THIRTY EIGHT MANGALAR OR BLESSINGS DR KYAW TINT MB.BS. DHAMMA DANA THIRTY EIGHT MANGALAR OR BLESSINGS B Y DR KYAW TINT MB.BS.YANGON, MYANMAR. 1 CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5 FOREWORD 6 INTRODUCTION 9 1. NOT TO ASSOCIATE WITH THE FOOL 10 2. TO ASSOCIATE WITH THE WISE 15 3. TO HONOUR THOSE WHO ARE WORTHY OF HONOUR 20 4. TO RESIDE IN A SUITABLE LOCALITY 23 5. TO HAVE DONE GOOD DEEDS IN THE PAST 26 6. TO SET ONESELF IN THE RIGHT COURSE 33 7. TO HAVE VAST LEARNING 34 8. TO BE POSSESSED OF VAST SKILL 38 9 A WELL TRAINED DISPLINE 41 10. PLEASANT SPEECH 44 11 SUPPORTING MOTHER AND FATHER 46 12. CHERISHING WIFE AND CHILDREN 50 2 13. TO BE ENGAGE IN WORK THAT DOES NOT HURT OR HARM ANYONE 56 14. GIVING ALMS 60 15. TO LIVE THE RIGHTEOUS LIFE 66 16. HELPING OF ONE’S RELATIVES 70 17. IMMORAL LIVELIHOOD 75 18. TO ABSTAIN FROM MENTAL EVIL 78 19. TO ABSTAIN FROM PHYSICAL EVIL 82 20. TO REFRAIN FROM INTOXICANTS 84 21. TO PRACTICE DHAMMA DELIGENTLY 87 22. PAYING RESPECT AND HONOUR TO ELDERS AND SUPERIORS 91 23. TO BE HUMBLE 94 24. TO BE CONTENT 100 25. GRATITUDE 103 26. TO LISTEN TO DHAMMA AT APPROPOATE TIMES 108 3 27. TO BE PATIENT 111 28. OBEDIENCE 115 29. TO SEE HOLY PERSONS 119 30 DISCUSSING DHAMMA APPROPRIATE TIMES 123 31. LEADING A SELF DISCIPLINED LIFE 127 32. LEADING A HOLY LIFE 130 33. THE RELISATION OF THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTH 133 34. THE REALIZING OF NIBBANA 137 35. NOT TO BE SHAKEN BY THE UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE 142 36 FREE FROM SORROW 147 37. A STATE OF PURITY 154 38. TO REMAIN FREE FROM INSECURITY 159 EPILOGUE 164 GLOSSARY 165 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Without the support of so many others, this book would not have been possible. First I would like to thank my family for encouraging me to write this book. Thanks to U Hla Maung, a geologist , and U Aung Khin, a senior auditor, for taking care of editing in making this book look good. Thanks to Daw Nyo Nyo Aye, for typing, editing, proof- reading and finally making it into CDs. Thanks to U Bayda, graphic designer, for his beautiful pictures. Thanks to Dr Tin Hla Ngwe, Ph D. Los Angeles U.S.A. for writing an Epilogue on Mangala Sutta. Thanks to my parents, who brought me into this world and raised me to think for myself and be all that I can be. I am grateful to my Buddhist teachers, Waybu Sayadaw, Mahasi Sayadaw,Ye Oo Sayadaw , Maygawaddy Sayadaw,U Thuzata Sayadaw for helping me to dream big and achieve. Finally and most importantly, I am profoundly grateful to The Buddha for his teachings (38 blessings) which I have learned and imparted by writing this book. The author allow everybody to print this book and copy the attached DVD-ROM and distribute to others, provided it is not for financial gain. 5 FOREWORD I am a medical doctor who practices modern medicine. Throughout my medical school days, and in my medical career, I always find the solution to the problems right from the centre of the matter. I got this practice because I learned Mangala Sutta and applied it in life. Mangala Sutta is a very early Sutta that the Buddha preached to the people and devas (celestial beings). It contains lessons regarding what a person should do and should not do to be successful in life. Mangala Sutta is a one of the most important Suttas to learn and apply in one’s life. After learning Mingala Sutta a person will become refined, cultured and a worthy citizen of the world, regardless of the religious faith he or she follows. Thus, it is with my utmost cedana ( good volition) that I compiled the thirty eight stanzas for everyone who wants to live their lives in harmony. I sincerely hope that this book will be of help to those who try to remember these Sutta and apply them to their daily Note:- The meaning of the underline Italic words are shown in glossary. 6 FOREWORD Way of life in Buddhist countries is mainly influenced by the Buddha’s teaching. In other words, for the Buddhist the way they act, speak and think are mainly in accordance with what the Buddha thaught. His teachings are the model for them. Lord Buddha’s teachings are preserved in ‘the Three Baskets of Buddhist Text (Ti-pitaka), commonly known as the Buddhist Bible’. Since He taught for forty-five years, His doc trines, in a book form, are voluminous, altogether 48 in the Sixth Buddhist Council’s version (They are just primary texts, not included their commentaries and sub-commentaries). The Blessing Discourses (Mangalar) is in the ‘Basket of Discourse ( Suttanta)’, one of the three divisions (Ti-pitaka) of the Buddhist