Maha Mangala Sutta
Blessings
Translated from the Pali by Piyadassi Thera
Thus have I heard:
On one occasion the Blessed One was living near Savatthi at Jetavana at Anathapindika’s monastery. Now when the night was far advanced, a certain deity, whose surpassing radiance illuminated the whole of Jetavana, approached the Blessed One, respectfully saluted him, and stood beside him. Standing thus, he addressed the Blessed One in verse:
1. “Many deities and men longing for happiness have pondered on (the question of) blessings. Pray tell me what the highest blessings are.
2. “Not to associate with the foolish, but to associate with the wise, and to honor those worthy of honor — this is the highest blessing.
3. “To reside in a suitable locality, to have performed meritorious actions in the past, and to set oneself in the right direction — this is the highest blessing.
4. “Vast learning, skill in handicrafts, well grounded in discipline, and pleasant speech — this is the highest blessing.
5. “To support one’s father and mother; to cherish one’s wife and children, and to be engaged in peaceful occupations — this is the highest blessing.
6. “Liberality, righteous conduct, rendering assistance to relatives, and performance of blameless deeds — this is the highest blessing.
7. “To cease and abstain from evil, to abstain from intoxicating drinks, and diligent in performing righteous acts — this is the highest blessing.
8. “Reverence, humility, contentment, gratitude, and the timely hearing of the Dhamma, the teaching of the Buddha, — this is the highest blessing.
9. “Patience, obedience, meeting the Samanas (holy men), and timely discussions on the Dhamma — this is the highest blessing.
10. “Self-control, chastity, comprehension of the Noble Truths, and the realization of Nibbána — this is the highest blessing.
11. “The mind that is not touched by the vicissitudes of life, [1] the mind that is free from sorrow, stainless, and secure — this is the highest blessing.
12. “Those who have fulfilled the conditions (for such blessings) are victorious everywhere, and attain happiness everywhere — To them these are the highest blessings.”
Footnote:
1. The vicissitudes are eight in number: gain and loss, good-repute and ill-repute, praise and blame, joy and sorrow. This stanza is a reference to the state of mind of an Arahant, the Consummate One.
Maha Mangala Sutta
The Highest Protection
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
I have heard that at one time the Blessed One was staying in Savatthi at Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s park. Then a certain deva, in the far extreme of the night, her extreme radiance lighting up the entirety of Jeta’s Grove, approached the Blessed One. On approaching, having bowed down to the Blessed One, she stood to one side. As she stood to one side, she addressed him with a verse.
Many devas and human beings
give thought to protection,
desiring well-being.
Tell, then, the highest protection.
The Buddha:
Not consorting with fools,
consorting with the wise,
paying homage to those worthy of homage:
This is the highest protection.
Living in a civilized land,
having made merit in the past,
directing oneself rightly:
This is the highest protection.
Broad knowledge, skill,
well-mastered discipline,
well-spoken words:
This is the highest protection.
Support for one’s parents,
assistance to one’s wife and children,
consistency in one’s work:
This is the highest protection.
Generosity, living in rectitude,
assistance to one’s relatives,
deeds that are blameless:
This is the highest protection.
Avoiding, abstaining from evil;
refraining from intoxicants,
being heedful of the qualities of the mind:
This is the highest protection.
Respect, humility,
contentment, gratitude,
hearing the Dhamma on timely occasions:
This is the highest protection.
Patience, composure,
seeing contemplatives,
discussing the Dhamma on timely occasions:
This is the highest protection.
Austerity, celibacy,
seeing the Noble Truths,
realizing Unbinding:
This is the highest protection.
A mind that, when touched
by the ways of the world,
is unshaken, sorrow-less, dustless, at rest:
This is the highest protection.
Everywhere undefeated
when acting in this way,
people go everywhere in well being:
This is their highest protection.
Mahamangala Sutta
The Great Collection of Success-Generators
Thus have I heard:
Once upon a time the Exalted One was dwelling in Shravasti at Jeta’s Grove, in the monastery built by Anathapindika. On that occasion, when the night had far advanced, a deity of exceeding radiance, arrived in the presence of the Exalted One, illumining the Jeta’s Grove in its entirety. On arrival there, the deity made an obeisance to the Exalted One and stood on one side. Thus standing on one side, the deity addressed the Exalted One in a verse.
Many gods and men did contemplate upon
As to what blissful things in life or success-generators are.
Wishing for their own total well being, they did think so.
Tell us, O Lord, what the highest of these are.
Keeping away from unwise and unwholesome friends,
And seeking the company only of those who are wise,
Giving honor and service to those that are worthy recipients
These rank among the highest success-generators.
Living in an appropriate area of residence,
with a record of good living in one’s own past,
And with perfect mastery over one’s own self —
These rank among the highest success-generators.
Vastness of learning and erudition, together with skills,
and perfect discipline in conduct,
and delightful propriety of speech —
These rank among the highest success-generators.
Gentle care of one’s mother and father,
and dutiful maintenance of one’s wife and child,
Propriety and decorum in one’s activities —
these rank among the highest success-generators.
Generosity and righteous living,
And courteous care of one’s own kith and kin,
Blameless in one’s own conduct —
These rank among the highest success-generators.
Restraint and departure from evil ways,
Abstinence from intoxicants and all drugs too,
Diligently active in the pursuit of goodness —
These rank among the highest success-generators.
Respectful and gentle in one’s behavior,
Contentment and a profound sense of gratitude,
regular listening to the Dhamma —
These rank among the highest success-generators.
Forbearance and pleasantness of speech,
Meeting one’s religious clergy,
Regular discussions on the Dhamma —
These rank among the highest success-generators.
Religious austerity and celibate living,
Realization of the Noble Truths,
Attainment of the goal of Nibbána —
These rank among the highest success-generators.
When battered by the realities of the world,
If one’s mind never tends to tremble,
And it stays secure, griefless and stainless —
These rank among the highest success-generators.
Having successfully accomplished all these,
Undefeated they are everywhere.
Success and serenity, they achieve everywhere —
This is their highest achievement of success.