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are tonnes of gems in the Pali Canon suttas of the Theravada Buddhist
tradition. Many of these suttas have splendid wisdom about the world we
live as well as insights for practical applications in daily lives.
are tonnes of gems in the Pali Canon suttas of the Theravada Buddhist
tradition. Many of these suttas have splendid wisdom about the world we
live as well as insights for practical applications in daily lives.
Buddhists are householders or lay practitioners, as opposed to monastic
monks or nuns. Hence, the focus in the selection of the 20 important
suttas is predominantly for lay Buddhists. You will find suttas that are
related to wealth and personal relationships, in addition to the key
Dhamma teachings.
it is impossible to list all the equally wonderful suttas, the
following 20 suttas are considered the most essential and useful from
the perspective of a lay Buddhist:
Sutta (Setting the Dharma Wheel in Motion) is the discourse on Four
Noble Truths and Eightfold Path. This is the first sermon by the Buddha
at Deer Park, Sarnath. Together with Anattalakkhana Sutta (2nd turning
of the Wheel) and Aditta-pariyaya Sutta (3rd turning of the Wheel),
these three suttas form the three cardinal teachings within the Pali
traditions.
“And what is the middle way realized by the Tathagata that —
producing vision, producing knowledge — leads to calm, to direct
knowledge, to self-awakening, to Unbinding? Precisely this Noble
Eightfold Path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action,
right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.
This is the middle way realized by the Tathagata that — producing
vision, producing knowledge — leads to calm, to direct knowledge, to
self-awakening, to Unbinding.
“Now this, monks, is the noble truth of stress: Birth is stressful,
aging is stressful, death is stressful; sorrow, lamentation, pain,
distress, & despair are stressful; association with the unbeloved is
stressful, separation from the loved is stressful, not getting what is
wanted is stressful. In short, the five clinging-aggregates are
stressful. – Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta
Sutta, the second cardinal discourse by the Buddha, is about the
teaching on the nature of impermanence, change, and non-self of the five
skandhas. Disciples are taught to release attachment and clinging to
impermanent objects in the material world.
“Bhikkhus, when a noble follower who has heard (the truth) sees
thus, he finds estrangement in form, he finds estrangement in feeling,
he finds estrangement in perception, he finds estrangement in
determinations, he finds estrangement in consciousness.
“When he finds estrangement, passion fades out. With the fading of
passion, he is liberated. When liberated, there is knowledge that he is
liberated. He understands: ‘Birth is exhausted, the holy life has been
lived out, what can be done is done, of this there is no more beyond.’” –
Anattalakkhana Sutta
Sutta is the 3rd cardinal discourse of the Buddha. Popularly known as
the Fire Sermon, this sutta is about the teaching on achieving
liberation from suffering through detachment from the six senses.
Another related sutta about the purification of six senses is Chachakka
Sutta.
Buddha applies skillful means to teach in this case. According to
post-canonical Pali commentary attributed to Buddhaghosa, the Buddha was
said to reflect: ‘What kind of Dhamma talk would be suitable for
them?’ Knowing that these ascetics performed a sacred fire ritual, the
Buddha adapted his teaching by incorporating the element of fire in his
sermon so that his listeners could understand his teaching.
“Monks, the All is aflame. What All is aflame? The eye is aflame.
Forms are aflame. Consciousness at the eye is aflame. Contact at the eye
is aflame. And whatever there is that arises in dependence on contact
at the eye — experienced as pleasure, pain or neither-pleasure-nor-pain —
that too is aflame. Aflame with what? Aflame with the fire of passion,
the fire of aversion, the fire of delusion. Aflame, I tell you, with
birth, aging & death, with sorrows, lamentations, pains, distresses,
& despairs. – Aditta-pariyaya Sutta
Sutta and the Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta are two of the most popular suttas
in the Pali Canon. The four foundation of mindfulness of the body,
feelings/sensations, mind/consciousness, and dhammās are found in this
sutta. Teachings such as the five hindrances, five aggregates of
clinging, six internal and external sense bases, and seven factors of
enlightenment are taught in this sutta as well.
