The Buddha was staying in Shravasti... "Monks, when a noble disciple's five fears and enmities are appeased, when he possesses the four factors of stream-entry, and when he has wisely seen and penetrated the noble truth, if he wishes, he can declare about himself: 'I have exhausted the hell realm, the animal realm, the realm of hungry ghosts, and all evil destinies, downfalls, and bad paths. I am a stream-enterer, no longer bound for the lower realms, assured of heading towards enlightenment.'"

"What are the five fears and enmities that have been appeased? Monks, they are:

- One who kills...

- One who steals...

- One who engages in sexual misconduct...

- One who speaks falsely...

- One who drinks alcohol and indulges in intoxication and heedlessness...

These are the five fears and enmities that have been appeased."

"What are the four factors of stream-entry that he possesses? Here, monks, the noble disciple:

- Possesses unwavering faith in the Buddha...

- Possesses unwavering faith in the Dharma...

- Possesses unwavering faith in the Sangha...

- Possesses the virtues loved by the noble ones.

These are the four factors of stream-entry that he possesses."

"What is the noble truth that he has wisely seen and penetrated? Here, monks, the noble disciple wisely reflects on dependent origination... This is the noble truth that he has wisely seen and penetrated."

"Monks, when a noble disciple's five fears and enmities are appeased, when he possesses these four factors of stream-entry, and when he has wisely seen and penetrated this noble truth, if he wishes, he can declare about himself: 'I have exhausted the hell realm, the animal realm, the realm of hungry ghosts, and all evil destinies, downfalls, and bad paths. I am a stream-enterer, no longer bound for the lower realms, assured of heading towards enlightenment.'"

End of the second sutta.

This sutta mainly discusses the three conditions for becoming a stream-enterer:

1. Abstaining from five evil actions (killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and drinking alcohol)

2. Possessing the four factors of stream-entry (faith in the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, and maintaining precepts)

3. Understanding the noble truth of dependent origination

When these conditions are met, the practitioner can be confident that they have become a stream-enterer, a noble one who will no longer fall into evil realms.

Let me provide a deeper analysis of this wisdom-filled sutta:

1. Opening Scene Analysis

The Buddha is teaching in Shravasti, a significant setting. Shravasti was one of the most prosperous cities in ancient India, symbolizing worldly distractions and temptations. It is in this environment that the Buddha teaches his disciples how to transcend the cycle of rebirth and attain liberation.

2. Deeper Meaning of the Five Fears and Enmities

Let me briefly explain the deeper meaning of these five basic precepts:

1. Killing

- Surface meaning: Intentionally taking life

- Deeper levels:

  Various forms of harming life

  Including violence, abuse, injury

  Actions contrary to compassion

- Modern significance: Cultivating respect for life and care for others

2. Stealing

- Surface meaning: Taking what is not given

- Deeper levels:

  Various forms of infringing on others' benefits

  Fraud, deception, and other improper behaviors

  Manifestations of greed

- Modern significance: Cultivating integrity and honesty

3. Sexual Misconduct

- Surface meaning: Improper sexual behavior

- Deeper levels:

  Disrupting family and social relationships

  Indulgence in desires

  Disrespect for others

- Modern significance: Maintaining social morality and family harmony

4. False Speech

- Surface meaning: Lying, deceiving

- Deeper levels:

  Various manifestations of dishonesty

  Damaging trust relationships

  Disturbing interpersonal harmony

- Modern significance: Establishing an attitude of honesty and integrity

5. Drinking Alcohol and Indulging in Intoxication

- Surface meaning: Drinking alcohol and other intoxicating behaviors

- Deeper levels:

  Actions that lead to loss of mindfulness

  Root cause of other mistakes

  Manifestation of self-indulgence

- Modern significance: Maintaining a clear mind, avoiding addiction

Core values of these five precepts:

- Cultivating compassion and wisdom

- Maintaining social harmony

- Purifying body and mind

- Laying the foundation for higher levels of practice

- Creating a happy and peaceful life

Observing these precepts is not a constraint, but the basis for attaining true freedom and happiness. They help us establish a correct way of life and gain inner peace and joy.

The "five fears and enmities" are not just behavioral constraints, but contain profound wisdom of cause and effect:

- Killing: Destroys life, causes fear, creates enmity

- Stealing: Violates others' property, creates insecurity and wariness

- Sexual misconduct: Breaks ethics, brings family and social instability

- False speech: Damages trust, leads to collapse of interpersonal relationships

- Drinking and heedlessness: Loses right mindfulness, is the breeding ground for other faults

These five are called "fears and enmities" because:

The actions themselves bring fear

Committing them produces inner unease

The consequences invite fear of retribution

They create enmity with others

3. Wisdom Insights of the Four Factors of Stream-Entry

The four factors of stream-entry embody a complete system of practice:

- Faith in the Buddha: Establishes the ultimate goal of life

- Faith in the Dharma: Grasps the method to reach the goal

- Faith in the Sangha: Obtains examples and support for practice

- Maintaining precepts: Establishes fundamental behavioral principles

These four form a mutually supportive whole:

- Right faith supports the determination to keep precepts

- Keeping precepts cultivates deeper faith

- Faith and precept observance mutually enhance each other

4. Transcendent Wisdom of Dependent Origination

Wisely seeing and penetrating dependent origination means:

- Understanding that all phenomena arise from causes and conditions

- Seeing clearly the roots of afflictions and liberation

- Understanding the correct method to change one's destiny

- Gaining the eye of wisdom that transcends the cycle of rebirth

5. Profound Implications

This sutta tells us:

- Liberation is not an unreachable goal, but a practice with a clear path

- The stage of stream-entry is the first level of realization attainable by everyone

- Through the perfect combination of precept observance, right faith, and wisdom, one can forever transcend evil realms

- Practice must simultaneously take care of behavior, faith, and wisdom

6. Modern Significance

For modern people, this sutta provides:

- Fundamental principles for establishing oneself in life

- Methods to resolve inner fears

- Guidance for establishing a correct view of life

- A clear path to attaining true peace and happiness

This sutta is not only a guide for Buddhist practice but also a life textbook for modern people. It tells us that by purifying behavior, strengthening faith, and awakening wisdom, everyone can be liberated from fear and hatred, moving towards a bright life. True liberation is not in the distant future, but in the awakening of the present moment.