The Word of the Buddha Introduction
Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One.
I go to the Buddha for refuge,
I go to the Dhamma for refuge,
I go to the Saṅgha for refuge.
For the second time, I go to the Buddha for refuge,
For the second time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge,
For the second time, I go to the Saṅgha for refuge.
For the third time, I go to the Buddha for refuge,
For the third time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge,
For the third time, I go to the Saṅgha for refuge.
“There are these eight streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, nutriments of happiness—heavenly, ripening in happiness, leading to heaven—which lead to what is wished for, desired, agreeable, to welfare and happiness. What eight?
Here, a disciple of the Noble Ones has gone for refuge to the Buddha. This is the first stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness—heavenly, ripening in happiness, leading to heaven—which leads to what is wished for, desired, agreeable, to welfare and happiness.
Furthermore, a disciple of the Noble Ones has gone for refuge to the Dhamma. This is the second stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness—heavenly, ripening in happiness, leading to heaven—which leads to what is wished for, desired, agreeable, to welfare and happiness.
Furthermore, a disciple of the Noble Ones has gone for refuge to the Saṅgha. This is the third stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness—heavenly, ripening in happiness, leading to heaven—which leads to what is wished for, desired, agreeable, to welfare and happiness.
There are these five gifts, great gifts—foremost, of long standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated and never before adulterated, which are not being adulterated and will not be adulterated, not despised by wise ascetics and brahmins. What five?
Here, a disciple of the Noble Ones, having abandoned the killing of living beings, abstains from killing living beings. Abstaining from killing living beings, a disciple of the Noble Ones gives to a limitless number of beings freedom from fear, freedom from hostility, and freedom from affliction. Having given to a limitless number of beings freedom from fear, freedom from hostility, and freedom from affliction, he becomes a partaker of limitless freedom from fear, freedom from hostility, and freedom from affliction. This is the first gift, a great gift—foremost, of long standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated and never before adulterated. It is not being adulterated now nor will it be adulterated in the future. Wise ascetics and brahmins do not despise it. This is the fourth stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness—heavenly, ripening in happiness, leading to heaven—which leads to what is wished for, desired, agreeable, to welfare and happiness.
Furthermore, a disciple of the Noble Ones, having abandoned taking what is not given, abstains from taking what is not given. Abstaining from taking what is not given, a disciple of the Noble Ones gives to a limitless number of beings freedom from fear, freedom from hostility, and freedom from affliction. Having given to a limitless number of beings freedom from fear, freedom from hostility, and freedom from affliction, he becomes a partaker of limitless freedom from fear, freedom from hostility, and freedom from affliction. This is the second gift, a great gift—foremost, of long standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated and never before adulterated. It is not being adulterated now nor will it be adulterated in the future. Wise ascetics and brahmins do not despise it. This is the fifth stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness—heavenly, ripening in happiness, leading to heaven—which leads to what is wished for, desired, agreeable, to welfare and happiness.
having abandoned sexual misconduct, abstains from sexual misconduct. Abstaining from sexual misconduct, a disciple of the Noble Ones gives to a limitless number of beings freedom from fear, freedom from hostility, and freedom from affliction. Having given to a limitless number of beings freedom from fear, freedom from hostility, and freedom from affliction, he becomes a partaker of limitless freedom from fear, freedom from hostility, and freedom from affliction. This is the third gift, a great gift—foremost, of long standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated and never before adulterated. It is not being adulterated now nor will it be adulterated in the future. Wise ascetics and brahmins do not despise it. This is the sixth stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness—heavenly, ripening in happiness, leading to heaven—which leads to what is wished for, desired, agreeable, to welfare and happiness.
having abandoned false speech, abstains from false speech. Abstaining from false speech, a disciple of the Noble Ones gives to a limitless number of beings freedom from fear, freedom from hostility, and freedom from affliction. Having given to a limitless number of beings freedom from fear, freedom from hostility, and freedom from affliction, he becomes a partaker of limitless freedom from fear, freedom from hostility, and freedom from affliction. This is the fourth gift, a great gift—foremost, of long standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated and never before adulterated. It is not being adulterated now nor will it be adulterated in the future. Wise ascetics and brahmins do not despise it. This is the seventh stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness—heavenly, ripening in happiness, leading to heaven—which leads to what is wished for, desired, agreeable, to welfare and happiness.
having abandoned spirits, alcoholic beverages, drugs and states of negligence, abstains from spirits, alcoholic beverages, drugs and states of negligence. Abstaining from spirits, alcoholic beverages, drugs and states of negligence, a disciple of the Noble Ones gives to a limitless number of beings freedom from fear, freedom from hostility, and freedom from affliction. Having given to a limitless number of beings freedom from fear, freedom from hostility, and freedom from affliction, he becomes a partaker of limitless freedom from fear, freedom from hostility, and freedom from affliction. This is the fifth gift, a great gift—foremost, of long standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated and never before adulterated. It is not being adulterated now nor will it be adulterated in the future. Wise ascetics and brahmins do not despise it. This is the eighth stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness—heavenly, ripening in happiness, leading to heaven—which leads to what is wished for, desired, agreeable, to welfare and happiness.
These are the eight streams of merit, streams of the wholesome, nutriments of happiness—heavenly, ripening in happiness, leading to heaven—which lead to what is wished for, desired, agreeable, to welfare and happiness.”
Last updated on October 20, 2026