Causes Of Worldly Progress

These four things, Vyagghapajja, conduce to the good and happiness of a clansman in this very life. What four?

"The achievement of persistent effort - Utthanasampada, the achievement pf wariness - Arakkhasampada, good friendship - Kalyanamittata and the balanced livelihood - Samajivikata."

"Herein, Vyagghapajja, by whatsoever activity a clansman earns his living, whether by the plough, by trading, by watching cattle, by archery, by ministering to kings or by any other kind of craft - at that he becomes skillful and is nit lazy. He is endowed with reasoning as to ways and means thereof. He is able to do and manage (his job).

"This is called the achievement of persistent effort."

"What is the achievement of wariness?"

"Herein, Vyagghapajja, in whatsoever village or market town a clansman dwells, he stands together, converses, engages in discussions with householders of householders' sons, whether young or highly cultured or old and highly cultured, full of faith - Saddha, full of virtue - Síla, full of charity - Caga, full of wisdom - Paññá. He acts in accordance with the faith of those full of faith, with the virtue of those full of virtue, with the charity of those full of charity, with the wisdom of those full of wisdom,

"This is called good company."

"What is balanced livelihood?"

"Herein, Vyagghapajja, a clansman knowing his income and expenses leads a steady life, being neither too extravagant nor too sordid, thinking that thus his income will stand in excess of his expenses, but his expenses in excess of his income.

"Just as the goldsmith, or an apprentice of his, knows, on holding up a balance, that by such so much it has dipped down, by so much it has tiled up; even so a clansman knowing his income and expenses, leads his steady life, being neither too extravagant nor too sordid, thinking that thus his income will stand in excess of his expenses, but not his expenses in excess of his income."

"If, Vyagghapajja, a clansman with little income were to lead a luxurious life, there would be those who say - 'Thus clansman enjoys his wealth like one who eats wood-apple. If, Vyagghapajja, a clansman, with large income were to lead a wretched life, there would be those who say: -

'This clansman will die like a starveling.'

"The wealth thus amassed, Vyagghapajja, has four sources of destruction: -

I. Debauchery - Ittidhutto,

II. Drunkenness - Suradhutto,

III. Indulgence in gambling - Akkhadhutto, and

IV. Friendship, companionship and intimacy with evil-doers.

"Just as in the case of a great tank with for inlets and outlets, if a man should close the inlets and open the outlets and there should be no adequate rainfall, decrease (of water) is to be expected in that tank and not an increase; even so there are four sources for the destruction of amassed wealth - debauchery, drunkenness, indulgence in gambling and friendship, companionship and intimacy with evil-doer.

There are four sources for the development of amassed wealth: -

I. Abstinence from debauchery,

II. Abstinence from drunkenness,

III. Non-indulgence in gambling, and

IV. Friendship, companionship and intimacy with the good.

"Just as in the case of a great tank with four inlets and four outlets, if a person were to open the inlets and close the outlets, and there should also be adequate rainfall, and increase of ware is certainly to be expected in that tank and not a decrease, even, so the four above-mentioned are the sources of development of amassed wealth."

"These four things are conducive to the good and happiness of a noble son in this life itself."