About Hatthaka (2) Hatthaka Sutta (AN 8:24)
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('â', This person is to be won over by giving,â then I win him/her over by giving. When I know that, ),
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('â', This person is to be won over by kind words,â then I win him/her over by kind words. When I know that, ),
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('â', This person is to be won over by beneficial help,â then I win him/her over by beneficial help.1 When I know that, ),
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('â', This person is to be won over by consistency,â then I win him/her over by consistency.2 Awed by the wealth of my family, they regard me as worth listening to, which would not be the case if I were poor." "Itâs good, Hatthaka, itâs very good that this is the means by which you have won over a large following. All those in the past who have won over a large following have done so by means of these four same grounds for the bonds of fellowship. All those in the future who will win over a large following will do so by means of these four same grounds for the bonds of fellowship. All those at present who are winning over a large following do so by means of these four same grounds for the bonds of fellowship." Then, having been instructed, urged, roused, & encouraged by the Blessed One with a talk on Dhamma, Hatthaka of ṅḍavī got up from his seat, bowed down to the Blessed One, circled him—keeping him on his right—and left. Not long after he had left, the Blessed One said to the monks, "Monks, remember Hatthaka of ṅḍavī as being endowed with eight amazing, astounding qualities. Which eight? Hatthaka of ṅḍavī is endowed with conviction. He is virtuous. He has a sense of shame. He has a sense of compunction (over the results of unskillful actions). He is learned. He is generous. He is discerning. He is modest. Remember Hatthaka of ṅḍavī as being endowed with these eight amazing, astounding qualities." Notes 1. The Commentary to ANÂ 4:32 defines beneficial help as beneficial words and advice, an assertion that may be based on the idea that giving already covers beneficial actions. ANÂ 5:99 and ANÂ 8:26 would suggest that encouraging the person to observe the precepts would also count as beneficial help. 2. The Commentary defines consistency as sharing the same hardships and pleasures: eating together, sleeping together, observing the same precepts, not claiming any special privileges. Other traditional texts define consistency more in terms of reliability: acting the same way behind the other personâs back as one would to his/her face. See also: ANÂ 3:35 - --> - - - -