AN 8.39 (A iv 245)
Abhisanda Sutta
— Results —

Here are eight ways in which all serious disciples of the Buddha create much merit for themselves.



Note: info·bubbles on all "underdotted" words


Pāḷi


English




“aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā sovaggikā sukhavipākā saggasaṃvattanikā, iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṃvattanti. katame aṭṭha?

"Monks, there are these eight rewards of merit, rewards of skillfulness, nourishments of happiness, celestial, resulting in happiness, leading to heaven, leading to what is desirable, pleasurable, & appealing, to welfare & happiness. Which eight?

idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gato hoti. ayaṃ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro sovaggiko sukhavipāko saggasaṃvattaniko, iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṃvattati.

"There is the case where a disciple of the noble ones has gone to the Buddha for refuge. This is the first reward of merit, reward of skillfulness, nourishment of happiness, celestial, resulting in happiness, leading to heaven, leading to what is desirable, pleasurable, & appealing; to welfare & to happiness.

“puna caparaṃ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gato hoti. ayaṃ, bhikkhave, dutiyo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro sovaggiko sukhavipāko saggasaṃvattaniko, iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṃvattati.

"Furthermore, the disciple of the noble ones has gone to the Dhamma for refuge. This is the second reward of merit, reward of skillfulness, nourishment of happiness, celestial, resulting in happiness, leading to heaven, leading to what is desirable, pleasurable, & appealing; to welfare & to happiness.

“puna caparaṃ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gato hoti. ayaṃ, bhikkhave, tatiyo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro sovaggiko sukhavipāko saggasaṃvattaniko, iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṃvattati.

"Furthermore, the disciple of the noble ones has gone to the Sangha for refuge. This is the third reward of merit, reward of skillfulness, nourishment of happiness, celestial, resulting in happiness, leading to heaven, leading to what is desirable, pleasurable, & appealing; to welfare & to happiness.

“pañcimāni, bhikkhave, dānāni mahādānāni aggaññāni rattaññāni vaṃsaññāni porāṇāni asaṃkiṇṇāni asaṃkiṇṇapubbāni, na saṃkiyanti na saṃkiyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhāni samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi. katamāni pañca?

"Now, there are these five gifts, five great gifts — original, long-standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated, unadulterated from the beginning — that are not open to suspicion, will never be open to suspicion, and are unfaulted by knowledgeable contemplatives & brahmans. Which five?

idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako pāṇātipātaṃ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti. pāṇātipātā paṭivirato, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako aparimāṇānaṃ sattānaṃ abhayaṃ deti, averaṃ deti, abyābajjhaṃ deti. aparimāṇānaṃ sattānaṃ abhayaṃ datvā averaṃ datvā abyābajjhaṃ datvā aparimāṇassa abhayassa averassa abyābajjhassa bhāgī hoti. idaṃ, bhikkhave, paṭhamaṃ dānaṃ mahādānaṃ aggaññaṃ rattaññaṃ vaṃsaññaṃ porāṇaṃ asaṃkiṇṇaṃ asaṃkiṇṇapubbaṃ, na saṃkiyati na saṃkiyissati, appaṭikuṭṭhaṃ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi. ayaṃ, bhikkhave, catuttho puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro sovaggiko sukhavipāko saggasaṃvattaniko, iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṃvattati.

"There is the case where a disciple of the noble ones, abandoning the taking of life, abstains from taking life. In doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings. In giving freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings, he gains a share in limitless freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, and freedom from oppression. This is the first gift, the first great gift — original, long-standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated, unadulterated from the beginning — that is not open to suspicion, will never be open to suspicion, and is unfaulted by knowledgeable contemplatives & brahmans. And this is the fourth reward of merit, reward of skillfulness, nourishment of happiness, celestial, resulting in happiness, leading to heaven, leading to what is desirable, pleasurable, & appealing; to welfare & to happiness.

“puna caparaṃ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako adinnādānaṃ pahāya adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti. adinnādānā paṭivirato, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako aparimāṇānaṃ sattānaṃ abhayaṃ deti averaṃ deti abyābajjhaṃ deti. aparimāṇānaṃ sattānaṃ abhayaṃ datvā averaṃ datvā abyābajjhaṃ datvā, aparimāṇassa abhayassa averassa abyābajjhassa bhāgī hoti. idaṃ, bhikkhave, pañcamaṃ dānaṃ mahādānaṃ aggaññaṃ rattaññaṃ vaṃsaññaṃ porāṇaṃ asaṃkiṇṇaṃ asaṃkiṇṇapubbaṃ, na saṃkiyati na saṃkiyissati, appaṭikuṭṭhaṃ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi. ayaṃ kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhamo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro sovaggiko sukhavipāko saggasaṃvattaniko, iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṃvattati.

"Furthermore, abandoning taking what is not given (stealing), the disciple of the noble ones abstains from taking what is not given. In doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings. In giving freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings, he gains a share in limitless freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, and freedom from oppression. This is the second gift, the second great gift — original, long-standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated, unadulterated from the beginning — that is not open to suspicion, will never be open to suspicion, and is unfaulted by knowledgeable contemplatives & brahmans. And this is the fifth reward of merit, reward of skillfulness, nourishment of happiness, celestial, resulting in happiness, leading to heaven, leading to what is desirable, pleasurable, & appealing; to welfare & to happiness.

