Aṅguttara Nikāya
VIII. Aṭṭhaka Nipāta
III: Gahapati-Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Eights
III: On Householders
Sutta 26
Jivaka Komarabhacca Suttaɱ
Jivaka Komarabhacca
Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.
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[1][than][bodh] Once the Exalted One was dwelling at Rājagaha in Jivaka's Mango Grove.
There Jivaka Komarabhacca[1] came and visited him and,
after saluting, sat down at one side.
There, addressing the Exalted One, he said:
'Lord, how becomes a man a lay-disciple?'
'When, Jivaka, he has found refuge in the Buddha
found refuge in Dhamma,
found refuge in the Order,
then he is a lay-disciple.'
■
'Lord, how is a lay-disciple virtuous?'
'When, Jivaka, a lay-disciple abstains from taking life;
abstains from taking what is not given him;
abstains from lustful and evil indulgences;
abstains from lying;
and abstains from spirituous intoxicants,
the cause of indolence
— then a lay-disciple is virtuous.'
■
'Lord, how does a lay-disciple
help on his own welfare,
but not that of another?'
'When, Jivaka, he has achieved faith for self,
but strives not to compass faith in another;
has achieved virtue for self,
but strives not to compass virtue in another;
has achieved himself renunciation,
but strives not to compass renunciation in another;
longs himself to see the monks,
but strives not for this sight for another;
longs himself to hear Saddhamma,
but strives not for this hearing for another;
is mindful himself of Dhamma he has heard,
but strives not that another should be mindful of it;
reflects himself upon the meaning
of Dhamma he is mindful of,
but strives not for another
to reflect thereon;
when he knows himself both the letter and the spirit of Dhamma
and walks in conformity therewith,
but strives not for another so to walk
— then a lay disciple helps on his own welfare,
but not that of another.'
■
'And how, lord, does a lay-disciple
help on both his own welfare
and the welfare of another?'
'When, Jivaka, he has achieved faith for self,
and strives to compass faith in another;
has achieved virtue for self,
and strives to compass virtue in another;
has achieved himself renunciation,
and strives to compass renunciation in another;
longs himself to see the monks,
and strives for this sight for another;
longs himself to hear Saddhamma,
and strives for this hearing for another;
is mindful himself of Dhamma he has heard,
and strives that another should be mindful of it;
reflects himself upon the meaning
of Dhamma he is mindful of,
and strives for another
to reflect thereon;
when he knows himself both the letter and the spirit of Dhamma
and walks in conformity therewith,
and strives for another so to walk
— then a lay disciple helps on his own welfare,
and that of another.'
[1] At A. i, 26 he is called 'the chief of those who cheer mankind.' Comy. A.A. i, 398 observes that he was the son of a prostitute. He studied medicine at Takkasilā and eventualy became the Order's pysician. Cf. D. i, 47; Dial. i, 65 n.; M. i, 368; Vin. i, 71; J. i, 116; D.A. i, 133.
