                           VYAGGHAPAJJA SUTTA
                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                                          
                        (Conditions of Welfare)
                                          
                                          
                                          
  
      In this sutta, the Buddha instructs rich householders how to 
  preserve and increase their prosperity and how to avoid loss of 
  wealth. Wealth alone, however, does not make a complete man nor a 
  harmonious society. Possession of wealth all too often multiplies 
  man's desires, and he is ever in the pursuit of amassing more wealth 
  and power. This unrestrained craving, however, leaves him dissatisfied 
  and stifles his inner growth. It creates conflict and disharmony in 
  society through the resentment of the underprivileged who feel 
  themselves exploited by the effects of unrestrained craving.
  
      Therefore the Buddha follows up on his advice on material welfare 
  with four essential conditions for spiritual welfare: confidence (in 
  the Master's enlightenment), virtue, liberality and wisdom. These four 
  will instill in man a sense of higher values. He will then not only 
  pursue his own material concern, but also be aware of his duty towards 
  society. To mention only one of the implications: a wisely and 
  generously employed liberality will reduce tensions and conflicts in 
  society. Thus the observing of these conditions of material and 
  spiritual welfare will make for an ideal citizen in an ideal society.
  
  
                                  *  *  *
  
  
      Thus have I heard. Once the Exalted One was dwelling amongst the 
  Koliyans,<1> in their market town named Kakkarapatta. Then Dighajanu,<2> 
  a Koliyan, approached the Exalted One, respectfully saluted Him 
  and sat on one side. Thus seated, he addressed the Exalted One as 
  follows:
  
      "We, Lord, are laymen who enjoy worldly pleasure. We lead a life 
  encumbered by wife and children. We use sandalwood of Kasi. We deck 
  ourselves with garlands, perfume and unguents. We use gold and silver. 
  To those like us, O Lord, let the Exalted One preach the Dhamma, teach 
  those things that lead to weal and happiness in this life and to weal 
  and happiness in future life."
  
  
  
  Conditions of Worldly Progress
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Four conditions, Vyagghapajja,<3> conduce to a householder's weal 
  and happiness in this very life. Which four?
  
      The accomplishment of persistent effort (//utthana-sampada//), the 
  accomplishment of watchfulness (//arakkha-sampada//), good friendship 
  (//kalyanamittata//) and balanced livelihood (//sama-jivikata//).
  
      What is the accomplishment of persistent effort?
      
      Herein, Vyagghapajja, by whatsoever activity a householder earns 
  his living, whether by farming, by trading, by rearing cattle, by 
  archery, by service under the king, or by any other kind of craft -- 
  at that he becomes skillful and is not lazy. He is endowed with the 
  power of discernment as to the proper ways and means; he is able to 
  carry out and allocate (duties). This is called the accomplishment of 
  persistent effort.
      
      What is the accomplishment of watchfulness?
      
      Herein, Vyagghapajja, whatsoever wealth a householder is in 
  possession of, obtained by dint of effort, collected by strength of 
  arm, by the sweat of his brow, justly acquired by right means -- such 
  he husbands well by guarding and watching so that kings would not 
  seize it, thieves would not steal it, fire would not burn it, water 
  would not carry it away, nor ill-disposed heirs remove it. This is the 
  accomplishment of watchfulness.
      
      What is good friendship?
      
      Herein, Vyagghapajja, in whatsoever village or market town a 
  householder dwells, he associates, converses, engages in discussions 
  with householders or householders' sons, whether young and highly 
  cultured or old and highly cultured, full of faith (//saddha//),<4> 
  full of virtue (//sila//), full of charity (//caga//), full of wisdom 
  (//panna//). He acts in accordance with the faith of the faithful, 
  with the virtue of the virtuous, with the charity of the charitable, 
  with the wisdom of the wise. This is called good friendship.
      
      What is balanced livelihood?
      
      Herein, Vyagghapajja, a householder knowing his income and 
  expenses leads a balanced life, neither extravagant nor miserly, 
  knowing that thus his income will stand in excess of his expenses, but 
  not his expenses in excess of his income.
      
      Just as the goldsmith,<5> or an apprentice of his, knows, on 
  holding up a balance, that by so much it has dipped down, by so much 
  it has tilted up; even so a householder, knowing his income and 
  expenses leads a balanced life, neither extravagant nor miserly, 
  knowing that thus his income will stand in excess of his expenses, but 
  not his expenses in excess of his income.
  
