相应部第 55 相应（Sujato 英译）第 42 阅读页 · SN55.42 · Overflowing Merit (2nd)

Linked Discourses 55.42Linked Discourses 55.425. Overflowing Merit, With Verses5. Overflowing Merit, With Verses

Overflowing Merit (2nd)Overflowing Merit (2nd)“Mendicants, there are these four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurture happiness.“Mendicants, there are these four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurture happiness.What four?What four?

It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha …It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha …the teaching …the teaching …the Saṅgha …the Saṅgha …

Furthermore, a noble disciple lives at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.Furthermore, a noble disciple lives at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.This is the fourth kind of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness.This is the fourth kind of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness.These are the four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurture happiness.These are the four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurture happiness.

When a noble disciple has these four kinds of overflowing merit and goodness, it’s not easy to count how much merit they have by saying thatWhen a noble disciple has these four kinds of overflowing merit and goodness, it’s not easy to count how much merit they have by saying thatthis is the extent of their overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness.this is the extent of their overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness.It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of merit.It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of merit.

There are places where the great rivers—the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—join together and converge.There are places where the great rivers—the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—join together and converge.It’s not easy to count how much water is in such places by sayingIt’s not easy to count how much water is in such places by sayinghow many gallons, how many hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands of gallons there are.how many gallons, how many hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands of gallons there are.

It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of water.It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of water.In the same way, when a noble disciple has these four kinds of overflowing merit and goodness, it’s not easy to count how much merit they have by saying thatIn the same way, when a noble disciple has these four kinds of overflowing merit and goodness, it’s not easy to count how much merit they have by saying thatthis is the extent of their overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness.this is the extent of their overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness.

It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of merit.”It’s simply reckoned as an incalculable, immeasurable, great mass of merit.”That is what the Buddha said.That is what the Buddha said.Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Hosts of people use the rivers,“Hosts of people use the rivers,and though the rivers are many,and though the rivers are many,all reach the great deep, the boundless ocean,all reach the great deep, the boundless ocean,

the cruel sea that’s home to precious gems.the cruel sea that’s home to precious gems.So too, when a person gives food, drink, and clothes;So too, when a person gives food, drink, and clothes;and they’re a giver of beds, seats, and mats—and they’re a giver of beds, seats, and mats—

the streams of merit reach that astute person,the streams of merit reach that astute person,as the rivers bring their waters to the sea.”as the rivers bring their waters to the sea.”