“Monks, a noble disciple who has four factors is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in miserable worlds and is headed for Nibbāna.
“What four? It’s when a noble disciple has unshakable confidence in the Buddha, ‘That Blessed One is liberated, self-enlightened, has true knowledge and pure conduct, attained Nibbāna, knower of worlds, supreme trainer of beings, teacher of gods and humans, the most generous and the most fortunate.’
“A noble disciple has unshakable confidence in the Dhamma: ‘The Dhamma is well explained by the Buddha—visible in this very life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, applied to oneself and wise people can realize it for themselves.’
“A noble disciple has unshakable confidence in the Saṅgha: ‘The order of the Buddha’s disciples practice the pure way, upright way, wise way, and generous way. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individuals. The order of the Buddha’s disciples is worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’
“And a noble disciple has virtue loved by the noble ones, unbroken, flawless, unblemished, not caught up in craving, freed from wrong views, praised by wise people and leads to concentration.
“A noble disciple who has these four factors is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in miserable worlds, headed for enlightenment.”
That is what the Buddha said. Then the Blessed One went on to say:
“Those who have faith and virtue,
confidence in the Sangha, and insight into the truth,
in time, happily arrive at Nibbāna,
by entering into the Path.”
