Universes may implode,
but a Stream-Winner is Safe!
Once in
Savatthi the Blessed
Buddha said this:
Bhikkhus, those for whom you have sympathy,
and who you think should be
respected,
whether friends or colleagues, relatives or associates, these you should try
to explain,
convince, and establish in these
four factors of
stream-entry. What four?
You should explain, convince, and establish
them in Faith
in the Three Jewels
thus:
Worthy, honourable and perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha!
Consummated in all...
Perfectly formulated is the
Dhamma,
visible right here and now, immediately effective...
Perfectly training is this
Noble
Sangha
community of the Buddha's Noble disciples...
You should explain, convince, and establish
them in the saving purity of Morality thus:
Any
Noble possesses the
Morality
esteemed by the Noble ones: Unbroken, pure, untorn,
unspotted, freeing, praised by the clever, natural, leading to
concentration. Why?
Bhikkhus, there may be alteration in these four great elements: In the earth
element;
all solidity, in the water element; all fluidity, in the heat element; all
thermal vibration,
in the air element; all motion, but there cannot be alteration in the
Noble Disciple, who
possesses confirmed confidence
in the Three Jewels. It
always remains impossible that
such a Noble Disciple should be reborn in hell, as an
animal, demon, or
as a hungry ghost!
Therefore: Those for whom you have sympathy, and who you think should be
respected,
whether friends or colleagues, relatives or associates, these you should try
to explain,
convince, and establish in these
four factors of
stream-entry...
Faith is the
Seed, the initiator, the Source of the
Beginning.
Faith is
the Hand that takes up all the advantageous
states.
Faith is
the Wealth above all, since it brings real
Happiness.
Faith is
the Jump, since it enables beings to cross
the flood.
Faith is
the Purifier, since it clears contaminating
defilements.
More on
gaining a surely
safe future:
Stream-Entry:
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fine_Faith.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_6_Keys.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4_Doors.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Divine_Tracks.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/How_to_Enter.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Stream-Enterer.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Faith_Summary.htm
Source
(edited extract):
The
Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta
Nikāya. [V:365-6]
section 55:
Sotāpattisamyutta.
Thread 17: Friends and Colleagues 2...
