AN 3.42 Three Grounds

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, ṭhānehi saddho pasanno veditabbo.

¶ 1“There are three grounds, mendicants, by which a person with faith and confidence can be known.

Katamehi tīhi?

¶ 2What three?

Sīlavantānaṁ dassanakāmo hoti, saddhammaṁ sotukāmo hoti, vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato.

¶ 3They like to see ethical people. They like to hear the true teaching. And they live at home rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi ṭhānehi saddho pasanno veditabbo.

¶ 4These are the three grounds by which a person with faith and confidence can be known.

Dassanakāmo sīlavataṁ,

¶ 5They like to see ethical people;

saddhammaṁ sotumicchati;

¶ 6they want to hear the true teaching;

Vinaye maccheramalaṁ,

¶ 7they’ve driven out the stain of stinginess:

sa ve saddhoti vuccatī”ti.

¶ 8that’s who’s called an individual of faith.”