Reading guide
The teaching in one sentence
Eight kinds of overflowing merit — refuge in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants — nurture happiness and lead to heaven, and each of the five precepts is also, in its own right, one of five great, primordial gifts of freedom from fear given to every sentient being.
Three refuges, then five precepts
The first three kinds of overflowing merit are simply the three refuges, named individually rather than as a single combined act. The remaining five are the five precepts, each introduced with the same formula: a noble disciple gives up a specific form of harm.
Two numbering systems in one discourse
Within the discourse's own text, each precept carries two separate labels: its place among the eight kinds of overflowing merit (fourth through eighth) and, independently, its place among five great gifts (first through fifth) that are “primordial, long-standing, traditional, and ancient” and that “sensible ascetics and brahmins don't look down on” — two different counts running through the identical five items.
A gift given to every being, not just the recipient
What makes each precept a “gift” in this discourse's own terms is unusual: giving up killing, for instance, gives “to countless sentient beings the gift of freedom from fear, enmity, and ill will” — a gift not directed at any one recipient, but extended automatically to every being by the very act of restraint.
Key terms
The text
Three refuges
§1“Mendicants, there are these eight kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness. They nurture happiness and are conducive to heaven, ripening in happiness and leading to heaven. They lead to what is likable, desirable, agreeable, to welfare and happiness. What eight? Firstly, a noble disciple has gone for refuge to the Buddha. This is the first kind of overflowing merit … Furthermore, a noble disciple has gone for refuge to the teaching. This is the second kind of overflowing merit … Furthermore, a noble disciple has gone for refuge to the Saṅgha. This is the third kind of overflowing merit …
Giving up killing: merit and gift together
§2Mendicants, these five gifts are great, primordial, long-standing, traditional, and ancient. They are uncorrupted, as they have been since the beginning. They’re not being corrupted now nor will they be. Sensible ascetics and brahmins don’t look down on them. What five? Firstly, a noble disciple gives up killing living creatures. By so doing they give to countless sentient beings the gift of freedom from fear, enmity, and ill will. And they themselves also enjoy unlimited freedom from fear, enmity, and ill will. This is the first gift that is a great offering, primordial, long-standing, traditional, and ancient. It is uncorrupted, as it has been since the beginning. It’s not being corrupted now nor will it be. Sensible ascetics and brahmins don’t look down on it. This is the fourth kind of overflowing merit …
Three further precepts, by internal ellipsis
§3Furthermore, a noble disciple gives up stealing. … This is the fifth kind of overflowing merit … Furthermore, a noble disciple gives up sexual misconduct. … This is the sixth kind of overflowing merit … Furthermore, a noble disciple gives up lying. … This is the seventh kind of overflowing merit …
Giving up intoxicants, closing both numbering systems
§4Furthermore, a noble disciple gives up beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants. By so doing they give to countless sentient beings the gift of freedom from fear, enmity, and ill will. And they themselves also enjoy unlimited freedom from fear, enmity, and ill will. This is the fifth gift that is a great offering, primordial, long-standing, traditional, and ancient. It is uncorrupted, as it has been since the beginning. It’s not being corrupted now nor will it be. Sensible ascetics and brahmins don’t look down on it. This is the eighth kind of overflowing merit … These are the eight kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness. They nurture happiness and are conducive to heaven, ripening in happiness and leading to heaven. They lead to what is likable, desirable, agreeable, to welfare and happiness.”
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