Mangala Sutta

Theravāda
Countries
	Sri Lanka Cambodia • Laos Burma • Thailand
Texts
	Pali Canon Commentaries Subcommentaries
History
	Pre-sectarian Buddhism Early schools • Sthavira Asoka • Third Council Vibhajjavada Mahinda • Sanghamitta Dipavamsa • Mahavamsa Buddhaghosa
Doctrine
	Saṃsāra • Nibbāna Middle Way Noble Eightfold Path Four Noble Truths Enlightenment Stages Precepts • Three Jewels Outline of Buddhism
view · talk · edit

The Mangala Sutta (Burmese: မင်္ဂလသုတ် Mingala thoke, Thai: มงคลสูตร , Khmer: មង្គលសូត្រ mongkhol sut) is a discourse (Pali: sutta) of the Buddha on the subject of 'blessings' (mangala, also translated as 'good omen' or 'auspices').^[1] In this discourse, the Buddha describes 'blessings' that are wholesome personal pursuits or attainments, identified in a progressive manner from the mundane to the ultimate spiritual goal. In Sri Lanka this is known as "Maha Mangala Sutta" and this sutta considered to be part of "Maha Pirith".

This discourse is recorded in Theravada Buddhism's Pali Canon's Khuddaka Nikaya in two places: in the Khuddakapāṭha (Khp 5), and in the Sutta Nipāta (Sn 2.4).^[2] In the latter source, the discourse is called the Mahāmangala Sutta. It is also traditionally included in books of 'protection' (paritta).

Content

It was preached at Jetavana Temple in answer to a question asked by a deva as to which things in this world could truly be considered blessings (mangalāni). The sutta describes thirty-eight blessings in ten sections,^[3] as shown in the table below:

Gp.1	Not associating with fools	Associating with the wise	Expressing respect to those worthy of respect
Gp.2	Living in an amenable location	Having meritorious deeds in one's past	Setting oneself up properly in life
Gp.3	Learnedness	Artfulness	Self-discipline	Artful speech
Gp.4	Filial piety	Cherishing one's children	Cherishing one's spouse	Not leaving work undone
Gp.5	Generosity	Dhamma practice	Caring for extended family	Blameless work
Gp.6	Avoiding unwholesomeness	Not drinking intoxicants	Non-recklessness in the Dhamma
Gp.7	Respect	Humility	Contentment	Gratitude	Listening regularly to Dhamma teachings
Gp.8	Patience	Openness to Criticism	Sight of a True Monk	Regular discussion of the Dhamma
Gp.9	Practising Austerities	Practising the Brahma-faring	Seeing the Four Noble Truths	Attainment of Nirvana
Gp.10	Mind free of Worldly Vicissitudes	Sorrowlessness	Free of Subtle Defilements	Blissful Mind

Maha Mangala Sutta

Evang Me suthang Ekan samayan Bagawa Savaththiyan Viharathi Jethavane Anatha Pindikassa Arame Athako Anggnatharaya devatha abhikkanthaya Raththiya Abbikkanthavanna kevala kappan jethawanam Obasethwa Yena bagawa thenupasankaming upasankamiththa Bagawanthang abhiwa dethwa Ekamanthn attasi akamanthang thitakosa Deavatha Bagawanthang Ghathaya Ajjagasi

1.

  Bahu Deva Manussacha - Mangalani Achintha ung
  Akankha Mana Soththanan - Bruhi Mangala Muththa mang

2.

  Asewanacha Balanam - Pandithanancha Sevana
  Pujacha Puja neeya nam - Ethang Mangala Muththa mang

3.

  Pathirupa Desa Vasocha Pubbetha Katha Punna tha
  Aththa Samma Panidicha - Ethang Mangala Muththa mang

4.

  Bahuschchancha Sippancha Vinayacha susikkitho
  Subasithacha Yawacha - Ethang Mangala Muththa mang

5.

  Mathapithu Upattanam Puththadarssa Sangaho
  anakulacha Kammantha - Ethang Mangala Muththa mang

6.

  Danancha Dhammachirayacha -gnathakanancha sangaho
  Anawajjani Kammani - Ethang Mangala Muththa mang

7.

  Arathi Virthi Papa Majjapanacha Sangngamo
  Appamadocha dhammesu - Ethang Mangala Muththa mang

8

  Garavocha Nivathocha Santhutti cha Kathan gnutha
  Kalena Dhamma Savanam - Ethang Mangala Muththa mang

9

  Kanthicha Sova Thassatha Samanancha Dassanan
  Kalena Dhamma Sakachcha - Ethang Mangala Muththa mang

10

  Thapocha Brahmachariyacha Ariya Sachchana Dassanan
  Nibbana Sachchakiriyacha - Ethang Mangala Muththa mang

11

  Puttassa Loka Dhammehi Chiththng yassana kampathi
  Asokan Virajan Kemang - Ethang Mangala Muththa mang

12

  Etha Disani Kathwana Sabbaththa Maparajitha
  Sabbantha Sothththing Thanthesan Mangala Muththa mang thi

Maha Mangala Sutta (Pali)

Traditional context

The post-canonical Pali Commentary ^[4] explains that at the time the sutta was preached there was great discussion over the whole of Jambudvipa regarding the definition of blessings. The devas heard the discussion and argued among themselves till the matter spread to the highest Brahmā world. Then it was that Sakka suggested that a deva should visit the Buddha and ask him about it.

This sutta is one of the suttas at the preaching of which countless devas were present and countless beings realized the Truth.^[5]

Uses

The sutta is often recited, and forms one of the commonest pieces of chanting used for the Paritta. To have it written down in a book is considered an act of great merit.^[6]

History

King Dutthagamani once attempted to preach the Mangala Sutta at the Lohapasada, but he was too nervous to proceed.^[7]

The preaching of the Mangala Sutta was one of the incidents of the Buddha's life represented in the Relic Chamber of the Ruwanwelisaya.^[8]

See also

• Paritta (Buddhist Protective Discourses)

References

1. ^ For example, Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 513, entry for "Mangala" (retrieved 08-28-2008 from "U. Chicago" at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3740.pali) translates mangala as 'good omen, auspices, festivity.'
2. ^ Sn, pp. 46f
3. ^ Khp.pp.2f
4. ^ KhpA.vii.; SnA.i.300
5. ^ SnA.i.174; BuA.243; AA.i.57,320
6. ^ MA.ii.806
7. ^ Mhv.xxxii.43
8. ^ Mhv.xxx. 83

Sources

• Rhys Davids, T.W. & William Stede (eds.) (1921-5). The Pali Text Society’s Pali–English Dictionary. Chipstead: Pali Text Society. A general on-line search engine for the PED is available at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/.

External links

• Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1994). Mangala Sutta: Protection (Khp 5). Retrieved from "Access to Insight" on 08-15-2008 at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/khp/khp.1-9.than.html#khp-5.
• Life’s Highest Blessings: The Maha-Mangala Sutta: Translation and Commentary by Dr R.L.Soni
• Mangala Suta Uannana by Ven. K. Gunaratana Thera (docx- file 69kB)

[* Chandrabodhi chants the Mahamangala Sutta and other suttas in an 'Indian style'at [1] and Sangharakshita reads the Mahamangala and Karaniyametta suttas, although with other readings from the Pali Canon at [2] both retrieved from freebuddhistaudio.com