"Monks, there are these seven treasures. Which seven?
The treasure of
conviction, the treasure of virtue,
the treasure of conscience, the treasure of concern,
the treasure of
listening,
the treasure of generosity, the
treasure of discernment.
"And what is the treasure of conviction? There is the
case where a noble disciple has conviction, is
convinced of the Tathagata's Awakening: 'Indeed, the
Blessed One is worthy and rightly self-awakened,
consummate in knowledge & conduct, well-gone, an
expert with regard to the world, unexcelled as a
trainer for those people fit to be tamed, the Teacher
of divine &
human beings, awakened, blessed.' This is called the
treasure of conviction.
"And what is the treasure of virtue? There is the case
where a noble disciple abstains from taking life,
abstains from stealing, abstains from illicit sexual
conduct, abstains from lying, abstains from taking
intoxicants that cause heedlessness. This, monks, is
called the treasure of virtue.
"And what is the treasure of conscience? There is the
case where a noble disciple feels shame at [the
thought of engaging in] bodily misconduct, verbal
misconduct,
mental misconduct. This is called the treasure of
conscience.
"And what is the treasure of concern? There is the
case where a noble disciple feels concern for [the
suffering that results from] bodily misconduct, verbal
misconduct, mental misconduct. This is called the
treasure of concern.
"And what is the treasure of listening? There is the
case where a noble disciple has heard much, has
retained what he/she has heard, has stored what he/she
has heard. Whatever teachings are admirable in the
beginning, admirable in the middle, admirable in the
end, that -- in their meaning and expression --
proclaim the holy life that is entirely complete and
pure: those he/she has listened to often, retained,
discussed, accumulated, examined with his/her mind,
and
well-penetrated in terms of his/her views. This is
called the treasure of listening.
"And what is the treasure of generosity? There is the
case of a noble disciple, his awareness cleansed
of the stain of stinginess, living at home, freely
generous, openhanded, delighting in being magnanimous,
responsive to requests, delighting in the distribution
of alms. This is called the treasure of generosity.
"And what is the treasure of discernment? There is the
case where a noble disciple is discerning, endowed
with discernment of arising & passing away -- noble,
penetrating, leading to the right ending of stress.
This is called the treasure of discernment."
These, monks, are the seven treasures.
The treasure of conviction,
the treasure of virtue,
the treasure of conscience & concern,
the treasure of listening, generosity,
& discernment as the seventh treasure.
Whoever, man or woman, has these treasures
is said not to be poor, has not lived in vain.
So conviction & virtue, faith & Dhamma-vision
should be cultivated by the wise,
remembering the Buddhas' instruction.