127. （一二七）福田经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Śrāvastī, staying at the Jeta Grove Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma.

At that time, the householder Anāthapiṇḍada went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, sat to one side, and said, "World-Honored One! In the world, how many are there who are worthy of being fields of merit?"

The World-Honored One said, "Householder! In the world, there are generally two kinds of people who are worthy of being fields of merit. What are the two? First, those who are still learning, and second, those who have no more to learn. Those who are still learning are eighteen, and those who have no more to learn are nine. Householder! What are the eighteen who are still learning? Those who practice with faith, those who practice according to the Dharma, those who are liberated through faith, those who attain liberation through insight, those who attain liberation through the body, those who are reborn in the same family, those who are reborn only once, those who are heading towards the stream-enterer stage, those who have attained the stream-enterer stage, those who are heading towards the once-returner stage, those who have attained the once-returner stage, those who are heading towards the non-returner stage, those who have attained the non-returner stage, those who attain parinirvāṇa in the intermediate state, those who attain parinirvāṇa upon rebirth, those who attain parinirvāṇa through practice, those who attain parinirvāṇa without practice, and those who ascend to the highest form realm. These are called the eighteen who are still learning. Householder! What are the nine who have no more to learn? Those who attain liberation through contemplation, those who progress in liberation, those who are unshakable, those who may regress, those who will not regress, those who are protected, those who are not protected, those who truly abide, those who are liberated through wisdom, and those who are liberated through both. These are called the nine who have no more to learn."

Then the World-Honored One spoke this verse:

In the world, those who are still learning and those who have no more
to learn are worthy of respect and reverence. They can correct their body, speech
and mind. Householders are good fields of merit. Those who give to them obtain great blessings.

The Buddha spoke thus. The householder Anāthapiṇḍada and the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and received them with respect.