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[Full title: Six Conditions for the Development of Welfare (4) The Accomplishment of Knowledge]

Ma峁単ala Sutta is every well-known discourse taught by the Buddha. It is composed of verses. It is the discourse for the development of welfare in the present and future life.

Of these verses, there is one verse in connection with knowledge. It is as follows:

鈥�B膩husacca帽ca sippa帽ca, vinayo ca susikkhito;
Subh膩sit膩 ca y膩 惫腻肠腻, eta峁� ma峁単alamuttama峁�.鈥�

This verse means that: "Broad knowledge, skill, and well-mastered discipline, well-spoken words: This is the highest blessing."^[1]

According to 惭补峁僩补濒补 Sutta, it is clear that we need to have some knowledge about the well-being. It means the knowledge concerning our development. We must have a lot of knowledge about know-how or technology to get welfare. If we have a lot of knowledge and expert or skill, we can do our professions for the development of welfare. It is good to have respective knowledge whether it is concerned with our professions or not. If we have knowledge concerned, not only we can do our professions but also can distinguish between right and wrong, advantage and disadvantage, pros and cons, etc. Moreover, we can avoid the trick or cheating of those who do not wish us to develop in our surrounding.

If we do not have respective knowledge about something, we may encounter blunder, failure, loss of welfare, falling down, etc. for we may have done something wrong, mistake and error. We may have a complete blind spot where relations with what we should do because of lack of knowledge. Thus we must have knowledge concerned with social, education, politics, economics and so on to make an effort for the development of welfares.

Knowledge is needed not only for worldly welfares in the present life but also for the welfare of future life. Here, it is worth noting that we should have respective knowledge about mental progress. It is benevolent for the development of physical progress. Thus 顿腻苍补 (alms-giving), 厂墨濒补 (moral ethics) and 叠丑腻惫补苍腻 (developing mind) are also needed for the mental progress and welfare of future life. They can support the welfare of present and future life. Doing 顿腻苍补, 厂墨濒补 and 叠丑腻惫补苍腻 is the same with doing social work and well-being of others. Actually, they are the work that should be done. Therefore, there are so many discourses concerning them taught by the Buddha.

If we do not have good deeds of 顿腻苍补, 厂墨濒补 and 叠丑腻惫补苍腻, when we go round in 厂补峁僺腻谤补 (the cycle of rebirth and death), we will have to encounter the poverty of life such as physical and mental sufferings. The development of welfare is also concerned with good deeds or good action (Kamma) socalled 顿腻苍补, 厂墨濒补 and 叠丑腻惫补苍腻. If we are accomplished with effort and knowledge even if we are not accomplished with the previous Kamma, we can reach the utmost achievement of life. The development of life is depending on not only knowledge and effort but present and previous Kamma. Thus we can cultivate good deeds (Kamma) by doing 顿腻苍补, 厂墨濒补 and 叠丑腻惫补苍腻. If doing so, we can gain physical and mental happiness in this very life and future. Therefore, in order to do good deeds, we need to have knowledge about how to do good deeds, 顿腻苍补, 厂墨濒补 and 叠丑腻惫补苍腻.

With regard to knowledge, the Buddha expounded it in the 罢丑别谤补驳腻迟丑腻 笔腻濒颈 as follow:

"The desire that wants to listen to the admonishments from teachers can make knowledge increased. Knowledge that has been listened to can make knowledge that kept in mind more increased. Both of worldly and unworldly welfares can be realized by knowledge increased. One who has much knowledge is able to do his development of welfare."^[2]

Therefore, the accomplishment of knowledge is one of fundamental cause for the development of welfare.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Kh. Verse5, P. 3, Pali Text Society P. 3.

[2]:

Th. P. 280, Pali Text Society, P. 41. Pali Text Society Tr. P. 40. ThA. II, P. 73. Pali Text Society II, P. 156.