5.
The Chapter on Streams of Merit with Verses
1.
The First Discourse on Streams
1037. "Monks, there are these four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, nutriments of happiness. Which four? Here, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' This is the first stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness.
"Furthermore, monks, a noble disciple towards the Teaching, etc. towards the Community, etc.
"Furthermore, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken, etc. conducive to concentration. This is the fourth stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness. These, monks, are the four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, nutriments of happiness.
"For a noble disciple endowed with these four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, it is not easy to reckon the measure of merit: 'This much is the stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness.' Rather, it is reckoned simply as an incalculable, immeasurable great mass of merit.
"Just as, monks, in the great ocean it is not easy to reckon the measure of water: 'So many gallons of water' or 'so many hundreds of gallons of water' or 'so many thousands of gallons of water' or 'so many hundreds of thousands of gallons of water.' Rather, it is reckoned simply as an incalculable, immeasurable great mass of water. Just so, monks, for a noble disciple endowed with these four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, it is not easy to reckon the measure of merit: 'This much is the stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness.' Rather, it is reckoned simply as an incalculable, immeasurable great mass of merit."
This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this -
Full of many terrors, the abode of hosts of jewels;
Just as rivers frequented by multitudes of people,
Many flowing, approach the sea.
A donor of beds and coverings;
Streams of merit approach the wise one,
Just as rivers carrying water approach the ocean." The first.
2.
The Second Discourse on Outflow
1038. "Monks, there are these four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, nutriments of happiness. Which four? Here, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' This is the first stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness.
"Furthermore, monks, a noble disciple towards the Teaching, etc. towards the Community, etc.
"Furthermore, monks, a noble disciple dwells at home with a mind free from the stain of stinginess, generous in giving, with purified hands, delighting in relinquishment, accessible to requests, delighting in giving and sharing. This is the fourth stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness. These, monks, are the four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, nutriments of happiness.
"For a noble disciple endowed with these four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, it is not easy to reckon the measure of merit: 'This much is the stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness.' Rather, it is reckoned simply as an incalculable, immeasurable great mass of merit.
"Just as, monks, where these great rivers flow together and meet, as follows - the Ganges, the Yamunā, the Aciravatī, the Sarabhū, the Mahī, there it is not easy to reckon the measure of water: 'So many gallons of water' or 'so many hundreds of gallons of water' or 'so many thousands of gallons of water' or 'so many hundreds of thousands of gallons of water.' Rather, it is reckoned simply as an incalculable, immeasurable great mass of water. Just so, monks, for a noble disciple endowed with these four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, it is not easy to reckon the measure of merit: 'This much is the stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness.' Rather, it is reckoned simply as an incalculable, immeasurable great mass of merit." This the Blessed One said, etc. the Teacher -
Full of many terrors, the abode of hosts of jewels;
Just as rivers frequented by multitudes of people,
Many flowing, approach the sea.
A donor of beds and coverings;
Streams of merit approach the wise one,
Just as rivers carrying water approach the ocean." The second.
3.
The Third Discourse on Outflow
1039. "Monks, there are these four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, nutriments of happiness. Which four? Here, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' This is the first stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness.
"Furthermore, monks, a noble disciple towards the Teaching, etc. towards the Community, etc.
"Furthermore, monks, a noble disciple is wise, endowed with wisdom that discerns rise and fall, noble, penetrative, leading rightly to the complete destruction of suffering. This is the fourth stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness. These, monks, are the four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, nutriments of happiness.
"For a noble disciple endowed with these four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, it is not easy to reckon the measure of merit: 'This much is the stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness.' Rather, it is reckoned simply as an incalculable, immeasurable great mass of merit." This the Blessed One said, etc. the Teacher -
Develops the path for the attainment of the Deathless;
He who has achieved the substance of the Teaching, delighted in destruction,
Does not tremble at the coming of the King of Death." The third.
4.
The First Discourse on Great Riches
1040. "Monks, a noble disciple possessed of four qualities is called 'wealthy, of great riches, of great possessions'.
"Which four? Here, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One'; Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. He is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken... etc. conducive to concentration. Monks, a noble disciple possessed of these four qualities is called 'wealthy, of great riches, of great possessions'." The fourth.
5.
The Second Discourse on Great Riches
1041. "Monks, a noble disciple possessed of four qualities is called 'wealthy, of great riches, of great possessions, of great fame'.
"Which four? Here, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. He is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken... etc. conducive to concentration. Monks, a noble disciple possessed of these four qualities is called 'wealthy, of great riches, of great possessions, of great fame'." The fifth.
6.
The Discourse on the Pure
1042. "Monks, a noble disciple possessed of four qualities is a stream-enterer, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment.
"Which four? Here, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. He is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken... etc. conducive to concentration. Monks, a noble disciple possessed of these four qualities is a stream-enterer, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment." The sixth.
7.
The Discourse to Nandiya
1043. The Origin at Kapilavatthu. To Nandiya the Sakyan seated to one side, the Blessed One said this - "Nandiya, a noble disciple possessed of four qualities is a stream-enterer, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment."
"Which four? Here, Nandiya, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. He is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken... etc. conducive to concentration. Nandiya, a noble disciple possessed of these four qualities is a stream-enterer, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment." The seventh.
8.
The Discourse on Bhaddiya
1044. The Origin at Kapilavatthu. To Bhaddiya the Sakyan seated to one side, the Blessed One said this - "Bhaddiya, a noble disciple possessed of four qualities is a stream-enterer, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment.
"Which four? Here, Bhaddiya, a noble disciple towards the Buddha... etc. Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. He is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken... etc. conducive to concentration. Bhaddiya, a noble disciple possessed of these four qualities is a stream-enterer, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment." The eighth.
9.
The Discourse on Mahānāma
1045. The Origin at Kapilavatthu. To Mahānāma the Sakyan seated to one side, the Blessed One said this - "Mahānāma, a noble disciple possessed of four qualities is a stream-enterer... etc. heading for the highest enlightenment."
"Which four? Here, Mahānāma, a noble disciple towards the Buddha... etc. Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. He is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken... etc. conducive to concentration. Mahānāma, a noble disciple possessed of these four qualities is a stream-enterer, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment." The ninth.
10.
The Discourse on Factor
1046. "Monks, there are these four factors of stream-entry. What are the four? Associating with good persons, hearing the Good Teaching, wise attention, practice in accordance with the Teaching - these, monks, are the four factors of stream-entry." The tenth.
The Chapter on Streams of Merit with Verses is the fifth.
Its summary:
Pure, Nandiya, Bhaddiya, with Mahānāma and Factors - these are ten.