From:
Milindapañha Milinda’s Questions
Meṇḍakapañhārambhakathā Initial Discussion on Solving of Dilemmas
Upāsakaguṇavagga Qualities of a Lay Follower Chapter
6. Upāsakaguṇa 6. Qualities of a Lay Follower
Thero “sādhū”ti sampaṭicchitvā dasa upāsakassa upāsakaguṇe paridīpesi. The elder, having agreed, saying “Good,” explained the ten special qualities of a lay follower.
“Dasa ime, mahārāja, upāsakassa upāsakaguṇā. “These ten, your majesty, are the special qualities of a lay follower.
Katame dasa, idha, mahārāja, upāsako saṅghena samānasukhadukkho hoti, dhammādhipateyyo hoti, yathābalaṁ saṁvibhāgarato hoti, jinasāsanaparihāniṁ disvā abhivaḍḍhiyā vāyamati. What are the ten? Here, your majesty, a lay follower shares the same happiness and suffering as the saṅgha does; he has the Dhamma as his authority; he delights in sharing according to his ability; when seeing the decline of the Conqueror’s dispensation, he strives for its growth.
Sammādiṭṭhiko hoti, apagatakotūhalamaṅgaliko jīvitahetupi na aññaṁ satthāraṁ uddisati, kāyikavācasikañcassa rakkhitaṁ hoti, samaggārāmo hoti samaggarato, anusūyako hoti, na ca kuhanavasena sāsane carati, buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti. He is of right view; he is free from taking delight in auspicious festivals; even for the sake of his livelihood he does not take another teacher as supreme; his bodily and verbal conduct is guarded; he delights in harmony and is devoted to harmony; he is not envious; nor does he conduct himself in the dispensation through hypocrisy; and he has gone to the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha for refuge.
Ime kho, mahārāja, dasa upāsakassa upāsakaguṇā, te sabbe guṇā tayi saṁvijjanti, taṁ te yuttaṁ pattaṁ anucchavikaṁ patirūpaṁ yaṁ tvaṁ jinasāsanaparihāniṁ disvā abhivaḍḍhiṁ icchasi, karomi te okāsaṁ, puccha maṁ tvaṁ yathāsukhan”ti. These, your majesty, are the ten special qualities of a lay follower. All these qualities are found in you. It is fitting, proper, suitable, and appropriate for you that, seeing the decline of the Conqueror’s dispensation, you desire its growth. I give you permission; ask me as you please.”
Meṇḍakapañhārambhakathā niṭṭhitā. The Initial Discussion on Solving of Dilemmas is finished