Reading guide
Merit that overflows, not merely accumulates
Confirmed by direct reading, “abhisanda” carries a connotation of overflowing or flooding — each of the four factors is not simply a static possession but an ongoing source of merit that continues to flow and nurture happiness, a dynamic image this project has not seen applied to the four factors under any other name in this saṃyutta.
Key terms
The text
§1At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, there are these four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurture happiness. What four? Firstly, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … This is the first kind of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness.
§2Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the teaching … This is the second kind of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness.
§3Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Saṅgha … This is the third kind of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness. Furthermore, a noble disciple’s ethical conduct is loved by the noble ones, unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to immersion. This is the fourth kind of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurtures happiness. These are the four kinds of overflowing merit, overflowing goodness that nurture happiness.”
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