So It Was Said 83

The Book of the Threes

Chapter Four

Five Harbingers

iti83:1 This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

iti83:3 When you have gone to a good place, may you be blessed with good fortune!

iti83:4 When you have been blessed with good fortune, may you become well grounded!’”

iti83:5 When he said this, one of the mendicants said to the Buddha, “Sir, what do the angels reckon to be going to a good place?

iti83:6 What do they reckon to be blessed with good fortune?

iti83:7 What do they reckon to become well grounded?”

iti83:8 “It is human existence, mendicant, that the angels reckon to be going to a good place.

iti83:9 When a human being gains faith in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One, that is what the angels reckon to be blessed with good fortune.

iti83:10 When that faith in the Realized One is settled, rooted, and planted deep; when it’s strong and can’t be shifted by any ascetic or brahmin or angel or Satan or by anyone in the world, that is what the angels reckon to become well grounded.”

iti83:11 The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

iti83:13 ‘Go, worthy sir, from here to a good place, in the company of humans. As a human being, gain supreme faith in the true teaching.

iti83:14 May that faith of yours be settled, with roots planted deep, unfaltering all life long in the true teaching so well proclaimed.

iti83:15 Having given up bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and whatever else is corrupt;

iti83:16 and having done much good, by way of body, speech, and mind, limitless, free of attachments;

iti83:17 then, having made much worldly merit by giving gifts, establish other colleagues in the true teaching, the spiritual life.’

iti83:19 This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.