sutta » an » an8 » Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.25

Mahānāmasutta

With Mahānāma

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery.

Atha kho mahānāmo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahānāmo sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then Mahānāma the Sakyan went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, upāsako hotī”ti?
“Sir, how is a lay follower defined?”

“Yato kho, mahānāma, buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti;
“Mahānāma, when you’ve gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha,

ettāvatā kho, mahānāma, upāsako hotī”ti.
you’re considered to be a lay follower.”

“Kittāvatā pana, bhante, upāsako sīlavā hotī”ti?
“But how is an ethical lay follower defined?”

“Yato kho, mahānāma, upāsako pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti;
“When a lay follower doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or use alcoholic drinks that cause negligence,

ettāvatā kho, mahānāma, upāsako sīlavā hotī”ti.
they’re considered to be an ethical lay follower.”

“Kittāvatā pana, bhante, upāsako attahitāya paṭipanno hoti, no parahitāyā”ti?
“But how do we define a lay follower who is practicing to benefit themselves, not others?”

“Yato kho, mahānāma, upāsako attanāva saddhāsampanno hoti, no paraṁ saddhāsampadāya samādapeti;
“A lay follower is accomplished in faith, but doesn’t encourage others to do the same.

attanāva sīlasampanno hoti, no paraṁ sīlasampadāya samādapeti;
They’re accomplished in ethical conduct, but don’t encourage others to do the same.

attanāva cāgasampanno hoti, no paraṁ cāgasampadāya samādapeti;
They’re accomplished in generosity, but don’t encourage others to do the same.

attanāva bhikkhūnaṁ dassanakāmo hoti, no paraṁ bhikkhūnaṁ dassane samādapeti;
They like to see the mendicants, but don’t encourage others to do the same.

attanāva saddhammaṁ sotukāmo hoti, no paraṁ saddhammassavane samādapeti;
They like to hear the true teaching, but don’t encourage others to do the same.

attanāva sutānaṁ dhammānaṁ dhāraṇajātiko hoti, no paraṁ dhammadhāraṇāya samādapeti;
They readily memorize the teachings they’ve heard, but don’t encourage others to do the same.

attanāva sutānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthūpaparikkhitā hoti, no paraṁ atthūpaparikkhāya samādapeti;
They examine the meaning of the teachings they’ve memorized, but don’t encourage others to do the same.

attanāva atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno hoti, no paraṁ dhammānudhammappaṭipattiyā samādapeti.
Understanding the meaning and the teaching, they practice accordingly, but they don’t encourage others to do the same.

Ettāvatā kho, mahānāma, upāsako attahitāya paṭipanno hoti, no parahitāyā”ti.
That’s how we define a lay follower who is practicing to benefit themselves, not others.”

“Kittāvatā pana, bhante, upāsako attahitāya ca paṭipanno hoti parahitāya cā”ti?
“But how do we define a lay follower who is practicing to benefit both themselves and others?”

“Yato kho, mahānāma, upāsako attanā ca saddhāsampanno hoti, parañca saddhāsampadāya samādapeti;
“A lay follower is accomplished in faith and encourages others to do the same.

attanā ca sīlasampanno hoti, parañca sīlasampadāya samādapeti;
They’re accomplished in ethical conduct and encourage others to do the same.

attanā ca cāgasampanno hoti, parañca cāgasampadāya samādapeti;
They’re accomplished in generosity and encourage others to do the same.

attanā ca bhikkhūnaṁ dassanakāmo hoti, parañca bhikkhūnaṁ dassane samādapeti;
They like to see the mendicants and encourage others to do the same.

attanā ca saddhammaṁ sotukāmo hoti, parañca saddhammassavane samādapeti;
They like to hear the true teaching and encourage others to do the same.

attanā ca sutānaṁ dhammānaṁ dhāraṇajātiko hoti, parañca dhammadhāraṇāya samādapeti;
They readily memorize the teachings they’ve heard and encourage others to do the same.

attanā ca sutānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthūpaparikkhitā hoti, parañca atthūpaparikkhāya samādapeti,
They examine the meaning of the teachings they’ve memorized and encourage others to do the same.

attanā ca atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno hoti, parañca dhammānudhammappaṭipattiyā samādapeti.
Understanding the meaning and the teaching, they practice accordingly and they encourage others to do the same.

Ettāvatā kho, mahānāma, upāsako attahitāya ca paṭipanno hoti parahitāya cā”ti.
That’s how we define a lay follower who is practicing to benefit both themselves and others.”

Pañcamaṁ.