Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c38.s3.11

v2.c38.s3.11

In the *Gahapativagga* of the *Aṅguttara Nikāya*,¹ the duties of a gahapati are dealt with more than the general principles of Buddhism. The eight special virtues of a gahapati are given as follows:—(i) firm faith in Buddha; (ii) appreciation of the Dhamma; (iii) regard for the Saṅgha; (iv) charitableness even to the extent of giving away one's wife, (v) open-handedness in distributing property among the saints; (vi) keenness to listen to religious discourses, (vii) lack of pride due to spiritual success; and (viii) removal of the five impurities (*orambhāgiyas*). The gahapatis are expected to possess seven other virtues, viz., faith (*saddhā*), moral restraint (*sīla*), modesty (*hiri*), shame (*ottappa*),² learning (*bahussuta*), charitable disposition (*cāga*) and knowledge (*paññā*). Some of the gahapatis practised the four *saṅgaha-vatthus*³ viz., gift, sweet words, beneficial acts and treatment of others as his equals, and thereby obtained a large circle of friends.⁴ Hatthaka of Alavi was the chief of those who practised the *saṅgaha-vatthus*.⁵