The Lesser Chapter · AN 3.41–3.50

AN 3.41 · Present

AN 3.41 · Sammukhībhāvasutta

“Mendicants, when three things are present, a faithful gentleman brims with much merit. What three? When faith is present, when a gift to give is present, and when those worthy of a religious donation are present. When these three things are present, a faithful gentleman brims with much merit.”

“Tiṇṇaṁ, bhikkhave, sammukhībhāvā saddho kulaputto bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavati. Katamesaṁ tiṇṇaṁ? Saddhāya, bhikkhave, sammukhībhāvā saddho kulaputto bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavati. Deyyadhammassa, bhikkhave, sammukhībhāvā saddho kulaputto bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavati. Dakkhiṇeyyānaṁ, bhikkhave, sammukhībhāvā saddho kulaputto bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavati. Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tiṇṇaṁ sammukhībhāvā saddho kulaputto bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavatī”ti.

AN 3.42 · Three Grounds

AN 3.42 · Tiṭhānasutta

“There are three grounds, mendicants, by which a person with faith and confidence can be known. What three? They like to see ethical people. They like to hear the true teaching. And they live at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share. These are the three grounds by which a person with faith and confidence can be known.

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, ṭhānehi saddho pasanno veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Sīlavantānaṁ dassanakāmo hoti, saddhammaṁ sotukāmo hoti, vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi ṭhānehi saddho pasanno veditabbo.

They like to see ethical people;they want to hear the true teaching;they’ve driven out the stain of stinginess:that’s who’s called an individual of faith.”

Dassanakāmo sīlavataṁ,saddhammaṁ sotumicchati;Vinaye maccheramalaṁ,sa ve saddhoti vuccatī”ti.

AN 3.43 · Good Reasons

AN 3.43 · Atthavasasutta

“Mendicants, taking three reasons into consideration provides quite enough motivation to teach Dhamma to another. What three? When the teacher understands the meaning and the teaching. When the audience understands the meaning and the teaching. When both the teacher and the audience understand the meaning and the teaching.

“Tayo, bhikkhave, atthavase sampassamānena alameva paresaṁ dhammaṁ desetuṁ. Katame tayo? Yo dhammaṁ deseti so atthappaṭisaṁvedī ca hoti dhammappaṭisaṁvedī ca. Yo dhammaṁ suṇāti so atthappaṭisaṁvedī ca hoti dhammappaṭisaṁvedī ca. Yo ceva dhammaṁ deseti yo ca dhammaṁ suṇāti ubho atthappaṭisaṁvedino ca honti dhammappaṭisaṁvedino ca.

Taking these three reasons into consideration provides quite enough motivation to teach Dhamma to another.”

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo atthavase sampassamānena alameva paresaṁ dhammaṁ desetun”ti.

AN 3.44 · When Conversation Flows

AN 3.44 · Kathāpavattisutta

“In three situations, mendicants, conversation flows. What three? When the teacher understands the meaning and the teaching. When the audience understands the meaning and the teaching. When both the teacher and the audience understand the meaning and the teaching. These are the three situations in which conversation flows.”

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, ṭhānehi kathā pavattinī hoti. Katamehi tīhi? Yo dhammaṁ deseti so atthappaṭisaṁvedī ca hoti dhammappaṭisaṁvedī ca. Yo dhammaṁ suṇāti so atthappaṭisaṁvedī ca hoti dhammappaṭisaṁvedī ca. Yo ceva dhammaṁ deseti yo ca dhammaṁ suṇāti ubho atthappaṭisaṁvedino ca honti dhammappaṭisaṁvedino ca. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi ṭhānehi kathā pavattinī hotī”ti.

AN 3.45 · Recommended by the Astute

AN 3.45 · Paṇḍitasutta

“Mendicants, these three things are recommended by astute true persons. What three? Giving, going forth, and taking care of your mother and father. These are the three things recommended by astute true persons.

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, paṇḍitapaññattāni sappurisapaññattāni. Katamāni tīṇi? Dānaṁ, bhikkhave, paṇḍitapaññattaṁ sappurisapaññattaṁ. Pabbajjā, bhikkhave, paṇḍitapaññattā sappurisapaññattā. Mātāpitūnaṁ, bhikkhave, upaṭṭhānaṁ paṇḍitapaññattaṁ sappurisapaññattaṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi paṇḍitapaññattāni sappurisapaññattānīti.

The virtuous recommend giving,harmlessness, restraint, and self-control;caring for mother and father,and peaceful spiritual practitioners.

Sabbhi dānaṁ upaññattaṁ,ahiṁsā saṁyamo damo;Mātāpitu upaṭṭhānaṁ,santānaṁ brahmacārinaṁ.

These are the things recommended by the good,which the astute should cultivate.A noble one, having vision,will enjoy a world of grace.”

Sataṁ etāni ṭhānāni,yāni sevetha paṇḍito;Ariyo dassanasampanno,sa lokaṁ bhajate sivan”ti.

