The Sutta Nipata
The "Sutta Collection"
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Sutta Nipata II.4
Maha-Mangala Sutta
Blessings
Translated from the Pali by Narada Thera.
Read an alternate translation by Thanissaro
Bhikkhu
Thus have I heard.[1] On one
occasion the Exalted One was dwelling at Anathapindika's monastery, in Jeta's
Grove,[2] near Savatthi.[3]
Now when the night was far spent, a certain deity whose surpassing splendour
illuminated the entire Jeta Grove, came to the presence of the Exalted One and,
drawing near, respectfully saluted him and stood at one side. Standing thus, he
addressed the Exalted One in verse:
"Many deities and men, yearning after good, have
pondered on blessings.[4] Pray, tell me the
greatest blessing!"
[The Buddha:]
"Not to associate with the foolish,[5]
but to associate with the wise; and to honour those who are worthy of honour
-- this is the greatest blessing.
To reside in a suitable locality,[6]
to have done meritorious actions in the past and to set oneself in the right
course[7] -- this is the greatest blessing.
To have much learning, to be skillful in handicraft,[8]
well-trained in discipline,[9] and to be of
good speech[10] -- this is the greatest
blessing.
To support mother and father, to cherish wife and children,
and to be engaged in peaceful occupation -- this is the greatest blessing.
To be generous in giving, to be righteous in conduct,[11]
to help one's relatives, and to be blameless in action -- this is the greatest
blessing.
To loathe more evil and abstain from it, to refrain from
intoxicants,[12] and to be steadfast in
virtue -- this is the greatest blessing.
To be respectful,[13]
humble, contented and grateful; and to listen to the Dhamma on due occasions[14]
-- this is the greatest blessing.
To be patient and obedient, to associate with monks and to
have religious discussions on due occasions -- this is the greatest blessing.
Self-restraint,[15] a holy
and chaste life, the perception of the Noble Truths and the realisation of
Nibbana -- this is the greatest blessing.
A mind unruffled by the vagaries of fortune,[16]
from sorrow freed, from defilements cleansed, from fear liberated[17]
-- this is the greatest blessing.
Those who thus abide, ever remain invincible, in happiness
established. These are the greatest blessings."[18]
Notes
(Derived mainly from the Commentaries)
1. This Sutta appears in the
Sutta-Nipata (v.258ff) and in the Khuddakapatha. See Maha-Mangala Jataka (No.
453). For a detailed explanation see Life's Highest Blessing by Dr. R.L.
Soni, WHEEL No. 254/256.
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2. Anathapindika, lit., 'He who
gives alms to the helpless'; his former name was Sudatta. After his conversion
to Buddhism, he bought the grove belonging to the Prince Jeta, and established a
monastery which was subsequently named Jetavana. It was in this monastery that
the Buddha observed most of his vassana periods (rainy seasons -- the
three months' retreat beginning with the full-moon of July). Many are the
discourses delivered and many are the incidents connected with the Buddha's life
that happened at Jetavana. It was here that the Buddha ministered to the sick
monk neglected by his companions, advising them: "Whoever, monks, would
wait upon me, let him wait upon the sick." It was here that the Buddha so
poignantly taught the law of impermanence, by asking the bereaved young woman
Kisagotami who brought her dead child, to fetch a grain of mustard seed from a
home where there has been no bereavement.
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3. Identified with modern
Sahet-Mahet, near Balrampur.
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4. According to the Commentary, mangala
means that which is conducive to happiness and prosperity.
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5. This refers not only to the
stupid and uncultured, but also includes the wicked in thought, word and deed.
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6. Any place where monks, nuns and
lay devotees continually reside; where pious folk are bent on the performance of
the ten meritorious deeds, and where the Dhamma exists as a living principle.
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7. Making the right resolve for
abandoning immorality for morality, faithlessness for faith and selfishness for
generosity.
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8. The harmless crafts of the
householder by which no living being is injured and nothing unrighteous done;
and the crafts of the homeless monk, such as stitching the robes, etc.
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9. Vinaya means discipline
in thought, word and deed. The commentary speaks of two kinds of discipline --
that of the householder, which is abstinence from the ten immoral actions (akusala-kammapatha),
and that of the monk which is the non-transgression of the offences enumerated
in the Patimokkha (the code of the monk's rules) or the 'fourfold moral
purity' (catu-parisuddhi-sila).
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10. Good speech that is opportune,
truthful, friendly, profitable and spoken with thoughts of loving-kindness.
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11. Righteous conduct is
the observance of the ten good actions (kusala-kammapatha) in thought,
word and deed: freeing the mind of greed, ill-will and wrong views; avoiding
speech that is untruthful, slanderous, abusive and frivolous; and the non-
committal acts of killing, stealing and sexual misconduct.
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12. Total abstinence from alcohol
and intoxicating drugs.
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13. Towards monks (and of course
also to the clergy of other religions), teachers, parents, elders, superiors,
etc.
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14. For instance, when one is
harassed by evil thoughts.
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15. Self-restraint (tapo):
the suppression of lusts and hates by the control of the senses; and the
suppression of indolence by the rousing of energy.
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16. Loka-dhamma, i.e.
conditions which are necessarily connected with life in this world; there are
primarily eight of them: gain and loss, honour and dishonour, praise and blame,
pain and joy.
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17. Each of these three
expressions refers to the mind of the arahant: asoka: sorrowless; viraja:
stainless, i.e. free from lust, hatred and ignorance; khema: security
from the bonds of sense desires (kama), repeated existence (bhava),
false views (ditthi) and ignorance (avijja).
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18. The above-mentioned
thirty-eight blessings.
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