Herein, monks, a monk, having gone to the forest, to the foot of a
tree or to an empty place, sits down with his legs crossed, keeps his
body erect and his mindfulness alert.
Ever mindful he breathes in, mindful he breathes out. Breathing in a
long breath, he knows, “I am breathing in a long breath”; breathing out
a long breath, he knows, “I am breathing out a long breath”; breathing
in a short breath, he knows, “I am breathing in a short breath”;
breathing out a short breath, he knows, “I am breathing out a short
breath.”
“Experiencing the whole (breath-) body, I shall breathe in,” thus he
trains himself. “Experiencing the whole (breath-) body, I shall breathe
out,” thus he trains himself. “Calming the activity of the (breath-)
body, I shall breathe in,” thus he trains himself. “Calming the activity
of the (breath-) body, I shall breathe out,” thus he trains himself. –
Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta
Sutta is a discourse by the Buddha on how to use the awareness of
breath (anapana) as an initial focus for meditation. This sutta and the
Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta constitute the basics of vipassana/mindfulness
meditation.
“Mindfulness of in-&-out breathing, when developed &
pursued, is of great fruit, of great benefit. Mindfulness of
in-&-out breathing, when developed & pursued, brings the four
frames of reference to their culmination. The four frames of reference,
when developed & pursued, bring the seven factors for awakening to
their culmination. The seven factors for awakening, when developed &
pursued, bring clear knowing & release to their culmination. –
Ānāpānasati Sutta
Sutta is the famous discourse on free inquiry. The Kalamas of Kesaputta
sought guidance from the Buddha because there were monks and brahmans
who expounded only their own doctrines and despised the doctrines of
others. They were doubtful which of these monks or brahmans spoke the
truth. The Buddha replied that it was alright to be doubtful and
provided a guideline for them to critically investigate the validity of
the various teachings.
“Come, Kalamas. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated
hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumor; nor upon what is in a
scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious
reasoning; nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over;
nor upon another’s seeming ability; nor upon the consideration, ‘The
monk is our teacher.’ Kalamas, when you yourselves know: ‘These things
are good; these things are not blamable; these things are praised by the
wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and
happiness,’ enter on and abide in them. – Kalama Sutta
Sutta is the only sutta in the Pali Canon in which the Buddha predicts
the future birth and appearance of Buddha Metteya (Maitreya). While
innumerable Buddhas and bodhisattvas are mentioned in the Mahayana
sutras, Buddha Metteya is the only Buddha that has been mentioned by
Shakyamuni Buddha in the Pali Canon.
“Monks, live with yourself as your island, yourself as your refuge,
with nothing else as your refuge. Live with the Dhamma as your island,
the Dhamma as your refuge, with nothing else as your refuge.” –
Cakkavati Sutta
Sutta, also known as the Lesser Discourse on Emptiness, is a teaching
about emptiness – a pivotal doctrine in the Mahayana traditions.
“Ananda, whatever contemplatives and brahmans who in the past
entered & remained in an emptiness that was pure, superior, &
unsurpassed, they all entered & remained in this very same emptiness
that is pure, superior, & unsurpassed. Whatever contemplatives and
brahmans who in the future will enter & remain in an emptiness that
will be pure, superior, & unsurpassed, they all will enter &
remain in this very same emptiness that is pure, superior, &
unsurpassed. Whatever contemplatives and brahmans who at present enter
& remain in an emptiness that is pure, superior, & unsurpassed,
they all enter & remain in this very same emptiness that is pure,
superior, & unsurpassed.
“Therefore, Ananda, you should train yourselves: ‘We will enter
& remain in the emptiness that is pure, superior, &
unsurpassed.’” – Cula-suññata Sutta
Sutta is about the four concentration (jhana) that will result in the
four benefits: pleasant abiding in the here and now, attainment of
knowledge and vision, mindfulness and alertness, and the ending of the
effluents (rebirth). Another related sutta is Samadhanga Sutta, a
discourse on five-factored noble right concentration (jhana) and the
spiritual benefits of upon mastering meditation.
