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Anguttara Nikaya VIII.54
Vyagghapajja Sutta
(Dighajanu Sutta)
Conditions of Welfare
Translated from the Pali by Narada Thera.
For free distribution only.
Translator's note: In this sutta, the Buddha instructs rich
householders how to preserve and increase their prosperity and how to avoid loss
of wealth. Wealth alone, however, does not make a complete man nor a harmonious
society. Possession of wealth all too often multiplies man's desires, and he is
ever in the pursuit of amassing more wealth and power. This unrestrained
craving, however, leaves him dissatisfied and stifles his inner growth. It
creates conflict and disharmony in society through the resentment of the
underprivileged who feel themselves exploited by the effects of unrestrained
craving.
Therefore the Buddha follows up on his advice on material welfare with
four essential conditions for spiritual welfare: confidence (in the Master's
enlightenment), virtue, liberality and wisdom. These four will instill in man a
sense of higher values. He will then not only pursue his own material concern,
but also be aware of his duty towards society. To mention only one of the
implications: a wisely and generously employed liberality will reduce tensions
and conflicts in society. Thus the observing of these conditions of material and
spiritual welfare will make for an ideal citizen in an ideal society.
Thus have I heard. Once the Exalted One was dwelling amongst the Koliyans,[1]
in their market town named Kakkarapatta. Then Dighajanu,[2]
a Koliyan, approached the Exalted One, respectfully saluted Him and sat on one
side. Thus seated, he addressed the Exalted One as follows:
"We, Lord, are laymen who enjoy worldly pleasure. We lead a life encumbered
by wife and children. We use sandalwood of Kasi. We deck ourselves with
garlands, perfume and unguents. We use gold and silver. To those like us, O
Lord, let the Exalted One preach the Dhamma, teach those things that lead to
weal and happiness in this life and to weal and happiness in future life."
(Conditions of Worldly Progress)
"Four conditions, Vyagghapajja,[3]
conduce to a householder's weal and happiness in this very life. Which four?
"The accomplishment of persistent effort (utthana-sampada), the
accomplishment of watchfulness (arakkha-sampada), good friendship (kalyanamittata)
and balanced livelihood (sama-jivikata).
"What is the accomplishment of persistent effort?
"Herein, Vyagghapajja, by whatsoever activity a householder earns his living,
whether by farming, by trading, by rearing cattle, by archery, by service under
the king, or by any other kind of craft -- at that he becomes skillful and is
not lazy. He is endowed with the power of discernment as to the proper ways and
means; he is able to carry out and allocate (duties). This is called the
accomplishment of persistent effort.
"What is the accomplishment of watchfulness?
"Herein, Vyagghapajja, whatsoever wealth a householder is in possession of,
obtained by dint of effort, collected by strength of arm, by the sweat of his
brow, justly acquired by right means -- such he husbands well by guarding and
watching so that kings would not seize it, thieves would not steal it, fire
would not burn it, water would not carry it away, nor ill-disposed heirs remove
it. This is the accomplishment of watchfulness.
"What is good friendship?
"Herein, Vyagghapajja, in whatsoever village or market town a householder
dwells, he associates, converses, engages in discussions with householders or
householders' sons, whether young and highly cultured or old and highly
cultured, full of faith (saddha),[4] full of
virtue (sila), full of charity (caga), full of wisdom (pañña).
He acts in accordance with the faith of the faithful, with the virtue of the
virtuous, with the charity of the charitable, with the wisdom of the wise. This
is called good friendship.
"What is balanced livelihood?
"Herein, Vyagghapajja, a householder knowing his income and expenses leads a
balanced life, neither extravagant nor miserly, knowing that thus his income
will stand in excess of his expenses, but not his expenses in excess of his
income.
