Mangala Sutta: Blessings
translated from the Pali by
Narada Thera
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
splendor 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!"
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]
[The Buddha:]
"Not to associate with the foolish,[5] but to associate with the wise; and to honor those who are worthy of honor — 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.
- 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.
- 3.
- Identified with modern Sahet-Mahet, near Balrampur.
- 4.
- According to the Commentary, mangala means that which is conducive to happiness and prosperity.
- 5.
- This refers not only to the stupid and uncultured, but also includes the wicked in thought, word and deed.
- 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.
- 7.
- Making the right resolve for abandoning immorality for morality, faithlessness for faith and selfishness for generosity.
- 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.
- 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).
- 10.
- Good speech that is opportune, truthful, friendly, profitable and spoken with thoughts of loving-kindness.
- 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.
- 12.
- Total abstinence from alcohol and intoxicating drugs.
- 13.
- Towards monks (and of course also to the clergy of other religions), teachers, parents, elders, superiors, etc.
- 14.
- For instance, when one is harassed by evil thoughts.
- 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.
- 16.
- Loka-dhamma, i.e., conditions which are necessarily connected with life in this world; there are primarily eight of them: gain and loss, honor and dishonor, praise and blame, pain and joy.
- 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).
- 18.
- The above-mentioned thirty-eight blessings.
- --
- http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/khp/khp.5.nara.html
Như vầy tôi nghe:
Một thời Thế Tôn trú tại Sàvatthi, ở
Jetavana, khu vườn ông Anàthapindika. Rồi một Thiên tử, khi đêm đã gần mãn,
với dung sắc thù thắng chói sáng toàn vùng Jetavana, đi đến Thế Tôn,
sau khi đến đảnh lễ Thế Tôn rồi đứng một bên. Ðứng một bên, vị
Thiên tử ấy bạch Thế Tôn với bài kệ:
Thiên tử:
1. Nhiều Thiên tử và người,
Suy nghĩ đến điềm lành,
Mong ước và đợi chờ,
Một nếp sống an toàn,
Xin Ngài hãy nói lên,
Về điềm lành tối thượng.
(Ðức Phật giảng:)
--2. Không thân cận kẻ ngu, (Asevanā ca bālānaṃ, không cọng tác với kẻ ngu)
Nhưng gần gũi bậc Trí,
Ðảnh lễ người đáng lễ,
Là điềm lành tối thượng.3. Ở trú xứ thích hợp,
Công đức trước đã làm,
Chân chánh hướng tự tâm,
Là điềm lành tối thượng.4. Học nhiều, nghề nghiệp giỏi,
Khéo huấn luyện học tập,
Nói những lời khéo nói,
Là điềm lành tối thượng.5. Hiếu dưỡng mẹ và cha,
Nuôi nấng vợ và con.
Làm nghề không rắc rối,
Là điềm lành tối thượng.6. Bố thí, hành, đúng pháp,
Săn sóc các bà con,
Làm nghiệp không lỗi lầm,
Là điềm lành tối thượng.7. Chấm dứt, từ bỏ ác,
Chế ngự đam mê rượu,
Trong Pháp, không phóng dật,
Là điềm lành tối thượng.8. Kính lễ và hạ mình,
Biết đủ và biết ơn,
Ðúng thời, nghe Chánh Pháp,
Là điềm lành tối thượng.9. Nhẫn nhục, lời hòa nhã,
Yết kiến các Sa-môn,
Ðúng thời, đàm luận Pháp,
Là điềm lành tối thượng.10. Khắc khổ và Phạm hạnh,
Thấy được lý Thánh đế.
Giác ngộ quả: "Niết Bàn"
Là điềm lành tối thượng.11. Khi xúc chạm việc đời
Tâm không động, không sầu,
Không uế nhiễm, an ổn,
Là điềm lành tối thượng.12. Làm sự việc như vầy,
Không chỗ nào thất bại,
Khắp nơi được an toàn,
Là điềm lành tối thượng.
http://www.budsas.org/uni/u-kinh-tieubo1/tb11-tt.htm#v-5
V. Das Heil - Mangala-Suttam
[Dieses Suttam findet sich auch im Sutta-Nipāto II, 4. Mangalam bedeutet feierliche Zeremonie, Gottesdienst, religiöser Dienst; Vorzeichen, Omen; Segen, Glück, Heil (vergl. den im nördlichen Buddhismus vielfach begegnenden Gruss: Sarvamangalam ! Heil allerseits!)]
1. So habe ich gehört: Einstmals weilte der Erhabene zu Sāvatthi, im Siegerhaine, im Klostergarten des Armenspeisers. Als nun die Nacht vorgerückt war, begab sich eine gewisse schöngestaltige Gottheit, indem sie den ganzen Siegerhain erhellte, dorthin, wo der Erhabene weilte. Als sie sich dorthin begeben hatte, begrüßte sie den Erhabenen ehrfurchtsvoll und trat seitwärts. Seitwärts stehend redete diese Gottheit den Erhabenen mit dem Verse an:
2.
- Viele Götter und Menschen haben,
- nach Glück sich sehnend,
- an Heil gedacht.
- Nenne du das höchste Heil.
[Der Erhabene:]3.
- Den Toren nicht ergeben sein,
- den Weisen ergeben sein,
- die Verehrungswürdigen verehren:
- dies ist das höchste Heil.
- Das Wohnen in einem guten Lande,
- Verdienst aus früherem Sein,
- rechtes Streben des Selbstes:
- dies ist das höchste Heil.
- Viel Wahrhaftigkeit und gutes Wissen,
- ganz durchgeführte Selbstdisziplin
- und wohlgesprochene Worte:
- dies ist das höchste Heil.
- Vater und Mutter unterstützen,
- für Weib und Kind sorgen,
- eine friedliche Beschäftigung:
- dies ist das höchste Heil.
- Wohltätigkeit und religiöser Wandel,
- Zuneigung zu den Verwandten
- und untadelhafte Werke:
- dies ist das höchste Heil.
- Enthaltsamkeit und Abstehen vom Bösen,
- Meidung berauschender Getränke
- und Unermüdlichkeit in religiösen Pflichten:
- dies ist das höchste Heil.
- Ehrerbietung und Demut,
- Zufriedenheit und Dankbarkeit,
- das Hören des Gesetzes zur richtigen Zeit:
- dies ist das höchste Heil.
- Geduld und Milde,
- der Verkehr mit Asketen
- und Unterredung über das Gesetz zur richtigen Zeit:
- dies ist das höchste Heil.
- Askese (tapo) und keuscher Wandel,
- die Erkenntnis der edlen Wahrheiten
- und die Verwirklichung des Nirvana:
- dies ist das höchste Heil.
- Das Gemüt eines von den Dingen der Welt berührten Menschen,
- welches nicht erzittert und kummerlos,
- leidenschaftslos und frei von Furcht ist:
- dies ist das höchste Heil.
- Die solches getan haben,
- sind überall unüberwunden;
- überall wandeln sie glücklich:
- ja, ihrer ist das höchste Heil."
- --
- http://palikanon.com/khuddaka/khuddaka.htm#V
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