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- Anguttara Nikaya VIII.26
- Jivaka Sutta
- To Jivaka (On Being a Lay Follower)
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying in Rajagaha,
at Jivaka's Mango Grove. Then Jivaka Komarabhacca went to the Blessed One and, on arrival,
having bowed down, sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One:
"Venerable sir, to what extent is one a lay follower?"
"Jivaka, when one has gone to the Buddha for refuge, has gone to the Dhamma for
refuge, and has gone to the Sangha for refuge, then to that extent is one a lay
follower."
"And to what extent, venerable sir, is one a virtuous lay follower?"
"Jivaka, when one abstains from taking life, from stealing, from sexual
misconduct, from lying, and from fermented & distilled drinks that lead to
heedlessness, then to that extent is one a virtuous lay follower."
"And to what extent, venerable sir, is one a lay follower who practices for his
own benefit but not that of others?"
"Jivaka, when a lay follower himself is consummate in conviction but does not
encourage others in the consummation of conviction; when he himself is consummate in
virtue but does not encourage others in the consummation of virtue; when he himself is
consummate in generosity but does not encourage others in the consummation of generosity;
when he himself desires to see the monks but does not encourage others to see the monks;
when he himself wants to hear the true Dhamma but does not encourage others to hear the
true Dhamma; when he himself habitually remembers the Dhamma he has heard but does not
encourage others to remember the Dhamma they have heard; when he himself explores the
meaning of the Dhamma he has heard but does not encourage others to explore the meaning of
the Dhamma they have heard; when he himself, knowing both the Dhamma & its meaning,
practices the Dhamma in line with the Dhamma, but does not encourage others to practice
the Dhamma in line with the Dhamma: then to that extent he is a lay follower who practices
for his own benefit but not for the benefit of others."
"And to what extent, venerable sir, is one a lay follower who practices both for
his own benefit & the benefit of others?"
"Jivaka, when a lay follower himself is consummate in conviction and encourages
others in the consummation of conviction; when he himself is consummate in virtue and
encourages others in the consummation of virtue; when he himself is consummate in
generosity and encourages others in the consummation of generosity; when he himself
desires to see the monks and encourages others to see the monks; when he himself wants to
hear the true Dhamma and encourages others to hear the true Dhamma; when he himself
habitually remembers the Dhamma he has heard and encourages others to remember the Dhamma
they have heard; when he himself explores the meaning of the Dhamma he has heard and
encourages others to explore the meaning of the Dhamma they have heard; when he himself,
knowing both the Dhamma & its meaning, practices the Dhamma in line with the Dhamma
and encourages others to practice the Dhamma in line with the Dhamma: then to that extent
he is a lay follower who practices both for his own benefit and for the benefit of
others."