Chapter Four

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

“These three individuals, mendicants, arise in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.

What three?

It’s when a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.

He proclaims a teaching that is good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure.

This is the first individual who arises in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.

Furthermore, it’s when a mendicant is a perfected one, with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment.

They teach Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And they reveal a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure.

This is the second individual who arises in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.

Furthermore, it’s when a disciple of that Teacher is a trainee, a learned practitioner with precepts and observances intact.

They teach Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And they reveal a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure.

This is the third individual who arises in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.

These are the three individuals who arise in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.”

The Buddha spoke this matter.

On this it is said:

“The Teacher is the first, the great seer,

following whom is the evolved disciple,

and then a trainee, a practitioner,

learned, with precepts and observances intact.

These three are first among gods and humans,

beacons proclaiming the teaching!

They fling open the door to freedom from death,

freeing many from yokes.

Following the path so well taught

by the unsurpassed caravan leader,

those who are diligent in the Holy One’s teaching

make an end of suffering in this very life.”

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