an.3.20 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Shopkeeper (2)

“Bhikkhus, possessing three factors, a shopkeeper soon attains vast and abundant wealth. What three? Here, a shopkeeper has keen eyes, is responsible, and has benefactors.

(1) “And how, bhikkhus, does a shopkeeper have keen eyes? Here, a shopkeeper knows of an item: ‘If this item is bought at such a price and sold at such a price, it will require this much capital and bring this much profit.’ It is in this way that a shopkeeper has keen eyes.

(2) “And how is a shopkeeper responsible? Here, a shopkeeper is skilled in buying and selling goods. It is in this way that a shopkeeper is responsible.

(3) “And how does a shopkeeper have benefactors? Here, rich, wealthy, affluent householders and householders’ sons know him thus: ‘This good shopkeeper has keen eyes and is responsible; he is able to support his wife and children and pay us back from time to time.’ So they deposit wealth with him, saying: ‘Having earned wealth with this, friend shopkeeper, support your wife and children and pay us back from time to time.’ It is in this way that a shopkeeper has benefactors.

“Possessing these three factors, a shopkeeper soon attains vast and abundant wealth.

“So too, bhikkhus, possessing three qualities, a bhikkhu soon attains vast and abundant wholesome qualities. What three? Here, a bhikkhu has keen eyes, is responsible, and has benefactors.

(1) “And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu have keen eyes? Here, a bhikkhu understands as it really is: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’ It is in this way that a bhikkhu has keen eyes.

(2) “And how is a bhikkhu responsible? Here, a bhikkhu has aroused energy for abandoning unwholesome qualities and acquiring wholesome qualities; he is strong, firm in exertion, not casting off the duty of cultivating wholesome qualities. It is in this way that a bhikkhu is responsible.

(3) “And how does a bhikkhu have benefactors? Here, from time to time a bhikkhu approaches those bhikkhus who are learned, heirs to the heritage, experts on the Dhamma, experts on the discipline, experts on the outlines, and inquires: ‘How is this, Bhante? What is the meaning of this?’ Those venerable ones then disclose to him what has not been disclosed, clear up what is obscure, and dispel his perplexity about numerous perplexing points. It is in this way that a bhikkhu has benefactors.

“Possessing these three qualities, a bhikkhu soon attains vast and abundant wholesome qualities.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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A Shopkeeper (2nd)

“Mendicants, a shopkeeper who has three factors soon acquires great and abundant wealth.
What three?
It’s when a shopkeeper sees clearly, is indefatigable, and has supporters.
And how does a shopkeeper see clearly?
It’s when a shopkeeper knows of a product:
‘This product is bought at this price and is selling at this price. With this much investment, it’ll bring this much profit.’
That’s how a shopkeeper sees clearly.
And how is a shopkeeper indefatigable?
It’s when a shopkeeper is skilled in buying and selling products.
That’s how a shopkeeper is indefatigable.
And how does a shopkeeper have supporters?
It’s when rich, affluent, and wealthy householders or householders’ children know of him:
‘This good shopkeeper sees clearly and is indefatigable. They are capable of providing for their wives and children, and paying us back from time to time.’
They deposit money with the shopkeeper, saying:
‘With this, friend shopkeeper, earn money to raise your wives and children, and pay us back from time to time.’
That’s how a shopkeeper has supporters.
A shopkeeper who has these three factors soon acquires great and abundant wealth.
In the same way, a mendicant who has three qualities soon acquires great and abundant skillful qualities.
What three?
It’s when a mendicant sees clearly, is indefatigable, and has supporters.
And how does a mendicant see clearly?
It’s when a mendicant truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.
That’s how a mendicant sees clearly.
And how is a mendicant indefatigable?
It’s when a mendicant lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.
That’s how a mendicant is indefatigable.
And how does a mendicant have supporters?
It’s when from time to time a mendicant goes up to those mendicants who are very learned—knowledgeable in the scriptures, who have memorized the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines—and asks them questions:
‘Why, sir, does it say this? What does that mean?’
Those venerables clarify what is unclear, reveal what is obscure, and dispel doubt regarding the many doubtful matters.
That’s how a mendicant has supporters.
A mendicant who has these three qualities soon acquires great and abundant skillful qualities.”


The first recitation section is finished.