36(6)Activity
"Bhikkhus,there are these three bases of meritorious activity.
What three?
The basis of meritorious activity consisting in giving;the basis of meritorious activity consisting in virtuous behavior;and the basis of meritorious activity consisting in meditative development.
(1)“Here,bhikkhus,someone has practiced the basis of meritorious activity consisting in giving to a limited extent;he has
practiced the basis of meritorious activity consisting in virtuous
behavior to a limited extent;but he has not undertaken the basis
of meritorious activity consisting in meditative development.
With the breakup of the body,after death,he is reborn among
humans in an unfavorable condition.
(2)"Someone else has practiced the basis of meritorious activity consisting in giving to a middling extent;he has practiced
the basis of meritorious activity consisting in virtuous behavior to a middling extent;but he has not undertaken the basis
of meritorious activity consisting in meditative development.
With the breakup of the body,after death,he is reborn among
humans in a favorable condition.
(3)"Someone else has practiced the basis of meritorious activity consisting in giving to a superior extent;he has practiced the basis of meritorious activity consisting in virtuous behavior [242]to a superior extent;but he has not undertaken the basis of meritorious activity consisting in meditative development.
With the breakup of the body,after death,he is reborn in companionship with the devas [ruled by]the four great kings.
There the four great kings,who had practiced superlatively the basis of meritorious activity consisting in giving and the basis of meritorious activity consisting in virtuous behavior surpass the devas[ruled by]the four great kings in ten respects:in celestial life span,celestial beauty,celestial happiness,celestial glory,and celestial authority;and in celestial forms,sounds,odors,tastes,and tactile objects.
(4)"Someone else has practiced the basis of meritorious activity consisting in giving to a superior extent;he has practiced
the basis of meritorious activity consisting in virtuous behavior to a superior extent;but he has not undertaken the basis
of meritorious activity consisting in meditative development.
With the breakup of the body,after death,he is reborn in companionship with the Tavatimsa devas.
There Sakka,ruler of the
devas,who had practiced superlatively the basis of meritorious
activity consisting in giving and the basis of meritorious activity
consisting in virtuous behavior,surpasses the Tavatimsa devas
in ten respects:in celestial life span...and tactile objects.
(5)"Someone else has practiced the basis of meritorious activity consisting in giving to a superior extent;he has practiced the
basis of meritorious activity consisting in virtuous behavior to
a superior extent;but he has not undertaken the basis of meritorious activity consisting in meditative development.
With the
breakup of the body,after death,he is reborn in companionship
with the Yāma devas.
There the young deva Suyāma,who had
practiced superlatively the basis of meritorious activity consisting in giving and the basis of meritorious activity consisting in
virtuous behavior,surpasses the Yāma devas in ten respects:
in celestial life span...and tactile objects.
(6)"Someone else has practiced the basis of meritorious activity consisting in giving to a superior extent;he has practiced the
basis of meritorious activity consisting in virtuous behavior to
a superior extent;but he has not undertaken the basis of meritorious activity consisting in meditative development.
With the
breakup of the body,after death,he is reborn in companionship
with the Tusita devas.
[243]There the young deva Santusita,
who had practiced superlatively the basis of meritorious activity consisting in giving and the basis of meritorious activity
consisting in virtuous behavior,surpasses the Tusita devas in
ten respects:in celestial life span...and tactile objects.
(7)"Someone else has practiced the basis of meritorious activity consisting in giving to a superior extent;he has practiced the basis of meritorious activity consisting in virtuous behavior toa superior extent;but he has not undertaken the basis of meritorious activity consisting in meditative development.
With thebreakup of the body,after death,he is reborn in companionship with the devas who delight in creation.
There the young deva Sunimmita,who had practiced superlatively the basis of meritorious activity consisting in giving and the basis of meritorious activity consisting in virtuous behavior,surpasses thedevas who delight in creation in ten respects:in celestial life span...and tactile objects.
(8)"Someone else has practiced the basis of meritorious activity consistingin giving to a superior extent;he has practiced the basis of meritorious activity consisting in virtuous behavior toa superior extent;but he has not undertaken the basis of meritorious activity consisting in meditative development.
With the breakup of the body,after death,he is reborn in companionship with the devas who control what is created by others.
There the young deva Vasavatti,who had practiced superlatively the basis of meritorious activity consisting in giving and the basis of meritorious activity consisting in virtuous behavior,surpasses the devas who control what is created by others in ten respects:.in celestial life span,celestial beauty,celestial happiness,celestial glory,and celestial authority;and in celestial forms,sounds,
odors,tastes,and tactile objects.
"These,bhikkhus,are the three bases of meritorious activity."