1. Moät thôøi, Theá Toân truù ôû Raøjagaha (Vöông xaù), taïi röøng xoaøi Jìvaka. Roài Jìvaka Komaørabhacca ñi ñeán Theá Toân, sau khi ñeán, ñaûnh leã Theá Toân roài ngoài xuoáng moät beân. Ngoài xuoáng moät beân, Jìvaka Komaørabhacca baïch Theá Toân: 

- Baïch Theá Toân, cho ñeán nhö theá naøo laø ngöôøi cö só? 

- Naøy Jivaka, khi naøo quy y Phaät, quy y Phaùp, quy y chuùng Taêng, cho ñeán nhö vaäy, naøy Jivaka, laø ngöôøi cö só.
 

1. I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying in Rajagaha, at Jivaka's Mango Grove. Then Jivaka Komarabhacca went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down, sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, to what extent is one a lay follower?" 

"Jivaka, when one has gone to the Buddha for refuge, has gone to the Dhamma for refuge, and has gone to the Sangha for refuge, then to that extent is one a lay follower." 
 

- Naøy, Jivaka, khi naøo ngöôøi cö só töø boû saùt sanh, töø boû laáy cuûa khoâng cho, töø boû taø haïnh trong caùc duïc, töø boû noùi laùo, töø boû ñaép say röôïu men, röôïu naáu, cho ñeán nhö vaäy, laø ngöôøi cö só giöõ giôùi.
 

"Jivaka, when one abstains from taking life, from stealing, from sexual misconduct, from lying, and from fermented & distilled drinks that lead to heedlessness, then to that extent is one a virtuous lay follower." 

- Naøy Jivaka, khi naøo cö só thaønh töïu loøng tin cho mình, khoâng coù khích leä ngöôøi khaùc thaønh töïu loøng tin; thaønh töïu giöõ giôùi cho mình, khoâng coù khích leä ngöôøi khaùc thaønh töïu giöõ giôùi, thaønh töïu boá thí cho mình, khoâng khích leä ngöôøi khaùc thaønh töïu boá thí; muoán töï mình ñi ñeán yeát kieán caùc Tyû-kheo, khoâng coù khích leä ngöôøi khaùc ñi ñeán yeát kieán caùc Tyû kheo; chæ töï mình muoán nghe dieäu phaùp, khoâng khích leä ngöôøi khaùc nghe dieäu phaùp; töï mình thoï trì nhöõng phaùp ñaõ ñöôïc nghe, khoâng khích leä ngöôøi khaùc thoï trì nhöõng phaùp ñaõ ñöôïc nghe; töï mình suy nghó ñeán yù nghóa caùc phaùp ñaõ thoï trì, khoâng khích leä ngöôøi khaùc suy nghó ñeán yù nghóa caùc phaùp ñaõ thoï trì; sau khi töï mình bieát nghóa, bieát phaùp, thöïc hieän tuøy phaùp, ñuùng Chaùnh phaùp, khoâng khích leä ngöôøi khaùc thöïc hieän tuøy phaùp, ñuùng Chaùnh phaùp. Cho ñeán nhö vaäy, naøy Jivaka, laø cö só thöïc haønh vì töï lôïi, khoâng phaûi vì lôïi tha.
     
 
 
 

"Jivaka, when a lay follower himself is consummate in conviction but does not encourage others in the consummation of conviction; when he himself is consummate in virtue but does not encourage others in the consummation of virtue; when he himself is consummate in generosity but does not encourage others in the consummation of generosity; when he himself desires to see the monks but does not encourage others to see the monks; when he himself wants to hear the true Dhamma but does not encourage others to hear the true Dhamma; when he himself habitually remembers the Dhamma he has heard but does not encourage others to remember the Dhamma they have heard; when he himself explores the meaning of the Dhamma he has heard but does not encourage others to explore the meaning of the Dhamma they have heard; when he himself, knowing both the Dhamma & its meaning, practices the Dhamma in line with the Dhamma, but does not encourage others to practice the Dhamma in line with the Dhamma: then to that extent he is a lay follower who practices for his own benefit but not for the benefit of others." 

- Naøy Jivaka, khi naøo cö só töï mình thaønh töïu loøng tin vaø khích leä ngöôøi khaùc thaønh töïu loøng tin; khi naøo töï mình giöõ giôùi vaø khích leä ngöôøi khaùc giöõ giôùi; khi naøo töï mình boá thí vaø khích leä ngöôøi khaùc boá thí; khi naøo töï mình muoán ñi ñeán yeát kieán caùc Tyû-kheo vaø khích leä ngöôøi khaùc ñi ñeán yeát kieán caùc Tyû-kheo; khi naøo töï mình muoán nghe dieäu phaùp vaø khích leä ngöôøi khaùc nghe dieäu phaùp; khi naøo töï mình thoï trì nhöõng phaùp ñaõ ñöôïc nghe vaø khích leä ngöôøi khaùc thoï trì nhöõng phaùp ñaõ ñöôïc nghe; khi naøo töï mình suy nghó ñeán yù nghóa caùc phaùp ñaõ thoï trì vaø khích leä ngöôøi khaùc suy nghó ñeá yù nghóa caùc phaùp ñaõ thoï trì; sau khi töï mình bieát nghóa, bieát phaùp, thöïc hieän phaùp ñuùng Chaùnh phaùp, khích leä ngöôøi khaùc sau khi bieát nghóa bieát phaùp, thöïc hieän phaùp ñuùng Chaùnh phaùp. Cho ñeán nhö vaäy, naøy Jivaka, laø cö só thöïc haønh vì töï lôïi vaø lôïi tha./.
 
 
 
 

"Jivaka, when a lay follower himself is consummate in conviction and encourages others in the consummation of conviction; when he himself is consummate in virtue and encourages others in the consummation of virtue; when he himself is consummate in generosity and encourages others in the consummation of generosity; when he himself desires to see the monks and encourages others to see the monks; when he himself wants to hear the true Dhamma and encourages others to hear the true Dhamma; when he himself habitually remembers the Dhamma he has heard and encourages others to remember the Dhamma they have heard; when he himself explores the meaning of the Dhamma he has heard and encourages others to explore the meaning of the Dhamma they have heard; when he himself, knowing both the Dhamma & its meaning, practices the Dhamma in line with the Dhamma and encourages others to practice the Dhamma in line with the Dhamma: then to that extent he is a lay follower who practices both for his own benefit and for the benefit of others"./.