an.3.42 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Cases

“Bhikkhus, in three cases one may be understood to have faith and confidence. What three? When one desires to see those of virtuous behavior; when one desires to hear the good Dhamma; and when one dwells at home with a mind devoid of the stain of miserliness, freely generous, openhanded, delighting in relinquishment, devoted to charity, delighting in giving and sharing. In these three cases, one may be understood to have faith and confidence.”

One who desires to see the virtuous ones,
who wishes to hear the good Dhamma,
who has removed the stain of miserliness,
is called a person endowed with faith.

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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Three Grounds

“There are three grounds, mendicants, by which a person with faith and confidence can be known.
What three?
They like to see ethical people. They like to hear the true teaching. And they live at home rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.
These are the three grounds by which a person with faith and confidence can be known.
They like to see ethical people;
they want to hear the true teaching;
they’ve driven out the stain of stinginess:
that’s who’s called a person of faith.”