Those Who Sustain the Good Teachings (First Discourse)

Monks, those Monks who explain non-Teachings as non-Teachings are acting for the welfare of many people, for the peacefulness of many people, for the good, welfare, and peacefulness of many people, of heavenly beings and human beings. These Monks generate much merit and sustain these good Teachings.

Monks, those Monks who explain Teachings as Teachings …

Monks, those Monks who explain non-discipline as non-discipline …

Monks, those Monks who explain discipline as discipline …

Monks, those Monks who explain what has not been stated and spoken by The Tathāgata as not having been stated and spoken by him …

Monks, those Monks who explain what has been stated and spoken by The Tathāgata as having been stated and spoken by him …

Monks, those Monks who explain what has not been practiced by The Tathāgata as not having been practiced by him …

Monks, those Monks who explain what has been practiced by The Tathāgata as having been practiced by him …

Monks, those Monks who explain what has not been prescribed by The Tathāgata as not having been prescribed by him …

Monks, those Monks who explain what has been prescribed by The Tathāgata as having been prescribed by him are acting for the welfare of many people, for the peacefulness of many people, for the good, welfare, and peacefulness of many people, of heavenly beings and human beings. These Monks generate much merit and sustain these good wholesome Teachings.

‘Venerable Sir, it is said: Harmony in The Community, harmony in The Community. How is there harmony in The Community?’

Here, Ānanda.

(1) Monks explain non-Teachings as non-Teachings, and

(2) Teachings as Teachings.

(3) They explain non-discipline as non-discipline and

(4) discipline as discipline.

(5) They explain what has not been stated and spoken by The Tathāgata as not having been stated and spoken by him, and

(6) what has been stated and spoken by The Tathāgata as having been stated and spoken by him.

(7) They explain what has not been practiced by The Tathāgata as not having been practiced by him, and

(8) what has been practiced by The Tathāgata as having been practiced by him.

(9) They explain what has not been prescribed by The Tathāgata as not having been prescribed by him, and

(10) what has been prescribed by The Tathāgata as having been prescribed by him.

On these ten grounds they do not withdraw and go apart. They do not perform legal acts separately or recite the training guidelines separately.

It is in this way, Ānanda, that there is harmony in The Community.

‘But, Venerable Sir, when one restores harmony of a divided Community, what does one generate?’

One generates divine merit, Ānanda.

‘But, Venerable Sir, what is divine merit?’

One rejoices in heaven for an eon, Ānanda. Pleasant is harmony in The Community, and the mutual help of those who live in harmony. Pleased in harmony, established in The Teachings, one does not fall away from security from bondage (Enlightenment).

Having brought harmony to The Community, one rejoices in heaven for an eon.

(Reference: AN 1.140–149 and AN 10.40)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how his Teachings would be sustained based on decisions made by people to share his Teachings in the way that he taught them.

The Buddha explains that an individual who maintains his Teachings in the way that he taught them is “acting for the welfare of many people, for the peacefulness of many people, for the good, welfare, and peacefulness of many people, of heavenly beings and human beings”. Heavenly beings and human beings are able to attain Enlightenment while the other realms of hell, animal, and afflicted spirits are unable to attain Enlightenment. Therefore, one who maintains his Teachings is acting for the peacefulness of heavenly and human beings as they would be able to attain Enlightenment with The Teachings of a Buddha as a Buddha taught them.

One who maintains a Buddha’s Teachings “generate much merit and sustain these good Teachings” and it causes The Community to live in harmony.

The Buddha shares that an individual who creates harmony within The Community will “generate divine merit”.

The Buddha further explains that “one rejoices in heaven for an eon. Pleasant is harmony in The Community, and the mutual help of those who live in harmony. Pleased in harmony, established in The Teachings, one does not fall away from security from bondage (Enlightenment). Having brought harmony to The Community, one rejoices in heaven for an eon”. An eon is an immeasurable amount of time.