Transforming Traits: The Key to Stream-Entry in Buddhism, Linked Discourse 55.13

Transforming Traits: The Key to Stream-Entry in Buddhism, Linked Discourse 55.13

At one time the venerables Ananda and Sariputta were staying near Savatthi in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s monastery. 

Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Sariputta came out of retreat, went to Venerable Ananda, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to him:

“Friend, how many things do people have to give up and how many do they have to possess in order for the Buddha to declare that they’re a stream-enterer, not liable to be born in the underworld, bound for awakening?”

“Friend, people have to give up four traits and possess four traits in order for the Buddha to declare that they’re a stream-enterer, not liable to be born in the underworld, bound for awakening.

What are the four traits? 

They don’t have the distrust in the Buddha that causes an unlearned ordinary person to be born in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell; when their body breaks up, after death. And they do have the unshakable confidence in the Buddha that causes a learned noble disciple to be born in a good place, a heavenly realm; when their body breaks up, after death. 

In this way, the Blessed One, Who has broken the bonds, A fully transformed awakened Buddha, Who fully understood behaviors and living according to the knowledge, Who has become good, Knower of the worlds, Supreme guide for those who wish to train, Teacher of gods and humans, Awakened, Blessed.’

They don’t have the distrust in the teaching, dhamma, that causes an unlearned ordinary person to be born in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell; when their body breaks up, after death. And they do have the unshakable confidence in the teaching, dhamma, that causes a learned noble disciple to be born in a good place, a heavenly realm; when their body breaks up, after death. 

‘The teaching is clearly explained by the Buddha, can be experienced right now, independent of time, inviting to come and verified personally, leading to insight, so wise people can personally know it for themselves.

They don’t have the distrust in the (noble) Sangha, a community of Buddha's disciples, that causes an unlearned ordinary person to be born in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell; when their body breaks up, after death. And they do have the unshakable confidence in the (noble) Sangha, a community of Buddha's disciples, that causes a learned noble disciple to be born in a good place, a heavenly realm; when their body breaks up, after death.

‘The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path well, 

The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path straightforwardly, 

The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path step by step, 

The Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples has practicing the path in their daily life, 

That is, the four true pairs, Consist of the eight true persons,

This is one of the Sangha, a community of the Buddha’s disciples.

That is worthy of gifts, Worthy of hospitality, Worthy of offering dedicated to the gods, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’ 

They don’t have the unethical conduct that causes an unlearned ordinary person to be born in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell; when their body breaks up, after death. And they do have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones that causes a learned noble disciple to be born in a good place, a heavenly realm; when their body breaks up, after death. 

Their ethical conduct is loved by the noble ones, unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unblemished, liberating, praised by wise people, untarnished, and leading to samadhi. 

People have to give up these four traits and possess these four traits in order for the Buddha to declare that they’re a stream-enterer, not liable to be born in the underworld, bound for awakening.”

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