SN 55.31

Paṭhamapuññābhisandasutta

Sāvatthinidānaṁ. “Cattārome, bhikkhave, puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā. Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Ayaṁ paṭhamo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro.

Overflowing Merit (1st)

At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, there are these four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurture happiness. What four? Firstly, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … This is the first kind of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo …pe… paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhīti. Ayaṁ dutiyo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro.

Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the teaching … This is the second kind of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassāti. Ayaṁ tatiyo puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro.

Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Saṅgha … This is the third kind of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Ayaṁ catuttho puññābhisando kusalābhisando sukhassāhāro. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro puññābhisandā kusalābhisandā sukhassāhārā”ti.

Furthermore, a noble disciple’s ethical conduct is loved by the noble ones, unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to immersion. 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.”