The Blessed Buddha once told his
cousin the Noble Layman
Mahānāma: One who has faith is successful,
Mahānāma,
not one who has no faith.
One who is energetic is successful,
Mahānāma,
not one who is lax & lazy.
One who is acutely aware is successful,
Mahānāma, not one who is negligent.
One who is concentrated is successful,
Mahānāma,
not one who is distracted.
One who understands is successful,
Mahānāma,
not one of no understanding.
Having established yourself in these five things,
Mahānāma,
then you should
establish six things. On these,
Mahānāma,
you should always dwell recollecting:
Doing this,
Mahānāma,
one wins the joy & special thrill that goes with the
Dhamma.
From joy grows satisfaction. From satisfaction grows calm. From a calm body
grows happiness. From happiness grows concentration. Concentrated,
Mahānāma,
one dwells even among those agitated. One dwells joyous among those
in anger...
AN V 329-32