“Monks, these are the four developments of concentration. Which
four? There is the development of concentration that, when developed
& pursued, leads to a pleasant abiding in the here & now. There
is the development of concentration that, when developed & pursued,
leads to the attainment of knowledge & vision. There is the
development of concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads
to mindfulness & alertness. There is the development of
concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads to the ending of
the effluents. – Samadhi Sutta
Sutta is a sutta on the ways of a lay Buddhist. The Buddha expounds the
teaching of taking refuge in the Triple Gem and Five Precepts. Another
related sutta is Dhammika Sutta.
“Mahanama, inasmuch as one has gone to the Buddha for refuge, has
gone to the Dhamma for refuge, has gone to the Sangha for refuge; in
that way, Mahanama, one is a lay follower.” – Mahanama Sutta
Sutta is the discourse on Dependent Origination which is also known as
Dependent Co-arising, or Twelve-linked Chains of Causation. Dependent
Origination is a teaching of the process of life which involves birth,
aging, illness, and death – a process that has its anchor upon the Law
of Cause and Effect
“The knowledge of ending in the presence of ending has its
prerequisite, I tell you. It is not without a prerequisite. And what is
the prerequisite for the knowledge of ending? Release, it should be
said. Release has its prerequisite, I tell you. It is not without a
prerequisite. And what is its prerequisite? Dispassion… Disenchantment…
Knowledge & vision of things as they actually are present…
Concentration… Pleasure… Serenity… Rapture… Joy… Conviction… Stress…
Birth… Becoming… Clinging… Craving… Feeling… Contact… The six sense
media… Name-&-form… Consciousness… Fabrications… Fabrications have
their prerequisite, I tell you. They are not without a prerequisite. And
what is their prerequisite? Ignorance, it should be said. – Upanisa
Sutta
Dighajanu (Vyagghapajja) Sutta, the Buddha instructs rich householders
on how to preserve and increase their prosperity and how to avoid loss
of wealth. Similar to Dighajanu Sutta on the subject of wealth is Adiya
Sutta – a sutta about the benefit of obtaining righteous wealth.
factors for the accumulation of wealth are persistent efforts,
vigilance, good friendship and balanced livelihood. The factors for the
dissipation of wealth are debauchery, drunkenness, gambling, associate
with evil-doers. The factors for spiritual progress are faith, virtue,
charity, and wisdom.
[The Blessed One said:] “There are these four qualities, TigerPaw,
that lead to a lay person’s happiness and well-being in this life. Which
four? Being consummate in initiative, being consummate in vigilance,
admirable friendship, and maintaining one’s livelihood in tune. –
Dighajanu (Vyagghapajja) Sutta
Sutta is a discourse about 23 causes that will bring downfall to
people. Some of these causes include: not cherishing the Dharma,
laziness, living a life of debauchery, excessive drinking, unscrupulous
gambling, womanizing, stinginess etc.
Having co
O Gotama, about man’s decline. Pray, tell us the cause of downfall!
Easily known is the progressive one, easily known he who declines.
He who loves Dhamma progresses; he who is averse to it, declines. –
Parabhava Sutta
Sutta is a discourse on Right View and the Middle Way. Nagarjuna quoted
Kaccayanagotta Sutta in his work Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way:
Sutta is the Buddha’s guidance on how to live with peace and happiness
for lay Buddhist. One day when Sigala was worshipping the six directions
of the East, South, West, North, the Nadir and the Zenith each morning,
the Buddha came along to teach him the meaning to this ritual. This
sutta covers basic morality, how to build, manage, and protect one’s
wealth, how to associate with virtuous friends, and how to maintain good
relationship with people such as husband/wife, parents/children,
teachers/students, employers/employees, friends/associates.
(i) by being courteous to her, (ii) by not despising her, (iii) by
being faithful to her, (iv) by handing over authority to her, (v) by
providing her with adornments.
