Gihisāmīcisutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.60

Numbered Discourses 4.60

6. Puññābhisandavagga

6. Overflowing Merit

Gihisāmīcisutta

Lay Practice

Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho anāthapiṇḍikaṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

“Catūhi kho, gahapati, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako gihisāmīcipaṭipadaṁ paṭipanno hoti yasopaṭilābhiniṁ saggasaṁvattanikaṁ.

“Householder, when a noble disciple does four things they are practicing appropriately for a layperson, which brings fame and leads to heaven.

Katamehi catūhi?

What four?

Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paccupaṭṭhito hoti cīvarena, bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paccupaṭṭhito hoti piṇḍapātena, bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paccupaṭṭhito hoti senāsanena, bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paccupaṭṭhito hoti gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena.

It’s when a noble disciple serves the mendicant Saṅgha with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

Imehi kho, gahapati, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako gihisāmīcipaṭipadaṁ paṭipanno hoti yasopaṭilābhiniṁ saggasaṁvattanikanti.

When a noble disciple does these four things they are practicing appropriately for a layperson, which brings fame and leads to heaven.

Gihisāmīcipaṭipadaṁ,

Those who are astute practice the way

paṭipajjanti paṇḍitā;

that’s appropriate for laypeople.

Sammaggate sīlavante,

They provide those who are ethical

cīvarena upaṭṭhitā.

and rightly comported with robes,

Piṇḍapātasayanena,

almsfood, lodgings,

Gilānappaccayena ca;

and supplies for the sick.

Tesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,

Their merit always grows

Sadā puññaṁ pavaḍḍhati;

by day and by night.

Saggañca kamatiṭṭhānaṁ,

They pass on to a place in heaven,

Kammaṁ katvāna bhaddakan”ti.

having done excellent deeds.”

Dasamaṁ.

Puññābhisandavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Dve puññābhisandā dve ca,

saṁvāsā samajīvino;

Suppavāsā sudatto ca,

bhojanaṁ gihisāmicīti.