yoshida shokanji international school 11 buddhism...mahā mangala sū tta mahā mangala sūtta was...

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Yoshida Shokanji International School. All Rights Reserved. Yoshida Shokanji International School. All Rights Reserved. Yoshida

Shokanji International School. All Rights Reserved. Yoshida Shokanji International School. All Rights Reserved. Yoshida Shokanji

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International School. All Rights Reserved. Yoshida Shokanji International School. All Rights Reserved.

Yoshida Shokanji International School

Takiko Yoshida Mawatha, Sapugaskanda. Second Term

Grade 11 - Buddhism

Text books grade 11, lesson 08

The gateway to prosperity and downfall

Vyaggapajja Sūtta

Once the Buddha visited to a koliya village named Kakkarapatta. Then Dighajānu, a Koliyan, who belongs to Vyaggapajja clan approached the Buddha, respectfully saluted Him and sat on one side. Thus seated, he addressed the Buddha as follows: "Venerable Sir, we are laymen who enjoy worldly pleasure. We lead a life encumbered by wife and children. We use sandalwood of Kasi. We deck ourselves with garlands, perfume and unguents. We use gold and silver. To those like us,Venerable Sir, please preach the Dhamma that teach those things that lead to weal and happiness in this life and to weal and happiness in future life. “Here the Buddha in response enunciated four healthy practices that would conduce to the householders’ happiness in the present life and four healthy practices that would conduce to their happiness in the life thereafter. They are;

1. Utthāna Sampadā 2. Ārakkhka Sampadā

3. Kalyāna Mittatā 3. Samajivikatā

Utthāna Sampadā (Sustained endeavor)

Utthāna Sampadā is the capacity to plan and organize once trade and to continue until the desired results are achieved.

By whatsoever activity a householder earns his living, he should obtained by dint of effort (Utthanā

viriyadhigathā), collected by strength of arm (Bāhabala Paricitaā), by the sweat of his brow (Sedāvakkitā),

justly acquired by right means (Dhammikā). The Buddha recommended six righteous trades. They are;

1. Agriculture 2. Trades 3. Cattle farming

4. Defense service 5. State services 6. Other crafts

Ārakkhaka Sampadā (Proper protection of assets)

Ārakkhaka Sampadā is the task of protecting ones’ justly earned assets. There four ways of destroying the wealth

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1. Seized by the kings 3. Stolen by the thieves.

2. Burnt by the fire or carrying away by the water 4. Inherited by others whom we do not like

Kālyana Mittatā

Kalyāna Mittatā is the habit of association with friends full of faith (saddhā), full of virtue (sila), full of

charity (cāga), full of wisdom (paññā). He acts in accordance with the faith of the faithful, with the virtue of the virtuous, with the charity of the charitable, with the wisdom of the wise. This is called good friendship.

Samajivikatā (Balanced living)

Samajivikatā is practice of managing one’s budget so as to contain expenditure within one’s income. This practice signifies the golden rule of simple frugal living avoiding both lavish wasteful spending and stinginess.

A householder with little income were to lead an extravagant life is called Udumbarakhādika (wood apple eater). A householder with a large income were to lead a wretched life is called die like a starveling.

Some people spend more than what they earn to imitate the others. Such people create their own downfall. One should balance the income and expenses in order to get the success in the life here and here after.

Mahā Mangala Sūtta

Mahā Mangala Sūtta was preached by the Buddha to a certain deity who had doubt about the omens that

bring blessings to the people. This Sūtta enumerated thirty eight blessings to the householders. Most of them are beneficial to the life here. They are;

1. Asevanā ca bālānaṃ (Not to associate with the foolish people)

2. paṇḍitānañ ca sevanā (Associate with the wise)

3. Pūjā ca pūjanīyānaṃ (Homage those worthy of homage)

4. Paṭirūpa desa vāso ca (Congenial locality for residence)

5. Pubbe ca kata-puññatā (Having done merit in the past)

6. Atta sammā paṇidhi ca (To set oneself in the right course)

7. Bahu saccañ ca (Ample learning)

8. Sippañ ca (Proficiency in crafts)

9. vinayo ca susikkhito (well-trained in discipline)

