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This was said by the Blessed One,
said by the Arahant, so I have heard: "There are these three supreme objects of
confidence. Which three?
"Among whatever beings there
may be -- footless, two-footed, four-footed, many footed; with form or
formless; percipient, non-percipient, neither percipient nor non-percipient --
the Tathagata, worthy & rightly self-awakened, is considered supreme. Those
who have confidence in the Awakened One have confidence in what is supreme; and
for those with confidence in the supreme, supreme is the result.
"Among whatever qualities there
may be, fabricated or unfabricated, the quality of dispassion -- the subduing of
intoxication, the elimination of thirst, the uprooting of attachment, the
breaking of the round, the destruction of craving, dispassion, cessation, the
realization of Unbinding -- is considered supreme. Those who have confidence in
the quality of dispassion have confidence in what is supreme; and for those
with confidence in the supreme, supreme is the result.
"Among whatever fabricated
qualities there may be, the Noble Eightfold Path -- right view, right resolve,
right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness,
right concentration -- is considered supreme. Those who have confidence in the
Noble Eightfold Path have confidence in what is supreme; and for those with
confidence in the supreme, supreme is the result.
"Among whatever communities or
groups there may be, the Sangha of the Tathagata's disciples is considered
supreme -- i.e., the four [groups of noble disciples] when taken as pairs, the
eight when taken as persons.* Those who have confidence in the Sangha have
confidence in what is supreme; and for those with confidence in the supreme,
supreme will be the result.
"These, monks, are the three
supreme objects of confidence."
With
confidence,
realizing the supreme Dhamma
to be supreme,
confidence in the supreme Buddha,
unsurpassed
in deserving offerings;
confidence in the supreme Dhamma,
the stilling of dispassion,
bliss;
confidence in the supreme Sangha,
unsurpassed
as a field of merit;
having given gifts to the supreme,
one develops supreme merit,
supreme long life & beauty,
status, honor,
bliss, & strength.
Having given to the supreme,
the wise person, centered
in supreme Dhamma,
whether becoming a divine or human being,
rejoices,
having attained the supreme.
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