1On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu in Nigrodha's Park. Then Mahānāma the Sakyan approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said to him:

2"Venerable sir, in what way is one a lay follower?"

"When, Mahānāma, one has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha, one is then a lay follower."

3"In what way, venerable sir, is a lay follower accomplished in virtue?"

"When, Mahānāma, a lay follower abstains from the destruction of life, from taking what is not given, from sexual misconduct, from false speech, and from wines, liquor, and intoxicants that are a basis for negligence, the lay follower is accomplished in virtue."

4"In what way, venerable sir, is a lay follower accomplished in faith?"

"Here, Mahānāma, a lay follower is a person of faith. He places faith in the enlightenment of the Tathāgata thus: ‘The Blessed One is … teacher of devas and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.’ In that way a lay follower is accomplished in faith."

5"In what way, venerable sir, is a lay follower accomplished in generosity?"

"Here, Mahānāma, a lay follower dwells at home with a mind devoid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, delighting in relinquishment, one devoted to charity, delighting in giving and sharing. In that way a lay follower is accomplished in generosity."

6"In what way, venerable sir, is a lay follower accomplished in wisdom?"

"Here, Mahānāma, a lay follower is wise, he possesses wisdom directed to arising and passing away, which is noble and penetrative, leading to the complete destruction of suffering. In that way a lay follower is accomplished in wisdom." sn.v.396

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu vihārati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme. Atha kho mahānāmo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahānāmo sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2"Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, upāsako hotī"ti?

"Yato kho, mahānāma, buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti – ettāvatā kho, mahānāma, upāsako hotī"ti.

3"Kittāvatā pana, bhante, upāsako sīlasampanno hotī"ti?

"Yato kho, mahānāma, upāsako pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjappamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti – ettāvatā kho, mahānāma, upāsako sīlasampanno hotī"ti.

4"Kittāvatā pana, bhante, upāsako saddhāsampanno hotī"ti?

"Idha, mahānāma, upāsako saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ – itipi so bhagavā … pe … satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Ettāvatā kho, mahānāma, upāsako saddhāsampanno hotī"ti.

5"Kittāvatā pana, bhante, upāsako cāgasampanno hotī"ti?

"Idha, mahānāma, upāsako vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato – ettāvatā kho, mahānāma, upāsako cāgasampanno hotī"ti.

6"Kittāvatā pana, bhante, upāsako paññāsampanno hotī"ti?

"Idha, mahānāma, upāsako paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā – ettāvatā kho, mahānāma, upāsako paññāsampanno hotī"ti.

Sattamaṁ.