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Anguttara Nikaya V.43

Ittha Sutta

What is Welcome

Then Anathapindika the householder went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there the Blessed One said to him: "These five things, householder, are welcome, agreeable, pleasant, & hard to obtain in the world. Which five?

"Long life is welcome, agreeable, pleasant, & hard to obtain in the world.

"Beauty is welcome, agreeable, pleasant, & hard to obtain in the world.

"Happiness is welcome, agreeable, pleasant, & hard to obtain in the world.

"Status is welcome, agreeable, pleasant, & hard to obtain in the world.

"Rebirth in heaven is welcome, agreeable, pleasant, & hard to obtain in the world.

"Now, I tell you, these five things are not to be obtained by reason of prayers or wishes. If they were to be obtained by reason of prayers or wishes, who here would lack them? It's not fitting for the noble disciple who desires long life to pray for it or to delight in doing so. Instead, the noble disciple who desires long life should follow the path of practice leading to long life. In so doing, he will attain long life, either human or divine.

"It's not fitting for the noble disciple who desires beauty to pray for it or to delight in doing so. Instead, the noble disciple who desires beauty should follow the path of practice leading to beauty. In so doing, he will attain beauty, either human or divine.

"It's not fitting for the noble disciple who desires happiness to pray for it or to delight in doing so. Instead, the noble disciple who desires happiness should follow the path of practice leading to happiness. In so doing, he will attain happiness, either human or divine.

"It's not fitting for the noble disciple who desires status to pray for it or to delight in doing so. Instead, the noble disciple who desires status should follow the path of practice leading to status. In so doing, he will attain status, either human or divine.

"It's not fitting for the noble disciple who desires rebirth in heaven to pray for it or to delight in doing so. Instead, the noble disciple who desires rebirth in heaven should follow the path of practice leading to rebirth in heaven. In so doing, he will attain rebirth in heaven."

Long life, beauty, status, honor,
    heaven, high birth:
To those who delight
    in aspiring for these things
    in great measure, continuously,
the wise praise heedfulness
    in making merit.
The wise person, heedful,
    acquires a two-fold welfare:
    welfare in this life &
    welfare in the next.
By breaking through to his welfare
    he's called prudent,
        wise.

Source: ATI - For Free Distribution Only, as a Gift of Dhamma.

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The Dhamma of the Blessed One by Ayya Khema