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One of the last reasons for the development of material and spiritual welfare is ±è²¹Ã±Ã±Äå (knowledge or wisdom). ±Ê²¹Ã±Ã±Äå is also one of mental power. The development of material welfare is concerned with that of mental power. The higher knowledge of citizens is in the country, the higher economy of them is in the country. The higher people have economy, the higher they have social welfare. Nothing can be done without ±è²¹Ã±Ã±Äå, at least general knowledge. Even though someone is not learned or educated, he has still general knowledge for his survival. He knows how to survive in the society. This is about ±è²¹Ã±Ã±Äå. So, we can say that ±è²¹Ã±Ã±Äå is concerned with all.

Moreover, the Buddha said that one, by himself, who is accomplished with the four things so-called ²õ²¹»å»å³óÄå (confidence), ²õÄ«±ô²¹ (morality), suta (general knowledge), ³¦Äå²µ²¹ (generosity) and ±è²¹Ã±Ã±²¹ (insight knowledge or wisdom) can penetrate and realize the deliverance of mind (cetovimutti: the fruition of Arahatship) and deliverance through wisdom or wisdom-liberated (±è²¹Ã±Ã±Äå-vimutti: wisdom associated with the fruition of holiness) in this very life,^[1] not only for the worldly social welfare.

Thus, the accomplishment or achievement of [the following] are very important for the development of social welfare:

1. persistent energy (³Üá¹­á¹­³óÄå²Ô²¹-²õ²¹³¾±è²¹»åÄå),
2. protection (Äå°ù²¹°ì°ì³ó²¹-²õ²¹³¾±è²¹»åÄå),
3. having good friendship (°ì²¹±ô²âÄåṇa³¾¾±³Ù³Ù²¹-²õ²¹³¾±è²¹»åÄå),
4. non-overconsumption (²õ²¹³¾²¹-ÂáÄ«±¹¾±³ÙÄå),
5. faith (²õ²¹»å»å³óÄå²õ²¹³¾±è²¹»åÄå),
6. having disciplined or moral virtue (²õÄ«±ô²¹-²õ²¹³¾±è²¹»åÄå),
7. liberality or generosity (³¦Äå²µ²¹-²õ²¹³¾±è²¹»åÄå), and
8. ±è²¹Ã±Ã±Äå (knowledge or wisdom).

Of them, ±Ê²¹Ã±Ã±Äå is the most important for the development of all welfare in both of life.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

M. III, P. 146. Pali Text Society III, P. 103.