Scriptures. Compared to the ‘Basket of Dis- ciplines (Vinaya)’ and the ‘Basket of Ultimate Things(Abhi- dhamma)’, it holds more volumes and is widely used and more influential among Buddhists.The reason is that: the ‘Basket of Discipline (Vinaya)’ is primarily for the monks and nuns, the Basket of Ultimate Things (Abhi-dhamma) is for scholar, while the Basket of Discourse (Suttanta) is for everybody, and lay-person alike. The ‘Basket of Discourses (Suttanta)’ consist of tens of thousand of sermons spoken/preached by Lord Buddha dur- ing His forty-five missionary years. Among them, the Bless- ing Discourse (Mangala Sutta) is probably the most well- known and the greatest influence upon the Buddhists. Through-out the ages, many books have written in various languages regarding the ‘Blessing Discourse (Mangala Sutta)’. In Burmese one of the famous books is Mangalattha Dipani meaning, the Manual of the Exposition of Blessing. 7 It was written in old Burmese at the time of Burmese kings.In modern time, U Thukha, a well-known writter and a film-di- rector, wrote a book on this subject in plain Burmese. It is called (Mangala Thote), meaning the Blessing Discourse. The last one of it’s kind, as far as I know, is ‘Thirty Eight Mangalar or Blessings’ by Dr Kyaw Tint. I am very glad to write a foreword for that book. It is a book of ‘direct to the point’, so to speak. The pictures in the book are very help- ful to understand the theme of it. They also are painted in purely Burmese style. Further more, to understand each blessing properly, these include stories at the end of each blessing’s remark. The stories that illustrate each blessing are pleasing. They make you understood well. They may be meaningful for those who are familiar with Burmese culture. Thanks to Dr. Kyaw Tint who make such a book pos- sible. May you be well, happy and peaceful. Much Metta Dr.Nyanawara Sasana-dhaja Dhamma-cariya Sasana-dhaja Siripavara Dhamma-cariya Majjhima Bhanaka Majjhima Nikaya Kovida. Azusa Kyaung, Los Angeles, California.USA. Full -moon day of Second Waazo,1374. August 2, 2012(Thursday) 8 INTRODUCTION MANGALA SUTTA (THIRTY EIGHT BLESSINGS) DEFINITION Mangala Sutta is the Dhamma or teachings that shows the works. which lead to blessings and prosperity. In other words a person who follows the teachings shown in Mangala Sutta, will get the blessings and prosper in life. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND For twelve years before The Buddha preached this Mangala Sutta, people gathered to think about the blessings or Mangalar. Some said if you see a good scenery which you like, it is mangalar. Others said, a good sound that you like is mangalar. Some believed a good touch that you like is mangalar. So there were different opinions on what Mangalar really is. These were not accepted by the majority of people including the Guardian Devas,( the celestial beings), who look after the people. Thus, the devas, celestial beings went to their Deva King to ask him about what Mangalar is. The Deva King sent one of the devas to Buddha who was residing at Jetavana monastery , donated to The Buddha by Anathapindika in a town Savatthi in India. The deva went to the monastery at midnight and asked Buddha to preach Mangala Sutta. At the request of the deva , Buddha, with kindness towards all beings, preached Mangala Sutta which will bring blessings and prosperity to those who follow the work earnestly. The audience at that time was a great gathering of devas and brahmas coming from the ten thousand world system. 9 Three months after The Buddha passed away (Pari- nibbana), all arahats gathered at a great meeting to compile all the Buddha’s Teachings. At that time, Ashin Maha Kassapa asked Ashin Ananda ,where and why Buddha preached Mangala Sutta. Ashin Ananda answered as follows: “One midnight, a deva, a celestial being, came to Jetavana monastery and asked Buddha to preach Mangala sutta.’’ That is how the Mingala Sutta became one of the teachings of Dhamma to all beings. Mangala Sutta consists of thirty eight blessings. 1. NOT TO ASSOCIATE WITH THE FOOLS (ASEVANA CA BALANAM) Buddha preached the first and most important blessing, not to associate with the fools. This is to be considerd together with all other blessings. Who are the fools? (1) The fools cannot differentiate good and evil, truth and untruth, right and wrong. (2) He has no knowledge, love, good will and sympathy to others. (3) He cannot solve problems when they arise. (4) He is selfish, greedy, proud, and jealous. (5) There is no discipline and always lead his friends to do wrong.