• Numbered Discourses 4.34 Aį¹…guttara Nikāya 4.34
  • 4. Situations 4. Cakkavagga

The Best Kinds of Confidence Aggappasādasutta

ā€œMendicants, these four kinds of confidence are the best. ā€œCattārome, bhikkhave, aggappasādā. What four? Katame cattāro?

The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, is said to be the best of all sentient beings—be they footless, with two feet, four feet, or many feet; with form or formless; with perception or without perception or with neither perception nor non-perception. Yāvatā, bhikkhave, sattā apadā vā dvipadā vā catuppadā vā bahuppadā vā rÅ«pino vā arÅ«pino vā saƱƱino vā asaƱƱino vā nevasaƱƱināsaƱƱino vā, tathāgato tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho. Those who have confidence in the Buddha have confidence in the best. Ye, bhikkhave, buddhe pasannā, agge te pasannā. Having confidence in the best, the result is the best. Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

The noble eightfold path is said to be the best of all conditioned things. Yāvatā, bhikkhave, dhammā saį¹…khatā, ariyo aį¹­į¹­haį¹…giko maggo tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati. Those who have confidence in the noble eightfold path have confidence in the best. Ye, bhikkhave, ariye aį¹­į¹­haį¹…gike magge pasannā, agge te pasannā. Having confidence in the best, the result is the best. Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

Fading away is said to be the best of all things whether conditioned or unconditioned. That is, the quelling of vanity, the removing of thirst, the abolishing of clinging, the breaking of the round, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment. Yāvatā, bhikkhave, dhammā saį¹…khatā vā asaį¹…khatā vā, virāgo tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ madanimmadano pipāsavinayo ālayasamugghāto vaį¹­į¹­upacchedo taṇhākkhayo virāgo nirodho nibbānaṁ. Those who have confidence in the teaching of fading away have confidence in the best. Ye, bhikkhave, virāge dhamme pasannā, agge te pasannā. Having confidence in the best, the result is the best. Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

The Saį¹…gha of the Realized One’s disciples is said to be the best of all communities and groups. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Saį¹…gha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world. Yāvatā, bhikkhave, saį¹…ghā vā gaṇā vā, tathāgatasāvakasaį¹…gho tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aį¹­į¹­ha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaį¹…gho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo aƱjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puƱƱakkhettaṁ lokassa. Those who have confidence in the Saį¹…gha have confidence in the best. Ye, bhikkhave, saį¹…ghe pasannā, agge te pasannā. Having confidence in the best, the result is the best. Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

These are the four best kinds of confidence. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro aggappasādāti.

For those who, knowing the best teaching, Aggato ve pasannānaṁ, base their confidence on the best—aggaṁ dhammaṁ vijānataṁ; confident in the best Awakened One, Agge buddhe pasannānaṁ, supremely worthy of a religious donation; dakkhiṇeyye anuttare.

confident in the best teaching, Agge dhamme pasannānaṁ, the bliss of fading and stilling; virāgÅ«pasame sukhe; confident in the best Saį¹…gha, Agge saį¹…ghe pasannānaṁ, the supreme field of merit—puƱƱakkhette anuttare.

giving gifts to the best, Aggasmiṁ dānaṁ dadataṁ, the best of merit grows: aggaṁ puƱƱaṁ pavaįøįøhati; the best lifespan, beauty, Aggaṁ āyu ca vaṇṇo ca, fame, reputation, happiness, and strength. yaso kitti sukhaṁ balaṁ.

An intelligent person gives to the best, Aggassa dātā medhāvÄ«, settled on the best teaching. aggadhammasamāhito; When they become a god or human, DevabhÅ«to manusso vā, they rejoice at reaching the best.ā€ aggappatto pamodatÄ«ā€ti.