"Just as the goldsmith,[5] or
an apprentice of his, knows, on holding up a balance, that by so much it has
dipped down, by so much it has tilted up; even so a householder, knowing his
income and expenses leads a balanced life, neither extravagant nor miserly,
knowing that thus his income will stand in excess of his expenses, but not his
expenses in excess of his income.
"If, Vyagghapajja, a householder with little income were to lead an
extravagant life, there would be those who say -- 'This person enjoys his
property like one who eats wood-apple.'[6] If,
Vyagghapajja, a householder with a large income were to lead a wretched life,
there would be those who say -- 'This person will die like a starveling.'
"The wealth thus amassed, Vyagghapajja, has four sources of destruction:
"(i) Debauchery, (ii) drunkenness, (iii) gambling, (iv)
friendship, companionship and intimacy with evil-doers.
"Just as in the case of a great tank with four 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 amassed
wealth -- debauchery, drunkenness, gambling, and friendship, companionship and
intimacy with evil-doers.
"There are four sources for the increase of amassed wealth: (i)
abstinence from debauchery, (ii) abstinence from drunkenness, (iii)
non- indulgence in gambling, (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, an increase in water is certainly to be expected in that tank
and not a decrease, even so these four conditions are the sources of increase of
amassed wealth.
"These four conditions, Vyagghapajja, are conducive to a householder's weal
and happiness in this very life.
(Conditions of Spiritual Progress)
"Four conditions, Vyagghapajja, conduce to a householder's weal and happiness
in his future life. Which four?
"The accomplishment of faith (saddha-sampada), the accomplishment of
virtue (sila-sampada), the accomplishment of charity (caga-sampada)
and the accomplishment of wisdom (pañña-sampada).
"What is the accomplishment of faith?
"Herein a householder is possessed of faith, he believes in the Enlightenment
of the Perfect One (Tathagata): Thus, indeed, is that Blessed One: he is
the pure one, fully enlightened, endowed with knowledge and conduct, well-gone,
the knower of worlds, the incomparable leader of men to be tamed, the teacher of
gods and men, all-knowing and blessed. This is called the accomplishment of
faith.
"What is the accomplishment of virtue?
"Herein a householder abstains from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct,
lying, and from intoxicants that cause infatuation and heedlessness. This is
called the accomplishment of virtue.
"What is the accomplishment of charity?
"Herein a householder dwells at home with heart free from the stain of
avarice, devoted to charity, open-handed, delighting in generosity, attending to
the needy, delighting in the distribution of alms. This is called the
accomplishment of charity.
"What is the accomplishment of wisdom?
"Herein a householder is wise: he is endowed with wisdom that understands the
arising and cessation (of the five aggregates of existence); he is possessed of
the noble penetrating insight that leads to the destruction of suffering. This
is called the accomplishment of wisdom.
"These four conditions, Vyagghapajja, conduce to a householder's weal and
happiness in his future life."
Energetic and heedful in his tasks,
Wisely administering his wealth,
He lives a balanced life,
Protecting what he has amassed.
Endowed with faith and virtue too,
Generous he is and free from avarice;
He ever works to clear the path
That leads to weal in future life.
Thus to the layman full of faith,
By him, so truly named 'Enlightened,'
These eight conditions have been told
Which now and after lead to bliss.
Notes
1. The Koliyans were the rivals of the Sakyans. Queen
Maha Maya belonged to the Koliyan clan and King Suddhodana to the Sakyan clan. [Go
back]
2. Literally, 'long-kneed' [Go back]
3. 'Tiger's Path'; he was so called because his
ancestors were born on a forest path infested with tigers. Vyagghapajja was
Dighajanu's family name [Go back]
4. Saddha is not blind faith. It is confidence
based on knowledge. [Go back]
5. Tuladharo, lit., 'carrier of the scales.' [Go
back]
6. Udambarakhadaka. The Commentary explains
that one who wishes to eat wood-apple shakes the tree, with the result that many
fruits fall but only a few are eaten, while a large number are wasted. [Go
back]
                                  
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