(i) she performs her duties well, (ii) she is hospitable to
relations and attendants[10] (iii) she is faithful, (iv) she protects
what he brings, (v) she is skilled and industrious in discharging her
duties.
“In these five ways does the wife show her compassion to her husband
who ministers to her as the West. Thus is the West covered by him and
made safe and secure. – Sigolovada Sutta
Sutta, or Karaṇīyamettā Sutta, is a discourse on loving-kindness and
compassion, the virtues of which have the power of protection. Here is
the background story: a group of monks, frightened by the spirits in the
forest where the Buddha had sent them to practice meditation, sought
the Buddha’s assistance. The Buddha expounded the Mettā Sutta as an
antidote for fear. As a result of the loving-kindness exuded by the
monks, the spirits were appeased and they no longer harassed the monks.
“Whatever living beings there may be — feeble or strong (or the
seekers and the attained) long, stout, or of medium size, short, small,
large, those seen or those unseen, those dwelling far or near, those who
are born as well as those yet to be born — may all beings have happy
minds. – Metta Sutta
Sutta is a short discourse on blessings. On one occasion when the
Buddha was dwelling in Jeta’s Grove near Savatthi, a deity came down to
ask the Buddha on what was the greatest blessing. The Buddha expounded
the 38 blessings, some of these blessings are:
“Not to associate with the foolish, but to associate with the wise;
and to honor those who are worthy of honor — this is the greatest
blessing.”
To support mother and father, to cherish wife and children, and to
be engaged in peaceful occupation — this is the greatest blessing.
To be respectful, humble, contented and grateful; and to listen to
the Dhamma on due occasions — this is the greatest blessing. – Mangala
Sutta
Sutta is a sutta on the knowledge of beginnings; the genesis and
evolution of the Universe before the Big Bang. Moral degradation in
general, and greed in particular, are the key factors that give birth to
the physical aspect of the Universe.
“At that period, Vasettha, there was just one mass of water, and all
was darkness, blinding darkness. Neither moon nor sun appeared, no
constellations or stars appeared, night and day were not distinguished,
nor months and fortnights, no years or seasons, and no male and female,
beings being reckoned just as beings. And sooner or later, after a very
long period of time, savoury earth spread itself over the waters where
those beings were. It looked just like the skin that forms itself over
hot milk as it cools. It was endowed with colour, smell and taste. It
was the colour of fine ghee or butter, and it was very sweet, like pure
wild honey. – Aggañña Sutta
Brahmajala Sutta, the Buddha elaborates on the precepts that will
enable one to gain respect from people. In addition, the Buddha also
reveals the truth about Brahma who is the Godhead as found the Abrahamic
faiths in the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions. Those who wish to
discover about the truth about creator God directly from Shakyamuni
Buddha himself, then look no further, just read the Brahmajala Sutta.
“Thereupon the being who re-arose there first thinks to himself: ‘I
am Brahmā, the Great Brahmā, the Vanquisher, the Unvanquished, the
Universal Seer, the Wielder of Power, the Lord, the Maker and Creator,
the Supreme Being, the Ordainer, the Almighty, the Father of all that
are and are to be. And these beings have been created by me. What is the
reason? Because first I made the wish: “Oh, that other beings might
come to this place!” And after I made this resolution, now these beings
have come.’ – Brahmajala Sutta (verse 42)
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: “Behold now,
bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish.
Strive with earnestness!” This was the last word of the Tathagata. –
Mahaparinibbana Sutta
you find this blogpost useful, beneficial, and practical for your
Buddhist practice, do share the joy of Dhamma with your family and
friends. Do subscribe to Lotus Happiness for future updates and give a
& congress are two sides of the same coin said Manyavar Kanshi Ram.
Vultures of the same feather flock together. They are remotely
controlled by foreigners chitpavan brahmins from Bene Israel etc.,All
Aboriginal parties must unite to replace fraud EVMs with Ballot
Papers.Till then boycott all elections & grow own food.
posts of SC/St and OBC categories have been lying vacant for years,
which the BSP has been demanding to fill by running a special campaign,
both inside and outside the Parliament.
