At the city of Sāvatthī.
In those days, Anāthapiṇḍika, the male lay follower of the Buddha was sick, suffering and gravely ill. He then told a servant, “Please, go to Venerable Ānanda, and in my name bow with your head to his feet and say to him: ‘Bhante, the male lay follower Anāthapiṇḍika is sick, suffering and gravely ill. He bows with his head to your feet.’ Please invite Ānanda Bhante saying: ‘Bhante, please visit Anāthapiṇḍika at his home out of compassion.’”
“Yes, sir,” that man replied. He did as Anāthapiṇḍika asked. Venerable Ānanda accepted in silence.
Then Venerable Ānanda wore his robes in the morning, took his bowl and double-layered robe and went to the home of Anāthapiṇḍika. He sat down on a seat and said to Anāthapiṇḍika, “Dear Anāthapiṇḍika, I hope you’re coping; I hope you’re getting better. And I hope the pain is fading, not growing.”
“Bhante, I’m not doing so well, I’m not alright. The pain is terrible and growing.”
“Dear Anāthapiṇḍika, when an ordinary person has four factors, he’s frightened and terrified, and he fears what awaits him after death. What are these four factors? “Firstly, an ordinary person lacks confidence in the Buddha. Seeing in himself that lack of confidence in the Buddha, he’s frightened and terrified, and fears what awaits him after death.
“Furthermore, an ordinary person lacks confidence in the Dhamma…
“Furthermore, an ordinary person lacks confidence in the Saṅgha…
“Furthermore, an ordinary person has unethical conduct. Seeing in himself that unethical conduct, he’s frightened and terrified, and fears what awaits him after death. When an ordinary person has these four factors, he’s frightened and terrified, and fears what awaits him after death.
“Dear Anāthapiṇḍika, when a noble disciple has four factors, he’s not frightened or terrified, and doesn’t fear what awaits him after death. What are these four factors? Firstly, a noble disciple has unshakable confidence in the Buddha… Seeing in himself that unshakable confidence in the Buddha, he’s not frightened or terrified, and doesn’t fear what awaits him after death.
“Furthermore, a noble disciple has unshakable confidence in the Dhamma…
“Furthermore, a noble disciple has unshakable confidence in the Saṅgha…
“Furthermore, a noble disciple’s virtue is loved by the noble ones, unbroken, flawless, unblemished, not caught up in craving, freed from wrong views, praised by wise people and leading to concentration. Seeing in himself that virtue loved by the noble ones, he’s not frightened or terrified, and doesn’t fear what awaits him after death.
“When a noble disciple has these four factors, he’s not frightened or terrified, and doesn’t fear what awaits him after death.”
“Bhante Ānanda, I am not afraid. What have I to fear? I have unshakable confidence in the Buddha… the Dhamma… the Saṅgha… and as for the precepts appropriate for laypeople taught by the Buddha, I have not broken any.”
“You’re fortunate, Anāthapiṇḍika, you’re very fortunate, you have declared that you have attained the fruit of stream-entry.”
