Among Gifts the Best Is The Gift of The Teachings

Monks, there are these four powers.

What four?

The power of wisdom, the power of energy, the power of blamelessness, and the power of sustaining a favorable relationship.

(1) And what, Monks, is the power of wisdom?

One has clearly seen and explored with wisdom those qualities that are unwholesome and considered as unwholesome; those that are wholesome and considered as wholesome; those that are blamable and considered as blamable; those that are blameless and considered as blameless; those that are dark and considered as dark; those that are bright and considered as bright; those that should not be cultivated and are considered as not to be cultivated; those that should be cultivated and are considered as to be cultivated; those that are unworthy of The Noble Ones and considered as unworthy of The Noble Ones; those that are worthy of The Noble Ones and considered as worthy of The Noble Ones.

This is called the power of wisdom.

(2) And what is the power of energy?

One generates aspiration to abandon those qualities that are unwholesome and considered as unwholesome; those that are blamable and considered as blamable; those that are dark and considered as dark; those that should not be cultivated and are considered as not to be cultivated; those that are unworthy of The Noble Ones and considered as unworthy of The Noble Ones. One makes an effort, arouses energy, applies one’s mind, and strives for this.

One generates aspiration to obtain all those qualities that are wholesome and considered as wholesome; those that are blameless and considered as blameless; those that are bright and considered as bright; those that should be cultivated and are considered as to be cultivated; those that are worthy of The Noble Ones and considered as worthy of The Noble Ones. One makes an effort, arouses energy, applies one’s mind, and strives for this.

This is called the power of energy.

(3) And what is the power of blamelessness?

Here, a Noble Disciple engages in blameless bodily, verbal, and mental conduct.

This is called the power of blamelessness.

(4) And what is the power of sustaining a favorable relationship?

There are these four means of sustaining a favorable relationship: giving, endearing speech, beneficent conduct, and equality.

Among gifts, the best is the gift of The Teachings.

Among types of endearing speech, the best is repeatedly teaching The Teachings to one who is interested in it and listens with eager ears.

Among types of beneficent conduct, the best is when one encourages, settles, and establishes a person without confidence in the accomplishment of confidence, an unwholesome person in the accomplishment of virtuous behavior, a selfish person in the accomplishment of generosity, and an unwise person in the accomplishment of wisdom.

Among types of equality, the best is that a Stream-Enterer is equal to a Stream-Enterer, a Once-Returner is equal to a Once-Returner, a Non-Returner is equal to a Non-Returner, and an Arahant is equal to an Arahant.

This is called the power of sustaining a favorable relationship.

These, Monks, are the four powers. When a Noble Disciple possesses these four powers, he has transcended five fears.

What five?

(1) Fear of [loss of] livelihood,

(2) fear of shame,

(3) fear of shyness in communities,

(4) fear of death, and

(5) fear of a bad destination [in a future rebirth].

The Noble Disciple reflects thus: I am not afraid on account of my livelihood. Why should I be afraid on account of my livelihood? I have the four powers: the power of wisdom, the power of energy, the power of blamelessness, and the power of sustaining a favorable relationship. An unwise person might be afraid on account of his livelihood; a lazy person might be afraid on account of his livelihood; a person who engages in blamable bodily, verbal, and mental conduct might be afraid on account of his livelihood; a person who does not sustain favorable relationships might be afraid on account of his livelihood.

I am not afraid of shame.

I am not afraid of shyness in communities.

I am not afraid of death.

I am not afraid of a bad destination [in a future rebirth].

Why should I be afraid of a bad destination [in a future rebirth]?

I have the four powers: the power of wisdom, the power of energy, the power of blamelessness, and the power of sustaining a favorable relationship. An unwise person might be afraid of a bad destination; a lazy person might be afraid of a bad destination; a person who engages in blamable bodily, verbal, and mental conduct might be afraid of a bad destination; a person who does not sustain favorable relationships might be afraid of a bad destination [in a future rebirth].

When a Noble Disciple possesses these four powers, he has transcended these five fears.

(Reference: AN 9.5)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares additional understanding to help a Practitioner understand the gift of sharing these Teachings, therefore, we should aspire to support and motivate those who choose to share these Teachings.