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SUTTANTA PITAKA

Ałguttara Nikćya

(8) AĄĄhaka Nipćta Pćąi

(a) There are eight benefits accruing from practice of meditation on loving-kindness: Whosoever practises meditation on loving-kindness enjoys sound sleep, wakes up fresh and well, is not disturbed by bad dreams, is regarded with esteem by men, is treated with respect by non-humans, is accorded protection by devas, is not hurt by fire, poison or weapons and is destined to reappear in the Brahma realm. (para 1)

(b) There are eight worldly conditions, the vicissitudes of life that keep the world turning round: gain, loss, fame, disrepute, praise, blame, happiness, suffering. (para 546)

(c) There are eight strengths: The strength of child lies in crying; of a woman in her anger; of a bandit in his arms; of a king in his sovereignty; of an unwise man in censure and reviling; of a wise man in careful consideration of pros and cons; of a man of knowledge in caution; and the strength of a bhikkhu lies in his fortitude and forbearance. (para 27)

(d) Eight great reflections of the Venerable Anuruddha on the Dhamma: This Dhamma is for one with few wants, not for one who wants much. This Dhamma is for the contented, not for one hard to be satisfied. This Dhamma is for one who loves solitude, not for one who loves company. This Dhamma is for the energetic, not for the indolent. This Dhamma is for one of vigilant mindfulness, not for the heedless. This Dhamma is for one of concentrated mind, not for the distracted. This Dhamma is for the wise, not for the unintelligent. This Dhamma is for one who delights in Nibbćna, not for one who rejoices in worldliness (conceit, craving and wrong view). (para 30)

(e) There are eight types of speech by an Ariya: Having not seen, he says he has not seen; having not heard, he says he has not heard; having not sensed, he says he has not sensed; having not known, he says he has not known. Having seen, he says he has seen; having heard, says he has heard; having sensed, he says he has sensed and having known, he says he has known. (para 68)