“puna caparaṃ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako kāmesumicchācāraṃ pahāya kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti. kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako aparimāṇānaṃ sattānaṃ abhayaṃ deti averaṃ deti abyābajjhaṃ deti. aparimāṇānaṃ sattānaṃ abhayaṃ datvā averaṃ datvā abyābajjhaṃ datvā, aparimāṇassa abhayassa averassa abyābajjhassa bhāgī hoti. idaṃ, bhikkhave, pañcamaṃ dānaṃ mahādānaṃ aggaññaṃ rattaññaṃ vaṃsaññaṃ porāṇaṃ asaṃkiṇṇaṃ asaṃkiṇṇapubbaṃ, na saṃkiyati na saṃkiyissati, appaṭikuṭṭhaṃ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi. ayaṃ kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhamo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro sovaggiko sukhavipāko saggasaṃvattaniko, iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṃvattati. ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā sovaggikā sukhavipākā saggasaṃvattanikā, iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṃvattantī”ti.

"Furthermore, abandoning illicit sex, the disciple of the noble ones abstains from illicit sex. In doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings. In giving freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings, he gains a share in limitless freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, and freedom from oppression. This is the third gift, the third great gift — original, long-standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated, unadulterated from the beginning — that is not open to suspicion, will never be open to suspicion, and is unfaulted by knowledgeable contemplatives & brahmans. And this is the sixth reward of merit, reward of skillfulness, nourishment of happiness, celestial, resulting in happiness, leading to heaven, leading to what is desirable, pleasurable, & appealing; to welfare & to happiness.

“puna caparaṃ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako musāvādaṃ pahāya musāvādā paṭivirato hoti. musāvādā paṭivirato, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako aparimāṇānaṃ sattānaṃ abhayaṃ deti averaṃ deti abyābajjhaṃ deti. aparimāṇānaṃ sattānaṃ abhayaṃ datvā averaṃ datvā abyābajjhaṃ datvā, aparimāṇassa abhayassa averassa abyābajjhassa bhāgī hoti. idaṃ, bhikkhave, pañcamaṃ dānaṃ mahādānaṃ aggaññaṃ rattaññaṃ vaṃsaññaṃ porāṇaṃ asaṃkiṇṇaṃ asaṃkiṇṇapubbaṃ, na saṃkiyati na saṃkiyissati, appaṭikuṭṭhaṃ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi. ayaṃ kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhamo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro sovaggiko sukhavipāko saggasaṃvattaniko, iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṃvattati. ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā sovaggikā sukhavipākā saggasaṃvattanikā, iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṃvattantī”ti.

"Furthermore, abandoning lying, the disciple of the noble ones abstains from lying. In doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings. In giving freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings, he gains a share in limitless freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, and freedom from oppression. This is the fourth gift, the fourth great gift — original, long-standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated, unadulterated from the beginning — that is not open to suspicion, will never be open to suspicion, and is unfaulted by knowledgeable contemplatives & brahmans. And this is the seventh reward of merit, reward of skillfulness, nourishment of happiness, celestial, resulting in happiness, leading to heaven, leading to what is desirable, pleasurable, & appealing; to welfare & to happiness.

“puna caparaṃ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṃ pahāya surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti. surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako aparimāṇānaṃ sattānaṃ abhayaṃ deti averaṃ deti abyābajjhaṃ deti. aparimāṇānaṃ sattānaṃ abhayaṃ datvā averaṃ datvā abyābajjhaṃ datvā, aparimāṇassa abhayassa averassa abyābajjhassa bhāgī hoti. idaṃ, bhikkhave, pañcamaṃ dānaṃ mahādānaṃ aggaññaṃ rattaññaṃ vaṃsaññaṃ porāṇaṃ asaṃkiṇṇaṃ asaṃkiṇṇapubbaṃ, na saṃkiyati na saṃkiyissati, appaṭikuṭṭhaṃ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi. ayaṃ kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhamo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro sovaggiko sukhavipāko saggasaṃvattaniko, iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṃvattati. ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā sovaggikā sukhavipākā saggasaṃvattanikā, iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṃvattantī”ti.

"Furthermore, abandoning the use of intoxicants, the disciple of the noble ones abstains from taking intoxicants. In doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings. In giving freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings, he gains a share in limitless freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, and freedom from oppression. This is the fifth gift, the fifth great gift — original, long-standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated, unadulterated from the beginning — that is not open to suspicion, will never be open to suspicion, and is unfaulted by knowledgeable contemplatives & brahmans. And this is the eighth reward of merit, reward of skillfulness, nourishment of happiness, celestial, resulting in happiness, leading to heaven, leading to what is desirable, pleasurable, & appealing; to welfare & to happiness.

ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā sovaggikā sukhavipākā saggasaṃvattanikā, iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṃvattantī”ti.

"Monks, these are the eight rewards of merit, rewards of skillfulness, nourishments of happiness, celestial, resulting in happiness, leading to heaven, leading to what is desirable, pleasurable, & appealing, to welfare & happiness.



Bodhi leaf



"Abhisanda Sutta: Rewards", translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (Legacy Edition), 30 November 2013.

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