Expert: Anandapanyo Bhikkhu - 11/26/2009

Question
QUESTION: Dear Ananda

Can you explain the following suttas and its core value ie the gist of it, what it teaches us.

mangala
ratana
metta

Thank you.

Eddie

ANSWER: Dear Eddie Chan,

Thank you for the opportunity to answer your questions.

I will answer your question somewhat succinctly, however, if you want more clarity, please ask a followup about each suttam separately.

The bottom line for any sutta is only what you can extract from it. The only good in chanting a sutta is that it can teach you something. So whatever you can learn from it is the core value.


As for the first sutta, the Mangala Suttam,

A devata asked the Buddha what would lead to good fortune (happiness).

The Buddha responded with 10 points:
1.  Not surrounding yourself with fools, surrounding yourself with the wise. Respecting those who deserve respect.
2. Living in a right place, have past good merit, living rightly
3. Having knowledge, skill, discipline. Using your words wisely.
4. Support one's parents, wife and children. Do not leave jobs unfinished.
5. Generosity, living by the Dhamma, assistance to one's relatives, doing deeds that are without blame.
6. Avoiding and abstaining from doing evil, refusing intoxicants, being heedful of the mind
7. Respect, humility, contentment, gratitude, Hearing the Dhamma
8. Patience, compliance, seeing contemplatives, discussing the Dhamma
9. Austerity, celibacy, seeing the Noble Truths, Realizing Liberation
10. Having a mind that is unshaken, sorrow-less, dustless, secure when touched by the ways of the world.
11. Undefeated when doing these things, going everywhere in well-being.

Core Value:
This teaches you how to live and conduct your life in order to obtain the highest fortune - which is having a mind that is unshaken, sorrow-less, dustless, secure when touched by the ways of the world.

Ratana Suttam

The Buddha taught this discourse to Venerable Ānanda when Vesālī was plagued by disease, famine, and evil spirits.

The main point of the Suttam is explaining the path and benefits of enlightenment, starting from the stream-winners all the way to Arahantship.

Metta Suttam:

This suttam was taught by the Buddha to a group of monks who were disturbed by tree spirits. He urged them to practice loving-kindness towards all beings. Then those spirits tolerated their presence happily.

This suttam teaches us what to do in terms of precepts and how to live without harming others. Those who do not harm others, will be able to prevent harm to oneself. Those without harm will be able to be happy. Those who are happy will be better conducted to practice dhamma. Those who practice Dhamma will soon be free.



All the Suttas lend themselves to the release of suffering and obtainment of freedom (enlightenment). That is the main gist or point of the Suttas. However, the most important thing about any sutta is the benefit that you can extract from it and use in your life.

I hope I have answered your questions. If you need further clarification on any topic, please feel free to ask followup questions.

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Ananda

Thank you very much for your answers. Has been very helpful. If I may ask again, the important thing is what's the benefit that I can extract from these suttas and use in my life?

Sincerely

Eddie

Answer
Dear Eddie,

For the Mangala Suttam:

You can use it to see if you are living your life rightly. Here are some examples of some questions you can ask yourself:

Are the people around you fools? or wise? Are they making you better or worse? Do you respect people who deserve respect? Do you use your words wisely? When you say things, do other people get affected negatively? How do you treat your parents? Do you respect them?

For the Ratana Suttam:

Do you have faith in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha? If you do, do you still fear ghosts, listen to soothe-sayers (fortunetellers), horoscopes and other things? Do you desire to become free of suffering? Do you know of the path the Buddha taught to obtain enlightenment? Do you know the different levels of enlightenment? Do you know what the benefits of being enlightened are?

For the Metta Suttam:

Do you live according to the precepts? Do you kill? Do you physically harm any living beings (including ants, and other insects)? Do you steal? Or desire things that belong to others? Do you commit sexual misconduct? Do you use your words to hurt people? Do you partake of intoxicants? Do people around you view you with compassion?

If you can find the answers to these questions, you can evaluate your life and then extract benefit from these suttas or any other suttas or teachings of the Buddha.

I hope I have answered your questions.

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo