At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in Jīvaka’s Mango Grove. Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati jīvakambavane. Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, Atha kho jīvako komārabhacco yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho jīvako komārabhacco bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Sir, how is a lay follower defined?” “kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, upāsako hotī”ti?

“Jīvaka, when you’ve gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, “Yato kho, jīvaka, buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti; you’re considered to be a lay follower.” ettāvatā kho, jīvaka, upāsako hotī”ti.

“But how is an ethical lay follower defined?” “Kittāvatā pana, bhante, upāsako sīlavā hotī”ti?

“When a lay follower doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants, “Yato kho, jīvaka, upāsako pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti; they’re considered to be an ethical lay follower.” ettāvatā kho, jīvaka, upāsako sīlavā hotī”ti.

“But how do we define a lay follower who is practicing to benefit themselves, not others?” “Kittāvatā pana, bhante, upāsako attahitāya paṭipanno hoti, no parahitāyā”ti?

“A lay follower is accomplished in faith, but doesn’t encourage others to do the same. They’re accomplished in ethical conduct … they’re accomplished in generosity … they like to see the mendicants … they like to hear the true teaching … they memorize the teachings … they examine the meaning … “Yato kho, jīvaka, upāsako attanāva saddhāsampanno hoti, no paraṁ saddhāsampadāya samādapeti …pe… Understanding the meaning and the teaching, they practice in line with the teaching, but they don’t encourage others to do the same. attanāva atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno hoti, no paraṁ dhammānudhammappaṭipattiyā samādapeti. That’s how we define a lay follower who is practicing to benefit themselves, not others.” Ettāvatā kho, jīvaka, upāsako attahitāya paṭipanno hoti, no parahitāyā”ti.

“But how do we define a lay follower who is practicing to benefit both themselves and others?” “Kittāvatā pana, bhante, upāsako attahitāya ca paṭipanno hoti parahitāya cā”ti?

“A lay follower is accomplished in faith and encourages others to do the same. “Yato kho, jīvaka, upāsako attanā ca saddhāsampanno hoti, parañca saddhāsampadāya samādapeti; They’re accomplished in ethical conduct and encourage others to do the same. attanā ca sīlasampanno hoti, parañca sīlasampadāya samādapeti; They’re accomplished in generosity and encourage others to do the same. attanā ca cāgasampanno hoti, parañca cāgasampadāya samādapeti; They like to see the mendicants and encourage others to do the same. attanā ca bhikkhūnaṁ dassanakāmo hoti, parañca bhikkhūnaṁ dassane samādapeti; They like to hear the true teaching and encourage others to do the same. attanā ca saddhammaṁ sotukāmo hoti, parañca saddhammassavane samādapeti; They readily memorize the teachings they’ve heard and encourage others to do the same. attanā ca sutānaṁ dhammānaṁ dhāraṇajātiko hoti, parañca dhammadhāraṇāya samādapeti; They examine the meaning of the teachings they’ve memorized and encourage others to do the same. attanā ca sutānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthūpaparikkhitā hoti, parañca atthūpaparikkhāya samādapeti; Understanding the meaning and the teaching, they practice in line with the teaching and they encourage others to do the same. attanā ca atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno hoti, parañca dhammānudhammappaṭipattiyā samādapeti. That’s how we define a lay follower who is practicing to benefit both themselves and others.” Ettāvatā kho, jīvaka, upāsako attahitāya ca paṭipanno hoti parahitāya cā”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.