Expert: Justin Choo - 11/25/2009

Question
Dear Justin

Can you explain the following suttas and its core value ie the gist of it;

mangala
ratana
metta

Thank you.

Eddie

Answer
Hi Eddie Chan,

Thank you for visiting.

In brief:

Mangala Sutta (Discourse on great blessings):
This discourse guides us to lead the correct lifestyle.  If we follow this advice, we will experience great blessings in life.  It is a very practical approach to the correct way to conduct our lives.  There are altogether 38 advices (38 blessings), starting from stanza #2 (or 3rd paragraph) which advises us not to associate with the foolish but to associate with the wise.  The complete translation can be found here:
Mangala Sutta:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/khp/khp.5.nara.html


Ratana Sutta (Discourse on precious jewels):
Here "jewels" means the 3 precious refuges:  Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.
This sutta is chanted for the purpose of protection against evils and calamities.  By the powers of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, all evils and calamities will not come to harm us. The complete translation can be found here:
Ratana Sutta:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.2.01.piya.html

Metta Sutta (Discourse on loving kindness):
This discourse is to radiate goodwill vibrations to all beings in the universe.  Having done so, we will not be disturbed by unfriendly forces. The complete translation can be found here:
Metta Sutta:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.1.08.piya.html


These three suttas in that order, are the most commonly recited suttas.  They occupy the first three suttas of the 11 paritta suttas used by Theravada Buddhists.

Hope this is brief enough.

Take care.

Justin Choo