an.4.181 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

A Warrior

“Mendicants, a warrior with four factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and is considered a factor of kingship.
What four?
He’s skilled in the basics, a long-distance shooter, a marksman, one who shatters large objects.
A warrior with these four factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and is considered a factor of kingship.
In the same way, a mendicant with four qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.
What four?
He’s skilled in the basics, a long-distance shooter, a marksman, one who shatters large objects.
And how is a mendicant skilled in the basics?
It’s when a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the code of conduct, conducting themselves well and seeking alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.
That’s how a mendicant is skilled in the basics.
And how is a mendicant a long-distance shooter?
It’s when a mendicant truly sees any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; coarse or fine; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> form—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’
They truly see any kind of feeling …
perception …
choices …
consciousness at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; coarse or fine; inferior or superior; far or near, <em>all</em> consciousness—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’
That’s how a mendicant is a long-distance shooter.
And how is a mendicant a marksman?
It’s when they truly understand: ‘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 is a marksman.
And how does a mendicant shatter large objects?
It’s when a mendicant shatters the great mass of ignorance.
That’s how a mendicant shatters large objects.
A mendicant with these four qualities … is the supreme field of merit for the world.”