The 'Mangala-Suttanta' (The Discourse of Noble Blessings) is one of the
well-known sermons taught by the Lord Buddha. It is a 'Dhamma' that explains the rules
beneficial to every follower, irrespective of colour and creed. The rules are so virtuous,
every welll follower of them may not only gain the welfare and happiness, here and
now, but he may also overcome the 'Sankhara-dhamma' (Law of conditions of the world)
and surely attain to Nibbanna, the real peace.
It is to note that the said Rules of Noble Blessings are thirty eight in number,
and the rules that are interconnected each other are collectively rules are covered by ten
passages in all as described bellow:
Passage 1
Rule 1. 'Asevanaca-balanam', 'Not to associate with the fools' nor behave oneself like the fools, who are the habitual doers of 'Kaya-duccarita' (Bodily evil acts),
'Vaci-duccarita' (Verbal evil acts) and 'Mano-duccarita' (Mental evil acts), without knowing
the consequence.
Rule 2. 'Panditananca-sevana', 'To associate with the wise men'. Also learn
from and imitate those wise men, who are as a rule, noble hearted and broad minded
and willing to let the othets know of the 'Yatha-bhuta-dhamma' (Law in conformity with
the truth) as they know.
Rule 3. 'Pujaneyanam', To honour those who are worthy of honour'. The
worthy ones are primarily the Three Gems of 'Buddha' 'Dhamma' and 'Sangha', parents,
teachers, elderly benefactors, and aged relations and friends of high morality. We should
also understand the two kinds of honourings, namely: (i) 'Dhamma-puja' (Honouring
with one's self devotion, (ii) 'Amisa-puja' (Honouring with the offering of food or other
show that the first one 'Dhamma-puja' is more meritorious.
'Etam-mangala-muttamam'_These (three rules mentioned above) are Noble
Blessings.
Passage 2
Rule 1. 'Patirupa-decavasoca', 'To domicile in a suitable place'. The suitable place is the one where the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha are shining,
and the inhabitants in general of that place are friendly and pious, and the domestic
requirements are easily obtainable.
Rule 2. 'Pubbeca-katapunnata', 'Having done good deeds in thee past'. Every
act presently done becomes past deeds immediately aftre it has been done. So, it
means to say that the act which is done or to be done should always be a good deed.
Rule 3. 'Attasama-panidhica', 'To discipline one's self in a righteous way', This
rule means that one should strictly observe the precepts to abstain from committing
'Kaya-duccarita' (Bodily evil acts), 'Vaci-duccarita' (Verbal evil acts) and 'Mano-duccarita'
(Mental evil acts).
'Etam-mangala-muttamam'_These (three rules mentioned above) are Noble
Blessings.
Passage 3
Rule 1. 'Bahusaccanca', 'To acquire wide knowledge'. The knowledge should be that of the wise learnings which may bring about the valuable instructions for the
learner's benefit.
Rule 2. 'Sippanca', To learn useful arts' The arts should be 'Ana-vojja-sippa'
(Inncoent arts).
Rule 3. 'Vinayoca-susikkhito', 'To learn the rules of moral conduct with good
intent'. The learning of both kinds of said rules, namely: 'Gahattha-vinaya' (Rules of
moral conduct that relate to householders) and 'Pabbajita-vinaya' (Rules of moral
conduct that relate to monks) should be made. But care should be taken that the
learning should be strictly in accordance with the learning of the pali words 'Su-sikkhito'
(good learning) i. e. the learning should be for one's own guidance, and not for finding
fault against others, and in the letter case, the learning will be 'Du-sikkhito' (Ill learning),
the opposite of 'Su-sikkhito' (Good learning).
Rule 4. 'Subhasitaca-yavaca', 'To make a good speech'. The good speech,
here, means, as the scripture displays, the speech that possesses four good qualities as
described below:
1. 'Subhasit' (Well intelligent Speech).
2. 'Piya-bhasita' (Lovely Speech).
3. 'Sacca-bhasita' (Truthful Speech).
4. 'Dhamma-bhasita' (Lawful Speech).
'Etam-mangala-muttamam'_These (four rules mentioned above) are Noble
Blessings.
