The Short Readings

(Khuddakapāṭha, Khuddakanikāya 1)



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8: The Discourse on the Amount of Savings

A man stores his savings in a deep pit close to water (thinking):
“When a duty or need has arisen it will be there to help me,

to free me from a king if slandered, or from molestation
from a thief, or from a debt, or famine, or accident.”

For this kind of help, savings are stored up in the world.
Although it is well stored in a deep pit, close to water,

still, it cannot help him in all things on every occasion,
for perhaps those savings are removed from that place,

or he forgets the signs (telling where they lie),
or nāgas take them away, or yakkhas carry them off,

or the heirs he dislikes extract them unseen,
and when his merit comes to an end all of it will be destroyed.

But that woman or man who through giving, virtue,
restraint, and self-control has well stored up his savings,

(placing them) in a shrine, or in the Sangha, or in an individual, or a guest,
or in his mother or father, also in an elder brother,

those savings are well stored up they follow one, they do not decay.
(Riches) he gives up when he has to leave (this life) but this goes along (with him).

It is not shared with others, no thief carries those savings away,
the wise man should make merit, (for) those savings follow one along.

These savings satisfy every desire of gods and men,
whatever they wish for, through this (merit) they receive all.

A good appearance, a good voice, a good shape, a good form,
sovereignty, and a retinue, through this (merit) they receive all.

A local kingship, an empire, and whatever happiness a Wheel-Rolling (King) has,
also godly kingship in the heavens, through this (merit) they receive all.

Human good fortune, delight in the world of the gods,
even the attainment of Emancipation, through this (merit) they receive all.

With the attainment of (good) friends, devotion to systematic (thought),
there is the power of understanding and freedom, through this (merit) they receive all.

The discriminations, and the liberations, and whatever perfections the disciples have,
Individual Awakening, the Buddhas’ ground, through this (merit) they receive all.

So this is of great benefit, that is to say, the attainment of merit,
therefore the wise and intelligent (always) praise the making of merit.

The Discourse on the Amount of Savings is Finished