iti90:0.1So It Was Said 90
iti90:0.2The Book of the Threes
iti90:0.3Chapter Five
iti90:0.4The Best Kinds of Confidence
iti90:1.1This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
iti90:2.1“Mendicants, these three kinds of confidence are the best.
iti90:2.2What three?
iti90:2.3Mendicants, the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, is said to be the best of all sentient beings—be they footless, with two feet, four feet, or many feet; with form or formless; with perception or without perception or with neither perception nor non-perception.
iti90:2.4Those who have confidence in the Buddha have confidence in the best.
iti90:2.5Having confidence in the best, the result is the best.
iti90:3.1Fading away is said to be the best of all things whether conditioned or unconditioned. That is, the quelling of vanity, the removing of thirst, the uprooting of clinging, the breaking of the round, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment.
iti90:3.2Those who have confidence in the teaching of fading away have confidence in the best.
iti90:3.3Having confidence in the best, the result is the best.
iti90:4.1The Saṅgha of the Realized One’s disciples is said to be the best of all communities and groups. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.
iti90:4.2Those who have confidence in the Saṅgha have confidence in the best.
iti90:4.3Having confidence in the best, the result is the best.
iti90:4.4These are the three best kinds of confidence.”
iti90:4.5The Buddha spoke this matter.
iti90:4.6On this it is said:
iti90:5.1“For those who, knowing the best teaching,
iti90:5.2base their confidence on the best—
iti90:5.3confident in the best Awakened One,
iti90:5.4supremely worthy of a religious donation;
iti90:6.1confident in the best teaching,
iti90:6.2the bliss of fading and stilling;
iti90:6.3confident in the best Saṅgha,
iti90:6.4the supreme field of merit—
iti90:7.1giving gifts to the best,
iti90:7.2the best of merit grows:
iti90:7.3the best lifespan, beauty,
iti90:7.4fame, reputation, happiness, and strength.
iti90:8.1An intelligent person gives to the best,
iti90:8.2settled on the best teaching.
iti90:8.3When they become a god or human,
iti90:8.4they rejoice at reaching the best.”
iti90:9.1This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.