..续本文上一页e deities of Brahmaa”s realm, and he wishes to be reborn among them. He sets his mind on that thought, keeps to it firmly and fosters it. This thought of his aims at what is low, and if not developed to what is higher, it will lead him to just such a rebirth. After his death, when his body breaks up, he will be reborn among the deities of Brahmaa”s realm. This, however, I declare only for the virtuous, not for the unvirtuous; only for one free of lust, not for one who is lustful.[10] Because he is without lust, monks, the heart”s desire of the virtuous succeeds.

　　"These, monks, are the eight kinds of rebirth on account of giving."

　　— AN 8.35

　　4. WAYS OF MERITORIOUS ACTION

　　"There are, monks, three ways of making merit.[11] What three

　　"There are ways of making merit by giving, by (practicing) virtue and by meditation.[12]

　　"There is a person who, only to a small degree, has practiced the making of merit by giving; and, likewise to a small degree, he has practiced the making of merit by virtue; but the making of merit by meditation he has not undertaken.[13] This one, after death, when his body breaks up, will be reborn among humans in an ill-favored condition.[14]

　　"Another person has practiced to a high degree the making of merit by giving as well as by virtue; but the making of merit by meditation he has not undertaken. Such a one, after death, when his body breaks up, will be reborn among humans in favorable conditions.

　　"Or he will be reborn in the company of the deities of the Four Great Divine Kings. And there, the Four Great Divine Kings, who had practiced to a very high degree the making of merit by giving and by virtue, surpass the deities of their realm in ten things: in pine life span, pine beauty, pine happiness, pine power, pine sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches.

　　"Or he will be reborn in the company of the Thirty-three gods. And there, Sakka king of gods, who had practiced to a very high degree the making of merit by giving and virtue, surpasses...

　　(The same statements are made for rebirth among the Yaama gods, Tusita gods, the gods of creative joy, the gods controlling others” creations, and for the respective rulers of these realms.)

　　"These, monks, are the three ways of making merit."

　　— AN 8.36

　　5. OUTCOMES OF MERIT

　　"There are, monks, eight outcomes of merit and goodness which are the nourishment of happiness and are very precious; they yield happiness, lead heavenwards, and bring about what is desirable, pleasing, agreeable and enjoyable. What are these eight

　　"Herein, monks, a noble disciple goes for refuge to the Buddha. This is the first outcome of merit and goodness which is a nourishment of happiness and is very precious; it yields happiness, leads heavenwards and brings about what is desirable, pleasing, agreeable and enjoyable.

　　"There is further a noble disciple who has gone for refuge to the Teaching... to the Order of Monks. This is the second outcome... the third outcome...

　　"There are further, monks, these five gifts, known from early times, known for long, known by tradition, ancient and unrejected; not rejected before, they are not rejected now and will not be rejected in future; they are unrepudiated by intelligent recluses and brahmans. What are these five gifts

　　"Herein, monks, a noble disciple gives up the taking of life and abstains from it. By abstaining from the taking of life, the noble disciple gives to immeasurable beings freedom from fear, gives to them freedom from hostility, gives to them freedom from oppression. By giving to immeasurable beings freedom from fear, hostility and oppression, he himself will enjoy immeasurable freedom from fear, hostility, and oppression. This is the first of those great gifts and the fourth of the outcomes of merit.

　　"Further, monks, a n…

《Anguttara Nikaya:The Discourse Collection in Numerical Order》全文未完，请进入下页继续阅读…