Supra-mundane stages, fetters and rebirths
(according to the Sutta Piaka[1])

stage's
"fruit"[2]

abandoned
fetters

rebirth(s)
until suffering's end

stream-enterer

1. identity view
2. doubt
3. ritual attachment

lower
fetters

up to seven more times as
a human or in a heaven

once-returner[3]

once more as
a human

non-returner

4. sensual desire
5. ill will

once more in
a pure abode

arahant

6. material-rebirth lust
7. immaterial-rebirth lust
8. conceit
9. restlessness
10. ignorance

higher
fetters

none

Source: Ñāṇamoli & Bodhi (2001), Middle-Length Discourses, pp. 41-43.

The Velāma Sutta is part of the Anguttara Nikaya (AN 9.20 or 9.2.10). In English, this discourse (Pali: sutta) is referred to as "The Brahmin Velama" discourse.[4] In this discourse, the Buddha instructs highly esteemed householder Anathapindika on the relative merit of various gifts.

Text

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Attitudinal respect

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Recipient worthiness

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Verbal gifts

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Mental gifts

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Context

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Who was Anathapindika

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Absolute versus relative merit

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Include reference to Iti. 1.27 (Ireland, 1999) re: merit-making vs. metta.

Merit versus Nirvana

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Lay Theravada practices for a fortunate rebirth

FAITH (Saddhā) GIVING (Dāna) VIRTUE (Sīla) MIND (Bhāvanā) DISCERNMENT (Paññā)

Buddha ·
Dhamma · Sangha

Charity ·
Almsgiving

5 precepts ·
8 precepts

Mettā ·
Vipassanā

4 Noble Truths ·
3 Characteristics

Based on: Dighajanu Sutta, Velama Sutta, Dhammika Sutta

See also

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  • Related Suttas:

Notes

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  1. ^ See, for instance, the "Snake-Simile Discourse" (MN 22), where the Buddha states:

    'Monks, this Teaching so well proclaimed by me, is plain, open, explicit, free of patchwork. In this Teaching that is so well proclaimed by me and is plain, open, explicit and free of patchwork; for those who are arahants, free of taints, who have accomplished and completed their task, have laid down the burden, achieved their aim, severed the fetters binding to existence, who are liberated by full knowledge, there is no (future) round of existence that can be ascribed to them.... [T]hose monks who have abandoned the five lower fetters will all be reborn spontaneously (in the Pure Abodes) and there they will pass away finally, no more returning from that world.... [T]hose monks who have abandoned three fetters and have reduced greed, hatred and delusion, are all once-returners, and, returning only once to this world, will then make an end of suffering.... [T]hose monks who have abandoned three fetters, are all stream-enterers, no more liable to downfall, assured, and headed for full Enlightenment.' (Nyanaponika, 2006)

  2. ^ The "fruit" (Pali: phala) is the culmination of the "path" (magga). Thus, for example, the "stream-enterer" is the fruit for one on the "stream-entry" path; more specifically, the stream-enterer has abandoned the first three fetters, while one on the path of stream-entry strives to abandon these fetters.
  3. ^ Both the stream-enterer and the once-returner abandon the first three fetters. What distinguishes these stages is that the once-returner additionally attenuates lust, hate and delusion, and will necessarily be reborn only once more.
  4. ^ See, for instance, www.metta.lk (undated), the English text.

Bibliography

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  • Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2005). In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon. Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-491-1.
  • Jootla, Susan Elbaum (1990). The Scale of Good Deeds: The Message of the Velama Sutta (Wheel No. 372). Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 955-24-0083-X.