Five Merits of the Virtuous and Wise Sutra

The following is my translation of  the Five Merits of the Virtuous and Wise Sutra from the Agamas. The Agamas are the Chinese translation of a Sanskrit recension of the Buddha’s pre-Mahayana teachings. I have not yet located where it is in the Taisho Tripitika, but when I do I will make a note of it here. This particular sutra was recommended by the founder of Won Buddhism, Pak Chung-bin (1891-1943; aka the Great Master Sot’aesan) for those beginning their study and practice of Buddhism as it deals with the law of cause and effect on a very simple level. It is the same kind of discourse as the Culakammavibhanga Sutta (The Shorter Exposition of Action) in the Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, in that it teaches a fairly straightforward correspondence between making good causes and various beneficial effects. One key difference is that here the good cause is not just wholesome conduct but the expounding of the Dharma that inspires others to good conduct. If anyone reading this wishes to gain a deeper understanding of what the Buddha taught about karma please see my article “Intentional Actions and their Consequences” and also the rest of the articles on the page for Karma and Rebirth. Now here is the sutra:

Five Merits of the Virtuous and Wise Sutra

Thus I have heard. At one time, the Buddha was staying at Shravasti in the Jeta Grove within Anathapindika’s Park. There, he spoke to all the monks:

“By preaching the Dharma a person of virtue and wisdom gains five merits. ‘What are the five merits?’ you may ask. The first is attaining longevity, once born into this world. The second is attaining great wealth, abundant riches, and many treasures, once born into this world. The third is attaining an incomparably noble appearance, once born into this world. The fourth is attaining an honorable reputation heard far and wide, once born into this world. The fifth is attaining intelligence and great wisdom, once born into this world.

“What causes the virtuous and wise who expound the Dharma to attain the merit of longevity? When they expounded the Dharma in previous lives, their words were good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, and their meaning was perfectly complete. Anyone who heard this teaching returned home a person who detested killing. Even those who had been casually engaged in the destruction of life up until the previous day, ceased to kill after listening to the Dharma taught by these virtuous people. This is how they attain the merit of longevity in this life.

“What causes those who expound the Dharma to attain the merit of great wealth, abundant riches, and many treasures? When they expounded the Dharma in previous lives, their words were good in the beginning, middle, and end, and their meaning was whole and perfect. Anyone who heard this teaching returned home a person who detested stealing. Even those who had been engaged in stealing up until the previous day, ceased to steal and began to practice generosity instead after listening to the Dharma taught by these virtuous people. This is how they attain the merit of great wealth in this life.

“What causes those who expound the Dharma to attain the merit of an incomparably noble appearance? When they expounded the Dharma in previous lives, their words were good in the beginning, middle, and end, and their meaning was whole and perfect. Anyone who heard this teaching returned home a person free of compulsions. Those who listened to the Dharma felt peaceful and tranquil, cultivating a pleasant luminous expression. This is how they attain the merit of an incomparably noble appearance.

“What causes those who expound the Dharma to attain the merit of an honorable reputation heard far and wide? When they expounded the Dharma in previous lives, their words were good in the beginning, middle, and end, and their meaning was whole and perfect. Anyone who heard this teaching returned home free of compulsions. Those who listened to the Dharma began to revere the Buddha, revere the Dharma, and revere the monastic Sangha. This is how they attain the merit of an honorable reputation heard far and wide.

“What causes those who expound the Dharma to attain the merit of intelligence and great wisdom? When they expounded the Dharma in previous lives, their words were good in the beginning, middle, and end, and their meaning was whole and perfect. Anyone who heard this teaching returned home free of compulsions. Those who listened to the Dharma gained an understanding of it’s sublime wisdom. This is how they attain the merit of intelligence and great wisdom.

“The five Dharmas expounded in this sutra are what will enable a person to attain these merits.”

All the monks listened to this sutra and were glad at heart. They rejoiced and paid homage to the Buddha.