76(6)Accomplishments(2)
"Bhikkhus,there are these eight accomplishments.
Accomplishment in initiative,accomplishment in protection,good friendship,balanced living,accomplishment in faith,accomplishment in virtuous behavior,accomplishment in generosity,and accomplishment in wisdom.
(1)"And what is accomplishment in initiative?
Here,whatever may be the means by which a clansman earns his living whether by farming,trade,raising cattle,archery,government
service,or by some other craft [323]—he is skillful and diligent;he possesses sound judgment about it in order to carry
out and arrange it properly.
This is called accomplishment in initiative.
(2)"And what is accomplishment in protection?
Here,a clansman sets up protection and guard over the wealth he has acquired by initiative and energy,amassed by the strength of his arms,earned by the sweat of his brow,righteous wealth righteously gained,thinking:
'How can I prevent kings and thieves from taking it,fire from burning it,floods from sweeping it off,and displeasing heirs from taking it?'
This is called accomplishment in protection.
(3)"And what is good friendship?
Here,in whatever village or town a clansman lives,he associates with household-ers or their sons--whether young but of mature virtue,or old and of mature virtue—who are accomplished in faith,virtuous behavior,generosity,and wisdom;he converses with them and engages in discussions with them.
Insofar as they are accomplished in faith,he emulates them with respect to their accomplishment in faith;insofar as they are accomplished in virtuous behavior,he emulates them with respect to their accomplishment in virtuous behavior;insofar as they are accomplished in generosity,he emulates them with respect to their accomplishment in generosity;insofar as they are accomplished in wisdom,he emulates them with respect to their accomplishmen in wisdom.
This is called good friendship.
(4)"And what is balanced living?
Here,a clansman knows his income and expenditures and leads a balanced life,neither too extravagant nor too frugal,[aware]:'
In this way my income will exceed my expenditures rather than the reverse.'
Just as an appraiser or his apprentice,holding up a scale,knows:
'By so much it has dipped down,[324]by so much it has gone up,'
so a clansman knows his income and expenditures and leads a balanced life,neither too extravagant nor too frugal,[aware]:
'In this way my income will exceed my expenditures rather than the reverse.'
"If this clansman has a small income but lives luxuriously,others would say of him:'This clansman eats his wealth just like an eater of figs.'
But if he has a large income but lives sparingly,others would say of him:
'This clansman may even starve himself.'
But it is called balanced living when a clansman knows his income and expenditures and leads a balanced life,neither too extravagant nor too frugal,[aware]:
'Thus my income will exceed my expenditures rather than the reverse.'
This is called balanced living.
(5)"And what is accomplishment in faith?
Here,a clansman is endowed with faith.He places faith in the enlightenment of the Tathāgata thus:
"The Blessed One is an arahant...teacher of devas and humans,the Enlightened One,the Blessed One.'
This is called accomplishment in faith.
(6)"And what is accomplishment in virtuous behavior?
Here, a clansman abstains from the destruction of life,from taking
what is not given,from sexual misconduct,from false speech,
and from liquor,wine,and intoxicants,the basis for heedlessness.
This is called accomplishment in virtuous behavior.
(7)"And what is accomplishment in generosity?
Here,a
clansman dwells at home with a heart devoid of the stain of
miserliness,freely generous,openhanded,delighting in relinquishment,one devoted to charity,delighting in giving and
sharing.
This is called accomplishment in generosity.
(8)"And what is accomplishment in wisdom?
[325I Here,a clansman is wise;he possesses the wisdom that discerns arising
and passing away,which is noble and penetrative and leads to
the complete destruction of suffering.
This is called accomplishment in wisdom.
"These,bhikkhus,are the eight accomplishments."
[The four verses are identical with those in 8:54.]