AN 3.46 · Ethical

AN 3.46 · Sīlavantasutta

“Mendicants, when ethical renunciates are supported by a town or village, the people there brim with much merit in three ways. What three? By way of body, speech, and mind. When ethical renunciates are supported by a town or village, the people there brim with much merit in these three ways.”

“Yaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavanto pabbajitā gāmaṁ vā nigamaṁ vā upanissāya viharanti. Tattha manussā tīhi ṭhānehi bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavanti. Katamehi tīhi? Kāyena, vācāya, manasā. Yaṁ, bhikkhave, sīlavanto pabbajitā gāmaṁ vā nigamaṁ vā upanissāya viharanti. Tattha manussā imehi tīhi ṭhānehi bahuṁ puññaṁ pasavantī”ti.

AN 3.47 · Characteristics of the Conditioned

AN 3.47 · Saṅkhatalakkhaṇasutta

“Mendicants, the conditioned has these three characteristics. What three? Arising is evident, vanishing is evident, and change while persisting is evident. These are the three characteristics of the conditioned.”

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, saṅkhatassa saṅkhatalakkhaṇāni. Katamāni tīṇi? Uppādo paññāyati, vayo paññāyati, ṭhitassa aññathattaṁ paññāyati. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi saṅkhatassa saṅkhatalakkhaṇānī”ti.

Characteristics of the Unconditioned

Asaṅkhatalakkhaṇasutta

“The unconditioned has these three characteristics. What three? No arising is evident, no vanishing is evident, and no change while persisting is evident. These are the three characteristics of the unconditioned.”

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatassa asaṅkhatalakkhaṇāni. Katamāni tīṇi? Na uppādo paññāyati, na vayo paññāyati, na ṭhitassa aññathattaṁ paññāyati. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi asaṅkhatassa asaṅkhatalakkhaṇānī”ti.

AN 3.48 · The King of Mountains

AN 3.48 · Pabbatarājasutta

“Mendicants, great sal trees grow in three ways supported by the Himalayas, the king of mountains. What three? The branches, leaves, and foliage; the bark and shoots; and the softwood and heartwood. Great sal trees grow in these three ways supported by the Himalayas, the king of mountains.

“Himavantaṁ, bhikkhave, pabbatarājaṁ nissāya mahāsālā tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhanti. Katamāhi tīhi? Sākhāpattapalāsena vaḍḍhanti, tacapapaṭikāya vaḍḍhanti, pheggusārena vaḍḍhanti. Himavantaṁ, bhikkhave, pabbatarājaṁ nissāya mahāsālā imāhi tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhanti.

In the same way, a family grows in three ways supported by a family head with faith. What three? Faith, ethics, and wisdom. A family grows in these three ways supported by a family head with faith.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, saddhaṁ kulapatiṁ nissāya anto jano tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhati. Katamāhi tīhi? Saddhāya vaḍḍhati, sīlena vaḍḍhati, paññāya vaḍḍhati. Saddhaṁ, bhikkhave, kulapatiṁ nissāya anto jano imāhi tīhi vaḍḍhīhi vaḍḍhatīti.

Supported by the rocky mountainin the wilds, the formidable forest,the tree growsto become lord of the forest.

Yathāpi pabbato selo,araññasmiṁ brahāvane;Taṁ rukkhā upanissāya,vaḍḍhante te vanappatī.

So too, when the family headis ethical and faithful,supported by them, they grow:children, partners, and kin,colleagues, relatives,and those dependent for their livelihood.

Tatheva sīlasampannaṁ,saddhaṁ kulapatiṁ idha;Upanissāya vaḍḍhanti,puttadārā ca bandhavā;Amaccā ñātisaṅghā ca,ye cassa anujīvino.

Seeing the ethical conduct of the virtuous,the generosity and good deeds,those who see clearlydo likewise.

Tyāssa sīlavato sīlaṁ,cāgaṁ sucaritāni ca;Passamānānukubbanti,attamatthaṁ vicakkhaṇā.

Having practiced the teaching here,the path that goes to a good place,they delight in the heavenly realm,enjoying all the pleasures they desire.”

Idha dhammaṁ caritvāna,maggaṁ sugatigāminaṁ;Nandino devalokasmiṁ,modanti kāmakāmino”ti.

AN 3.49 · Keen

AN 3.49 · Ātappakaraṇīyasutta

“In three situations, mendicants, you should be keen. What three? You should be keen to prevent bad, unskillful qualities from arising. You should be keen to give rise to skillful qualities. And you should be keen to endure physical pain—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable, life-threatening. In these three situations, you should be keen.

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, ṭhānehi ātappaṁ karaṇīyaṁ. Katamehi tīhi? Anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya ātappaṁ karaṇīyaṁ, anuppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ uppādāya ātappaṁ karaṇīyaṁ, uppannānaṁ sārīrikānaṁ vedanānaṁ dukkhānaṁ tibbānaṁ kharānaṁ kaṭukānaṁ asātānaṁ amanāpānaṁ pāṇaharānaṁ adhivāsanāya ātappaṁ karaṇīyaṁ. Imehi tīhi, bhikkhave, ṭhānehi ātappaṁ karaṇīyaṁ.