      If, Vyagghapajja, a householder with little income were to lead an 
  extravagant life, there would be those who say -- 'This person enjoys 
  his property like one who eats wood-apple'.<6> If, Vyagghapajja, a 
  householder with a large income were to lead a wretched life, there 
  would be those who say -- 'This person will die like a starveling.'
      
      The wealth thus amassed, Vyagghapajja, has four sources of 
  destruction:
      
      (i) Debauchery, (ii) drunkenness, (iii) gambling, (iv) friendship, 
  companionship and intimacy with evil-doers.
      
      Just as in the case of a great tank with four inlets and outlets, 
  if a man should close the inlets and open the outlets and there should 
  be no adequate rainfall, decrease of water is to be expected in that 
  tank, and not an increase; even so there are four sources for the 
  destruction of amassed wealth -- debauchery, drunkenness, gambling, 
  and friendship, companionship and intimacy with evil-doers.
      
      There are four sources for the increase of amassed wealth: (i) 
  abstinence from debauchery, (ii) abstinence from drunkenness, (iii) 
  non- indulgence in gambling, (iv) friendship, companionship and 
  intimacy with the good.
      
      Just as in the case of a great tank with four inlets and four 
  outlets, if a person were to open the inlets and close the outlets, 
  and there should also be adequate rainfall, an increase in water is 
  certainly to be expected in that tank and not a decrease, even so 
  these four conditions are the sources of increase of amassed wealth.
      
      These four conditions, Vyagghapajja, are conducive to a 
  householder's weal and happiness in this very life.
      
      
      
      
  Conditions of Spiritual Progress
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Four conditions, Vyagghapajja, conduce to a householder's weal and 
  happiness in his future life. Which four?
      
      The accomplishment of faith (//saddha-sampada//), the 
  accomplishment of virtue (//sila-sampada//), the accomplishment of 
  charity (//caga-sampada//) and the accomplishment of wisdom 
  (//panna-sampada//).
      
      What is the accomplishment of faith?
  
      Herein a householder is possessed of faith, he believes in the 
  Enlightenment of the Perfect One (//Tathagata//): Thus, indeed, is 
  that Blessed One: he is the pure one, fully enlightened, endowed with 
  knowledge and conduct, well-gone, the knower of worlds, the 
  incomparable leader of men to be tamed, the teacher of gods and men, 
  all-knowing and blessed. This is called the accomplishment of faith.
      
      What is the accomplishment of virtue?
      
      Herein a householder abstains from killing, staling, sexual 
  misconduct, lying, and from intoxicants that cause infatuation and 
  heedlessness. This is called the accomplishment of virtue.
      
      What is the accomplishment of charity?
      
      Herein a householder dwells at home with heart free from the stain 
  of avarice, devoted to charity, open-handed, delighting in generosity, 
  attending to the needy, delighting in the distribution of alms. This 
  is called the accomplishment of charity.
      
      What is the accomplishment of wisdom?
      
      Herein a householder is wise: he is endowed with wisdom that 
  understands the arising and cessation (of the five aggregates of 
  existence); he is possessed of the noble penetrating insight that 
  leads to the destruction of suffering. This is called the 
  accomplishment of wisdom.
      
      These four conditions, Vyagghapajja, conduce to a householder's 
  weal and happiness in his future life.
            
            "Energetic and heedful in his tasks,
            Wisely administering his wealth,
            He lives a balanced life,
            Protecting what he has amassed.
            
            "Endowed with faith and virtue too,
            Generous he is and free from avarice;
            He ever works to clear the path
            That leads to weal in future life.
            
            "Thus to the layman full of faith,
            By him, so truly named 'Enlightened,'
            These eight conditions have been told
            Which now and after lead to bliss.
      
      
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                 NOTES
                                 ~~~~~
  
  
  
  <1>  The Koliyans were the rivals of the Sakyans. Queen Maha Maya 
       belonged to the Koliyan clan and King Suddhodana to the Sakyan 
       clan.
  
  <2>  Literally, 'long-kneed'
  
  <3>  'Tiger's Path'; he was so called because his ancestors were born 
       on a forest path infested with tigers. Vyagghapajja was 
       Dighajanu's family name
  
  <4>  //Saddha// is not blind faith. It is confidence based on 
       knowledge.
  
  <5>  //Tuladharo//, lit., 'carrier of the scales.'
  
  <6>  //Udambarakhadaka//. The Commentary explains that one who wishes 
       to eat wood-apple shakes the tree, with the result that many 
       fruits fall but only a few are eaten, while a large number are 
       wasted.
  
  
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