Dutiyahatthakasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.24

Numbered Discourses 8.24

3. Gahapativagga

3. Householders

Dutiyahatthakasutta

With Hatthaka (2nd)

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā āḷaviyaṁ viharati aggāḷave cetiye.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Āḷavī, at Āḷavī’s premier shrine.

Atha kho hatthako āḷavako pañcamattehi upāsakasatehi parivuto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī, escorted by around five hundred lay followers, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to Hatthaka:

“mahatī kho tyāyaṁ, hatthaka, parisā.

“Hatthaka, you have a large congregation.

Kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, hatthaka, imaṁ mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgaṇhāsī”ti?

How do you bring together such a large congregation?”

“Yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā desitāni cattāri saṅgahavatthūni, tehāhaṁ imaṁ mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgaṇhāmi.

“Sir, I bring together such a large congregation by using the four ways of being inclusive as taught by the Buddha.

Ahaṁ, bhante, yaṁ jānāmi:

When I know that they

‘ayaṁ dānena saṅgahetabbo’ti, taṁ dānena saṅgaṇhāmi;

can be included by a gift, I include them by giving a gift.

yaṁ jānāmi:

When I know that they

‘ayaṁ peyyavajjena saṅgahetabbo’ti, taṁ peyyavajjena saṅgaṇhāmi;

can be included by kindly words, I include them by kindly words.

yaṁ jānāmi:

When I know that they

‘ayaṁ atthacariyāya saṅgahetabbo’ti, taṁ atthacariyāya saṅgaṇhāmi;

can be included by taking care of them, I include them by caring for them.

yaṁ jānāmi:

When I know that they

‘ayaṁ samānattatāya saṅgahetabbo’ti, taṁ samānattatāya saṅgaṇhāmi.

can be included by equality, I include them by treating them equally.

Saṁvijjanti kho pana me, bhante, kule bhogā.

But also, worthy sir, my family is wealthy.

Daliddassa kho no tathā sotabbaṁ maññantī”ti.

They wouldn’t think that a poor person was worth listening to in the same way.”

“Sādhu sādhu, hatthaka.

“Good, good, Hatthaka!

Yoni kho tyāyaṁ, hatthaka, mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgahetuṁ.

This is the right way to bring together a large congregation.

Ye hi keci, hatthaka, atītamaddhānaṁ mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgahesuṁ, sabbe te imeheva catūhi saṅgahavatthūhi mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgahesuṁ.

Whether in the past, future, or present, all those who have brought together a large congregation have done so by using these four ways of being inclusive.”

Yepi hi keci, hatthaka, anāgatamaddhānaṁ mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgaṇhissanti, sabbe te imeheva catūhi saṅgahavatthūhi mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgaṇhissanti.

Yepi hi keci, hatthaka, etarahi mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgaṇhanti, sabbe te imeheva catūhi saṅgahavatthūhi mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgaṇhantī”ti.

Atha kho hatthako āḷavako bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassito samādapito samuttejito sampahaṁsito uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

Then the Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired Hatthaka of Āḷavī with a Dhamma talk, after which he got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

Atha kho bhagavā acirapakkante hatthake āḷavake bhikkhū āmantesi:

Then, not long after Hatthaka had left, the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

“aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgataṁ hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ dhāretha.

“Mendicants, you should remember the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī as someone who has eight amazing and incredible qualities.

Katamehi aṭṭhahi?

What eight?

Saddho, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako;

He’s faithful,

sīlavā, bhikkhave …pe…

ethical,

hirīmā …

conscientious,

ottappī …

prudent,

bahussuto …

learned,

cāgavā …

generous,

paññavā, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako;

wise,

appiccho, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako.

and has few wishes.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgataṁ hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ dhārethā”ti.

You should remember the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī as someone who possesses these eight amazing and incredible qualities.”

Catutthaṁ.