10. Subhāsitā ca yā vācā ( Well spoken words)

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11. Mātāpitū upaṭṭhānaṃ ((To support mother and father)

12. Putta sangaho (To cherish children)

13. Dārassa saṅgaho (To cherish wife)

14. Anākulā ca kammantā (To be engaged in peaceful occupation)

15. Dānañ ca (To be generous in giving )

16. Dhammacariyā ca (Living by Dhamma)

17. Nātakānañ ca saṅgaho (Supporting relatives)

18. Anavajjāni kammāni (Blameless actions)

19. Ārati pāpā (Avoidance from evil)

20. Virati pāpā, (Abstinence from evil)

21. Majjapānā ca saññamo (To refrain from intoxicating drinks)

22. Appamādo ca dhammesu (diligence in acts of virtue)

23. Gāravo ca nivāto ca (Reverence and humility)

24. Santuṭṭhī ca kataññutā (Being contentment and gratitude)

25. Kālena dhammasavanaṃ (To have religious discussions on due occasions)

26. Khantī ca (Patience)

27. Sovacassatā (Amenability to correction)

28. Samaṇānañ ca dassanaṃ (Visiting monks)

29. kālena dhammasākacchā (timely discussions on the Dhamma)

30. Tapo ca (Energetic restraint)

31. Brahmacariyā ca ( Holy and chaste life)

32. Ariyassaccāna dassanaṃ (The perception of the Noble Truths)

33. Nibbāna-sacchikiriyā ca ( Realization of Nibbāna)

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34. Phuṭṭhassa lokadhammehi cittaṃ yassa na kampati (The mind A mind unruffled by the Vicissitudes.)

35. Asokaṃ (Free from sorrow)

36. Virajaṃ (Free from passion)

37. khemaṃ (Well secured)

38. Etādisāni katvāna sabbattha-m-aparājitā sabbattha sotthiṃ gacchanti (Those who thus abide, ever remain invincible, in happiness established)

Parābhava Sūtta

The Parābhava Sūtta consist of cogent advices to the laymen to achieve the success in this life and the life

after this. Parābhava Sūtta was preached by the Buddha in response to a question raised by a certain deity. The deity inquired how downfall of a person take place. There are twelve stanzas that explains the way, a laymen could ruin his life

Causes of Downfall

1. Aversion or lack of respect for the Dhamma. 2. Attachment to the vicious, dislike of the virtuous and embracing the belief of the vicious. 3. Being lazy, indolent and displaying shortness of temper. 4. Being rich falling to support aged parent. 5. Deceiving one’s religious mentors by falsehood. 6. Being conceited of one’s wealth and clan despising one’s relatives. 7. Being affluent, enjoying luxuries selfishly alone. 8. Being a person of immoral character, a drunkard a gambler or prodigal 9. Associating others wives and immoral women 10. Being a aged person and marrying young ladies 11. Placing in a management position a wasteful man or woman 12. Being a person a slender means nursing a high ambition and aspiring to a dominant position in

society

The wise person will understand the factors of downfall, be endowed with Āryan insight and acquire prosperity

here and here after. Vyaggapajja, Mahā Mangala and Parābhava Sūtta contains the factors that cause material

progress in household life. They teach us the decisive factors of good and bad. In terms of Maha Mangala Sūtta associating wise and avoiding fools influence on the one’s own personal development. We as student should observe these advices carefully and get them use in our lives. Engage in peaceful occupation mentioned in Mahā

Mangala Sūtta is well explained in Vyaggapajja Sūtta under right livelihood.

Pious living or being virtuous mean discipline of one’s action and words. Thus even one point in Mahā Mangala

Sūtta is adequate to get the success one’s own life. There will not be individual downfall, if the advice given in

Mahā Mangala Sūtta,Vyaggapajja and Parābhava sūtta are followed.

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read the lesson and make 10 MCQs

10 short answers questions

02 essay type questions

please WhatsApp or email completed work to,

0715642648 / [email protected]

yoshida shokanji international school 11 buddhism...mahā mangala sū tta mahā mangala sūtta was...

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