SN 55.17

Dutiyamittāmaccasutta

“Ye te, bhikkhave, anukampeyyātha, ye ca sotabbaṁ maññeyyuṁ—mittā vā amaccā vā ñātī vā sālohitā vā—te, bhikkhave, catūsu sotāpattiyaṅgesu samādapetabbā, nivesetabbā, patiṭṭhāpetabbā. Katamesu catūsu? Buddhe aveccappasāde samādapetabbā, nivesetabbā, patiṭṭhāpetabbā— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti.

Friends and Colleagues (2nd)

“Mendicants, those who you have sympathy for, and those worth listening to—friends and colleagues, relatives and family—should be encouraged, supported, and established by you in the four factors of stream-entry. What four? Experiential confidence in the Buddha …

Siyā, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ mahābhūtānaṁ aññathattaṁ—pathavīdhātuyā, āpodhātuyā, tejodhātuyā, vāyodhātuyā—na tveva buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa siyā aññathattaṁ. Tatridaṁ aññathattaṁ—‘so vata buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato ariyasāvako nirayaṁ vā tiracchānayoniṁ vā pettivisayaṁ vā upapajjissatī’ti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. “Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantesu sīlesu samādapetabbā, nivesetabbā, patiṭṭhāpetabbā akhaṇḍesu …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikesu. Siyā, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ mahābhūtānaṁ aññathattaṁ—pathavīdhātuyā, āpodhātuyā, tejodhātuyā, vāyodhātuyā—na tveva ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa siyā aññathattaṁ. Tatridaṁ aññathattaṁ—‘so vata ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato ariyasāvako nirayaṁ vā tiracchānayoniṁ vā pettivisayaṁ vā upapajjissatī’ti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Ye te, bhikkhave, anukampeyyātha, ye ca sotabbaṁ maññeyyuṁ—mittā vā amaccā vā ñātī vā sālohitā vā—te, bhikkhave, imesu catūsu sotāpattiyaṅgesu samādapetabbā, nivesetabbā, patiṭṭhāpetabbā”ti.

There might be change in the four principal states—the elements of earth, water, fire, and air—but a noble disciple with experiential confidence in the Buddha would never change. In this context, ‘change’ means that such a noble disciple will be reborn in hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm: this is quite impossible. Experiential confidence in the teaching … Experiential confidence in the Saṅgha … The ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. There might be change in the four principal states—the elements of earth, water, fire, and air—but a noble disciple with the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones would never change. In this context, ‘change’ means that such a noble disciple will be reborn in hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm: this is quite impossible. Those who you have sympathy for, and those worth listening to—friends and colleagues, relatives and family—should be encouraged, supported, and established by you in these four factors of stream-entry.”