5

Dighajanu Sutta
To Dighajanu
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu For free distribution only

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the oliyans! "ow the oliyans have a town named akkara#atta! There Dighajanu $%ongShin& the oliyan went to the Blessed One and' on arrival' having bowed down to the Blessed One' sat to one side! (s he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One' )*e are lay #eo#le enjoying sensual #leasures+ living crowded with s#ouses and children+ using asi fabrics and sandalwood+ wearing garlands' scents' and creams+ handling gold and silver! ,ay the Blessed One teach the Dhamma for those like us' for our ha##iness and well-being in this life' for our ha##iness and well-being in lives to come!) .The Blessed One said/0 )There are these four 1ualities' TigerPaw' that lead to a lay #erson2s ha##iness and well-being in this life! *hich four3 Being consummate in initiative' being consummate in vigilance' having admirable #eo#le as friends' and maintaining one2s livelihood in tune! )(nd what does it mean to be consummate in initiative3 There is the case where a lay #erson' by whatever occu#ation he makes his living -- whether by farming or trading or cattle tending or archery or as a king2s man or by any other craft -- is clever and untiring at it' endowed with discrimination in its techni1ues' enough to arrange and carry it out! This is called being consummate in initiative! )(nd what does it mean to be consummate in vigilance3 There is the case when a lay #erson has righteous wealth -- righteously gained' coming from his initiative' his striving' his making an effort' gathered by the strength of his arm' earned by his sweat -- he manages to #rotect it through vigilance .with the thought0' 24ow shall neither kings nor thieves make off with this #ro#erty of mine' nor fire burn it' nor water swee# it away' nor hateful heirs make off with it32 This is called being consummate in vigilance! )(nd what does it mean to have admirable #eo#le as friends3 There is the case where a lay#erson' in whatever town or village he may dwell' s#ends time with householders or householders2 sons' young or old' who are advanced in virtue! 4e talks with them' engages them in discussions! 4e emulates consummate conviction in those who are consummate in conviction' consummate virtue in those who are consummate in virtue' consummate generosity in those who are consummate in generosity' and consummate discernment in those who are consummate in discernment! This is called having admirable #eo#le as friends!

; )(nd what does it mean to maintain one2s livelihood in tune3 There is the case where a lay#erson' knowing the income and outflow of his wealth' maintains a livelihood in tune' neither a s#endthrift nor a #enny-#incher' .thinking0' 2Thus will my income e6ceed my outflow' and my outflow will not e6ceed my income!2 7ust as when a weigher or his a##rentice' when holding the scales' knows' 2It has ti##ed down so much or has ti##ed u# so much'2 in the same way' the lay #erson' knowing the income and outflow of his wealth' maintains a livelihood in tune' neither a s#endthrift nor a #enny-#incher' .thinking0' 2Thus will my income e6ceed my outflow' and my outflow will not e6ceed my income!2 If a lay#erson has a small income but maintains a grand livelihood' it will be rumored of him' 2This clansman devours his wealth like a fruit-tree eater .8ommentary/ one who shakes more fruit off a tree than he can #ossibly eat0!2 If a lay#erson has a large income but maintains a miserable livelihood' it will be rumored of him' 2This clansman will die of starvation!2 But when a lay #erson' knowing the income and outflow of his wealth' maintains a livelihood in tune' neither a s#endthrift nor a #enny-#incher' .thinking0' 2Thus will my income e6ceed my outflow' and my outflow will not e6ceed my income'2 this is called maintaining one2s livelihood in tune! )These are the four drains on one2s store of wealth/ being debauched in se6+ being debauched in drink+ being debauched in gambling+ and having evil #eo#le as friends' associates' and com#anions! 7ust as if there were a great reservoir with four inlets and four drains' and a man were to close the inlets and o#en the drains' and the sky were not to #our down #ro#er showers' the de#letion of that great reservoir could be e6#ected' not its increase! In the same way' these are the four drains on one2s store of wealth/ being debauched in se6' being debauched in drink' being debauched in gambling' and having evil #eo#le as friends' associates' and com#anions! )These are the four inlets to one2s store of wealth/ not being debauched in se6+ not being debauched in drink+ not being debauched in gambling+ and having admirable #eo#le as friends' associates' and com#anions! 7ust as if there were a great reservoir with four inlets and four drains' and a man were to o#en the inlets and close the drains' and the sky were to #our down #ro#er showers' the increase of that great reservoir could be e6#ected' not its de#letion! In the same way' these are the four inlets to one2s store of wealth/ not being debauched in se6' not being debauched in drink' not being debauched in gambling' and having admirable #eo#le as friends' associates' and com#anions! )These' TigerPaw' are the four 1ualities that lead to a lay #erson2s ha##iness and wellbeing in this life! )There are these four 1ualities that lead to a lay #erson2s ha##iness and well-being in lives to come! *hich four3 Being consummate in conviction' being consummate in virtue' being consummate in generosity' being consummate in discernment! )(nd what does it mean to be consummate in conviction3 There is the case where a disci#le of the noble ones has conviction' is convinced of the Tath9gata:s (wakening/ 2Indeed' the Blessed One is worthy and rightly self-awakened' consummate in knowledge and conduct' well-gone' an e6#ert with regard to the world' une6celled as a trainer for

< those #eo#le fit to be tamed' the Teacher of divine and human beings' awakened' blessed!2 This is called being consummate in conviction! )(nd what does it mean to be consummate in virtue3 There is the case where a disci#le of the noble ones abstains from taking life' abstains from stealing' abstains from illicit se6ual conduct' abstains from lying' abstains from taking into6icants that cause heedlessness! This is called being consummate in virtue! )(nd what does it mean to be consummate in generosity3 There is the case of a disci#le of the noble ones' his awareness cleansed of the stain of miserliness' living at home' freely generous' o#enhanded' delighting in being magnanimous' res#onsive to re1uests' delighting in the distribution of alms! This is called being consummate in generosity! )(nd what does it mean to be consummate in discernment3 There is the case where a disci#le of the noble ones is discerning' endowed with discernment of arising and #assing away -- noble' #enetrating' leading to the right ending of stress! This is called being consummate in discernment! )These' TigerPaw' are the four 1ualities that lead to a lay #erson2s ha##iness and wellbeing in lives to come!) 4eedful at administering or working at one2s occu#ation' maintaining one2s life in tune' one #rotects one2s store of wealth! ( #erson of conviction' consummate in virtue' magnanimous' free of selfishness' constantly clears the #ath to security in the lives to come! Thus for one who seeks the household life' these eight 1ualities' leading to welfare and ha##iness both in this life and in lives to come' have been declared by the one whose name is truth! (nd this is how' for householders' generosity and merit increase!