With Hatthaka (2nd)Dutiyahatthakasutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near Āḷavī, at Āḷavī’s premier shrine.Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā āḷaviyaṁ viharati aggāḷave cetiye. Then the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī, escorted by around five hundred lay followers, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to Hatthaka:Atha kho hatthako āḷavako pañcamattehi upāsakasatehi parivuto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

“Hatthaka, you have a large congregation.“mahatī kho tyāyaṁ, hatthaka, parisā. How do you bring together such a large congregation?”Kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, hatthaka, imaṁ mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgaṇhāsī”ti?

“Sir, I bring together such a large congregation by using the four ways of being inclusive as taught by the Buddha.“Yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā desitāni cattāri saṅgahavatthūni, tehāhaṁ imaṁ mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgaṇhāmi. When I know that theyAhaṁ, bhante, yaṁ jānāmi: can be included by a gift, I include them by giving a gift.‘ayaṁ dānena saṅgahetabbo’ti, taṁ dānena saṅgaṇhāmi; When I know that theyyaṁ jānāmi: can be included by kindly words, I include them by kindly words.‘ayaṁ peyyavajjena saṅgahetabbo’ti, taṁ peyyavajjena saṅgaṇhāmi; When I know that theyyaṁ jānāmi: can be included by taking care of them, I include them by caring for them.‘ayaṁ atthacariyāya saṅgahetabbo’ti, taṁ atthacariyāya saṅgaṇhāmi; When I know that theyyaṁ jānāmi: can be included by equality, I include them by treating them equally.‘ayaṁ samānattatāya saṅgahetabbo’ti, taṁ samānattatāya saṅgaṇhāmi. But also, worthy sir, my family is wealthy.Saṁvijjanti kho pana me, bhante, kule bhogā. They wouldn’t think that a poor person was worth listening to in the same way.”Daliddassa kho no tathā sotabbaṁ maññantī”ti.

“Good, good, Hatthaka!“Sādhu sādhu, hatthaka. This is the right way to bring together a large congregation.Yoni kho tyāyaṁ, hatthaka, mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgahetuṁ. Whether in the past, future, or present, all those who have brought together a large congregation have done so by using these four ways of being inclusive.”Ye hi keci, hatthaka, atītamaddhānaṁ mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgahesuṁ, sabbe te imeheva catūhi saṅgahavatthūhi mahatiṁ parisaṁ saṅgahesuṁ.

Then the Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired Hatthaka of Āḷavī with a Dhamma talk, after which he got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaviing.Atha kho hatthako āḷavako bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassito samādapito samuttejito sampahaṁsito uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi. Then, not long after Hatthaka had left, the Buddha addressed the mendicants:Atha kho bhagavā acirapakkante hatthake āḷavake bhikkhū āmantesi: “Mendicants, you should remember the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī as someone who has eight amazing and incredible qualities.“aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgataṁ hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ dhāretha. What eight?Katamehi aṭṭhahi? He’s faithful,Saddho, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako; ethical,sīlavā, bhikkhave …pe… conscientious,hirīmā … prudent,ottappī … learned,bahussuto … generous,cāgavā … wise,paññavā, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako; and has few wishes.appiccho, bhikkhave, hatthako āḷavako. You should remember the householder Hatthaka of Āḷavī as someone who possesses these eight amazing and incredible qualities.”Imehi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgataṁ hatthakaṁ āḷavakaṁ dhārethā”ti.