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This was said by the Blessed One,
said by the Arahant, so I have heard: "Monks, don't be afraid of acts of merit.
This is another way of saying what is blissful, desirable, pleasing, endearing,
charming -- i.e., acts of merit. I am cognizant that, having long performed
meritorious deeds, I long experienced desirable, pleasing, endearing, charming
results. Having developed a mind of good will for seven years, then for seven
aeons of contraction & expansion I didn't return to this world. Whenever
the aeon was contracting, I went to the realm of Streaming Radiance. Whenever
the aeon was expanding, I reappeared in an empty Brahma-abode. There I was the
Great Brahman, the Unconquered Conqueror, All-seeing, & Wielder of Power.
Then for thirty-six times I was Sakka, ruler of the gods. For many hundreds of
times I was a king, a wheel-turning emperor, a righteous king of Dhamma,
conqueror of the four corners of the earth, maintaining stable control over the
countryside, endowed with the seven treasures* -- to say nothing of the
times I was a local king. The thought occurred to me: 'Of what action of mine
is this the fruit, of what action the result, that I now have such great power
& might?' Then the thought occurred to me: 'This is the fruit of my three
[types of] action, the result of three types of action, that I now have such
great power & might: i.e., generosity, self-control, &
restraint.'"
Train in acts of merit
that bring long-lasting bliss --
develop generosity,
a life in tune,
a mind of good-will.
Developing these
three things
that bring about bliss,
the wise reappear
in a world of bliss
unalloyed.
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