Passage 4
Rule 1. 'Matapitu-upatthanam', 'To look after the parents'. The duties of the children towards their parents as exhorted by the Lord in the discourse of 'Singala-sutta',
are incumbent on the children.
Rule 2. 'Puttadarassa-sangaho', To support one's children and wife'. The duties
of the parents towards the children as exhorted by the Lord in the discourse of
'Singala-sutta' are incumbent on the parents.
Rule 3. 'Anakulaca-kammanta', 'To do undisturbed acts'. The undisturbed acts
mean the acts that offend no one in the family.
'Etam-mangala-muttamam'_These (three rules mentioned above) are Noble
Blessings.
Passage 5
Rule 1. 'Dananca', 'To give charity'. It actually means the performance of 'Dana-parami' (Cardinal Virtue of Charity).
Rule 2. 'Dhamma-cariya', 'To practise (Noble) 'Dhamma', It actually means the
practice of the Noble Eightfold Path.
Rule 3. 'Natakananca-sangaho', 'To cherish the the relatives'. To cherish them
by the gift of the useful things and also by the gift of the Noble 'Dhamma' (Law) to be
followed by them to their benefit.
Rule 4. 'Anavajjani-kammani', 'To do innocent acts'. It is to note that for one's
acts to be pure and blameless as contemplated by this rule, he should even avoid the
amusement of dancing, singing and various kinds of musics while performing the
meritorious deeds.
'Etam-mangala-muttamam'_These (four rules mentioned above) are Noble
Blessings.
Passage 6
Rule 1. 'Aratipapa', 'To abstain one's self from 'Mano-'duccarita' (Mental evil acts), which are three in number, Viz:
1. 'Abhijjha' (Covetousness),
2. 'Vyapada' (Ill-will), and
3. 'Miccha-ditthi' (Wrong view).
Rule 2. 'Viratipapa', 'To abstain one's self from both 'Kaya-duccarita' (Bodily
evil acts) and 'Vaci-duccarita' (Verbal evil acts). 'Kaya-duccarita' (Bodily evil acts) are
three in number as described below:
1. 'Panatipata' (Killing),
2. 'Adinnadana' (Stealing),
3. 'Kamesumicchacara' (Sexual misconduct)
'Vaci-duccarita' (Verbal evil acts) are four in number as described below:
1. 'Musavada' (Telling lies),
2. 'Pisunavaca' (Slandering),
3. 'Pharusavaca' (Making harsh speech),
4. 'Samphapalapavaca' (Talking nonsense).
Rule 3. 'Majjapanaca-samyamo', 'To abstain from intoxicants'.
Rule 4. Appamadoca-dhammesu', 'To be heedful to the 'Dhamma' (Law). For
this meaning to be more clear, the meaning of 'Pamado' (Unheedfulness), the opposite
Pali word to that of 'Appamado' (Heedfulness) should be understood. The 'Pamado'
means the unrestraint of one's mind from (doing) 'Kaya-duccarita' (Bodily evil acts),
'Vaci-duccarita' (Verbal evil acts), 'Mano-duccaritta' (Mental evil acts), the indulgence to
the performance of 'Kusala-dhamma' (Meritorious deeds), etc....
'Etam-mangala-muttamam'_These (four rules mentioned above) are Noble
Blessings.
Passage 7
Rule 1. 'Garavoca'. 'To pay respect to those who are worthy of respect'. Whether young or old, if one is worthy of respect, he should be respected by all means.
Rule 2. 'Nivatoca'. 'To be humble'. It means to say that one should be always
meek and gentle, and not to indulge in pride.
Rule 3. 'Santutthica', 'To be easily contented'. It is to note that the
'Contentment' is one of the main factors that may appease one's mind in his
everyday-life, and pave the way for his practising the Noble Eightfold path.
Rule 4. 'Katannuta', 'To be grateful to those who have ever done good acts'. It
is to note that there is the saying of the wise men that one should be grateful even to
those who have had once given him a handful of certain things, a mouthful of food, and
the preaching of a single piece of 'Dhamma'.
