an.3.19 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Shopkeeper (1)

“Bhikkhus, possessing three factors, a shopkeeper is incapable of acquiring wealth not yet acquired or of increasing wealth already acquired. What three? Here, a shopkeeper does not diligently apply himself to his work in the morning, in the middle of the day, or in the evening. Possessing these three factors, a shopkeeper is incapable of acquiring wealth not yet acquired or of increasing wealth already acquired.

“So too, possessing three factors, a bhikkhu is incapable of achieving a wholesome state not yet attained or of increasing a wholesome state already attained. What three? Here, a bhikkhu does not diligently apply himself to an object of concentration in the morning, in the middle of the day, or in the evening. Possessing these three factors, a bhikkhu is incapable of achieving a wholesome state not yet attained or of increasing a wholesome state already attained.

“Bhikkhus, possessing three factors, a shopkeeper is capable of acquiring wealth not yet acquired and of increasing wealth already acquired. What three? Here, a shopkeeper diligently applies himself to his work in the morning, in the middle of the day, and in the evening. Possessing these three factors, a shopkeeper is capable of acquiring wealth not yet acquired and of increasing wealth already acquired.

“So too, possessing three factors, a bhikkhu is capable of achieving a wholesome state not yet attained and of increasing a wholesome state already attained. What three? Here, a bhikkhu diligently applies himself to an object of concentration in the morning, in the middle of the day, and in the evening. Possessing these three factors, a bhikkhu is capable of achieving a wholesome state not yet attained and of increasing a wholesome state already attained.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

A Shopkeeper (1st)

“Mendicants, a shopkeeper who has three factors is unable to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth they’ve already acquired.
What three?
It’s when a shopkeeper doesn’t carefully apply themselves to their work in the morning, at midday, and in the afternoon.
A shopkeeper who has these three factors is unable to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth they’ve already acquired.
In the same way, a mendicant who has three qualities is unable to acquire more skillful qualities or to increase the skillful qualities they’ve already acquired.
What three?
It’s when a mendicant doesn’t carefully apply themselves to a meditation subject as a foundation of immersion in the morning, at midday, and in the afternoon.
A mendicant who has these three qualities is unable to acquire more skillful qualities or to increase the skillful qualities they’ve already acquired.
A shopkeeper who has three factors is able to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth they’ve already acquired.
What three?
It’s when a shopkeeper carefully applies themselves to their work in the morning, at midday, and in the afternoon.
A shopkeeper who has these three factors is able to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth they’ve already acquired.
In the same way, a mendicant who has three qualities is able to acquire more skillful qualities or to increase the skillful qualities they’ve already acquired.
What three?
It’s when a mendicant carefully applies themselves to a meditation subject as a foundation of immersion in the morning, at midday, and in the afternoon.
A mendicant who has these three qualities is able to acquire more skillful qualities or to increase the skillful qualities they’ve already acquired.”