Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

subjects of Meditation 151Hearers of the Blessed One is of dutiful conduct. This Community of Hearersof the Blessed One, namely, the four pairs of men and the eight kinds of individuals,is worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthyof reverential salutation, is the incomparable field of merit of the world. 1"The Community of Hearers of the Blessed One is of good conduct":The Community of Hearers of the Blessed One is of "good conduct", becauseit follows the good word. It is of "good conduct" and "upright conduct",because it benefits itself and others. It is of "good conduct" and "uprightconduct" because it has no enemy. It is of "good conduct" and "uprightconduct" because it avoids the two extremes and takes the mean. It is of"good conduct" and "upright conduct", because it is free from hypocrisy. Itis "good conduct", because it is free from wickedness and crookedness andfree from unclean action of body and speech."Is of righteous conduct": It is of "righteous conduct" because it followsthe Noble Eightfold Path. And again, "righteous" is an appellation of extinction,Nibbdna. It is of "righteous", "good conduct", because it follows theNoble Eightfold Path and reaches extinction, Nibbdna. It is of "righteous","good conduct", because it follows the Four Noble Truths taught by theBuddha."Is of dutiful conduct": It is of "dutiful conduct" because it is perfectin the practice of unity in the Community of Bhikkhus. It is of "dutifulconduct", because, seeing the great fruit of virtue and the increase of virtue:which follow the practice of unity, it observes this (unity)."The four pairs of men and the eight kinds of individuals": The Pathand the Fruit of Stream-entrance are regarded as the attainments of a pair ofmen. The Path and the Fruit of Once-returning are regarded as the attainmentof a pair of men. The Path and Fruit of Non-returning are regarded as theattainments of a pair of men. The Path and Fruit of the Consummate Oneare regarded as the attainments of a pair of men. These are called "the fourpairs of men"."The eight kinds of individuals" are they who gain the four Paths andthe four Fruits. These are called the eight kinds of individuals. Becausethe Community of Bhikkhus dwells in these Paths and Fruits, It is said to consistof the four pairs of men. Those who dwell in the four Paths and the fourFruits are called the eight kinds of individuals."Hearers": It (the Community of hearers) accomplishes after havingheard. Therefore it is called (the Community of) hearers."Community": The congregation of saints.It is worthy of hospitality,S. II, 69; A, I, 208; D. Ill, 5: Supatipanno Bhagavato sdvaka-samgho uju-patipannoBhagavato sdvaka-samgho, hdya-patipanno Bhagavato sdvaka-samgho, sdmici-patipannoBhagavato sdvaka-samgho, yadidarh cattdri purisayugdni attha-purisa-puggald, esa Bhagavatosdvaka-samgho dhuneyyo pdhuneyyo dakkhineyyo anjali-karanlyo anuttaram punnakkhettamlokassdti.