Rule 5. 'Kalena-Dhammassavanam', 'To hear the sermons at proper times'. It
is to note that though not invited one should hear the sermons from a suitable place,
and follow the 'Dhamma' attentively from beginging to end, without moving from the
seat, with a view to yield to advice.
'Etam-mangala-muttamam'_These (five rules mentioned above) are Noble
Blessings.
Passage 8
Rule 1. 'Khantica', 'To be patient'. It means to say that one should restrain the anger from its arising.
Rule 2. 'Sovacassata', 'To be easily yieldabe to good advice of wise and pious
persons'. It is to note that by yielding to such good advice only one's folly can be
corrected.
Rule 3. 'Samanananca-dassanaam', 'To see and pay homage to the Noble
Monks'. The duties of the lay disciples towards the noble monks as exhorted by the Lord
in the discourse of 'Singala-sutta' are incumbent on the lay disciples.
Rule 4. 'Kalena-dhamma-sakaccha'. 'To discuss the 'Dhamma' (Law) at proper
times'. The discussion of Dhamma should be for one's understanding the righteous
practical way to get free from the dreadful 'Samsara' (Wheel of deaths).
'Etam-mangala-muttamam'_These (four rules mentioned above) are Noble
Blessings.
Passage 9
Rule 1. 'Tapoca', 'To exercise one's self in Self-denial', It means to say that one should lead a good life by observing the moral precepts i. e. the abstinence from the ten
evil acts, and by refraining from an indulgence of the passions or appetites.
Rule 2. 'Braham-cariyanca', 'To dwell on 'Brahma-viara-dhamma' (Law of
Noble Conduct). It is to note that this 'Brahma-vihara-dhamma' comprises the following
four:
1. 'Metta' (Loving kindness),
2. 'Karuna', (Compassion),
3. 'Mudita' (Sympathetic joy), and
4. 'Upekkha' (Equanimity).
Rule 3. 'Ariya-saccana-dassanam', 'To realize the Noble Truths'. It is to note
that the fundamental of all the Four Noble Truths should thoroghly be studied, as
through understanding of them only one may rightly declare himself a true Buddhist, or
a true disciple of the Buddha, or in other word 'Samma-ditthi-puggala'.
Rule 4. 'Nibbana-sacchikiriyaca', 'To introspect or realize 'Nibbana'. To comply
with this rule, one's understanding even roughly as to what does Nibbana mean is
essential. The scriptures define it in many ways, but the brief definition given below may
serve the purpose.
"The Nibbana is, indeed, the real peace, the peerless Supermacy, the
extinction of 'Raga' (Greed), the extinnction of 'Dosa' (Anger), the extinction of 'Moha'
(Delusion), the end of all the sufferings of rebirth, old age, disease and death."
'Etam-mangala-muttamam'_These (four rules mentioned above) are Noble
Blessings.
Passage 10
Rule 1. 'Phutthassa-lokadhammehi-cittam-yassa-nakampati'. When in contact with the natural conditions of the world, one's pure mind or the mind of Holy men
stands unshaken'. The 'Lokadhamma' (Natural conditions of the world), which every
worlding is bound to confront, are, scripturally, eight in unmber, and they are as
follows:
1. 'Labho' (Making gain),
2. 'Alabho' (Making no gain),
3. 'Yaso' (Having many attendants),
4. 'Ayaso' (Having less or no attendants),
5. 'Ninda' (Receiving blame),
6. 'Pasansa' (Receiving fame),
7. 'Sukham' (Happiness) and,
8. 'Dukkham' (Unhappiness or misery).
Rule 2. 'Asokam', Being devoid of anxiety'. It means to say that even at the
loss of delightful things and attendants, no feeling of grief or anxiety is aroused.
Rule 3. 'Virajam', 'Being devoid of impure thoughts of defilement'. It means
the absence of the excessive greediness and of the strong attachment to the valuable
things owned and possessed.
Rule 4. 'Kheman', 'Freeing from danger or harm'. It means to say that, by
virtue of the constant practice of the meditation, the tranquility of mind is well protected
from all dangers and disturbances.
'Etam-mangala-muttamam'_These (four rules mentioned above) are Noble Blessings.
THE END OF MANGALA-SUTTA.
From : The Noble Truth
