers
is free thereof,
and which is realized in this world
by personal experience!'
Monks, when a monk has faith, virtue and learning,
and is a Dhamma preacher,
and walks in the assembly,
and teaches Dhamma in the assembly with confidence,
and attains at will,
easily and without difficulty
to those pleasant states of living even in this life,
the four musings,
wholly mental,
and enters and abides in
the emancipation of the mind and wisdom,
which by the destruction of the cankers
is free thereof,
and which is realized in this world
by personal experience
then in that part he is perfect.
Monks, a monk, who is endowed with these eight qualities,
is altogether lovely
and is perfect in every way."
[1] Cf. A. v, 10 f.; below, p. 238.
[2] Avacara.
