SN55:43 Streams (3)
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1"Bhikkhus, there are these four streams of merit. … What four?
2"Here, bhikkhus, a noble disciple possesses confirmed confidence in the Buddha … in the Dhamma … in the Saṅgha. …
3"Again, bhikkhus, a noble disciple is wise, he possesses wisdom directed to arising and passing away, sn.v.402 which is noble and penetrative, leading to the complete destruction of suffering. This is the fourth stream of merit. …
"These are the four streams of merit. …
4"When, bhikkhus, a noble disciple possesses these four streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, it is not easy to take the measure of his merit thus: ‘Just so much is his stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness’; rather, it is reckoned 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:
5"One who desires merit, established in the wholesome,
Develops the path to attain the Deathless;
He who has reached the Dhamma's core,
Delighting in destruction,
Does not tremble thinking,
‘The King of Death will come.’"
[n.361] Spk glosses "the Dhamma's core" (dhammasāra) as the noble fruit, and "destruction" (khaya) as the destruction of defilements. I suggest reading the last line: Na vedhati maccurāj’ āgamissatī ti.
1"Cattārome, bhikkhave, puññābhisandā, kusalābhisandā, sukhassāhārā. Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti – itipi so bhagavā … pe … satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Ayaṁ paṭhamo puññābhisando, kusalābhisando, sukhassāhāro.
2Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhamme … pe … saṅghe … pe … .
3Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā. Ayaṁ catuttho puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro.
Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā.
4Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi puññābhisandehi kusalābhisandehi samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa na sukaraṁ puññassa pamāṇaṁ gaṇetuṁ: ‘ettako puññābhisando, kusalābhisando, sukhassāhāro’ti. Atha kho asaṅkhyeyyo appameyyo mahāpuññakkhandhotveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchatī"ti.
Idamavoca bhagavā … pe … satthā:
5"Yo puññakāmo kusale patiṭṭhito,
Bhāveti maggaṁ amatassa pattiyā;
So dhammasārādhigamo khaye rato,
Na vedhati maccurājāgamanasmin"ti.
Tatiyaṁ.