It’s a mendicant who is keen to prevent bad, unskillful qualities from arising. They’re keen to give rise to skillful qualities. And they’re keen to endure physical pain—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable, life-threatening. This is called a mendicant who is keen, alert, and mindful so as to rightly make an end of suffering.”

Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya ātappaṁ karoti, anuppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ uppādāya ātappaṁ karoti, uppannānaṁ sārīrikānaṁ vedanānaṁ dukkhānaṁ tibbānaṁ kharānaṁ kaṭukānaṁ asātānaṁ amanāpānaṁ pāṇaharānaṁ adhivāsanāya ātappaṁ karoti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ātāpī nipako sato sammā dukkhassa antakiriyāyā”ti.

AN 3.50 · A Master Thief

AN 3.50 · Mahācorasutta

“Mendicants, a master thief with three factors breaks into houses, plunders wealth, steals from isolated buildings, and commits highway robbery. What three?

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato mahācoro sandhimpi chindati, nillopampi harati, ekāgārikampi karoti, paripanthepi tiṭṭhati. Katamehi tīhi?

A master thief relies on uneven ground, on thick cover, and on the powerful. And how does a master thief rely on uneven ground? It’s when a master thief relies on inaccessible riverlands or rugged mountains. That’s how a master thief relies on uneven ground.

Idha, bhikkhave, mahācoro visamanissito ca hoti, gahananissito ca hoti, balavanissito ca hoti. Kathañca, bhikkhave, mahācoro visamanissito hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, mahācoro nadīviduggaṁ vā nissito hoti pabbatavisamaṁ vā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, mahācoro visamanissito hoti.

And how does a master thief rely on thick cover? It’s when a master thief relies on thick grass, thick trees, a blind spot, or a large forest grove. That’s how a master thief relies on thick cover.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, mahācoro gahananissito hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, mahācoro tiṇagahanaṁ vā nissito hoti, rukkhagahanaṁ vā rodhaṁ vā mahāvanasaṇḍaṁ vā. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, mahācoro gahananissito hoti.

And how does a master thief rely on the powerful? It’s when a master thief relies on rulers or their chief ministers. They think: ‘If anyone accuses me of anything, these rulers or their chief ministers will speak in my defense in the case.’ And that’s exactly what happens. That’s how a master thief relies on the powerful.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, mahācoro balavanissito hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, mahācoro rājānaṁ vā rājamahāmattānaṁ vā nissito hoti. Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘sace maṁ koci kiñci vakkhati, ime me rājāno vā rājamahāmattā vā pariyodhāya atthaṁ bhaṇissantī’ti. Sace naṁ koci kiñci āha, tyāssa rājāno vā rājamahāmattā vā pariyodhāya atthaṁ bhaṇanti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, mahācoro balavanissito hoti.

A master thief with these three factors breaks into houses, plunders wealth, steals from isolated buildings, and commits highway robbery.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tīhi aṅgehi samannāgato mahācoro sandhimpi chindati, nillopampi harati, ekāgārikampi karoti, paripanthepi tiṭṭhati.

In the same way, when a bad mendicant has three factors, they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much wickedness. What three?

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tīhi aṅgehi samannāgato pāpabhikkhu khataṁ upahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, sāvajjo ca hoti sānuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca apuññaṁ pasavati. Katamehi tīhi?

A bad mendicant relies on uneven ground, on thick cover, and on the powerful.

Idha, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu visamanissito ca hoti gahananissito ca balavanissito ca.

And how does a bad mendicant rely on uneven ground? It’s when a bad mendicant has unethical conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. That’s how a bad mendicant relies on uneven ground.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu visamanissito hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu visamena kāyakammena samannāgato hoti, visamena vacīkammena samannāgato hoti, visamena manokammena samannāgato hoti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu visamanissito hoti.

And how does a bad mendicant rely on thick cover? It’s when a bad mendicant has wrong view, he’s attached to an extremist view. That’s how a bad mendicant relies on thick cover.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu gahananissito hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu micchādiṭṭhiko hoti, antaggāhikāya diṭṭhiyā samannāgato hoti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu gahananissito hoti.

And how does a bad mendicant rely on the powerful? It’s when a bad mendicant relies on rulers or their chief ministers. They think: ‘If anyone accuses me of anything, these rulers or their chief ministers will speak in my defense in the case.’ And that’s exactly what happens. That’s how a bad mendicant relies on the powerful.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu balavanissito hoti? Idha, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu rājānaṁ vā rājamahāmattānaṁ vā nissito hoti. Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘sace maṁ koci kiñci vakkhati, ime me rājāno vā rājamahāmattā vā pariyodhāya atthaṁ bhaṇissantī’ti. Sace naṁ koci kiñci āha, tyāssa rājāno vā rājamahāmattā vā pariyodhāya atthaṁ bhaṇanti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu balavanissito hoti.

When a bad mendicant has these three qualities, they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much wickedness.”

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato pāpabhikkhu khataṁ upahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, sāvajjo ca hoti sānuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca apuññaṁ pasavatī”ti.