THIRTY EIGHT

MANGALAR
OR
BLESSINGS

DR KYAW TINT MB.BS. DHAMMA DANA

THIRTY EIGHT MANGALAR
OR
BLESSINGS

BY

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

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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

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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.

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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

. which lead to blessings and prosperity. In other words a
the works
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.

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 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.
(6) He is miser and never give charity.
(7) He is like an animal who know only three things, eating,
sleeping, and sexual enjoyment.
Four kinds of fools
(1) One who is mentally defective.
(2) One who lacks good character.
(3) One who has no knowledge.
(4) One who has an evil mind.

10
 THE FOLLOWERS OF WISE LEADER WERE
SAVED BUT THOSE OF THE FOOL LEADER WERE
DROWN IN THE OCEAN.

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Disadvantages of associating with the fools

(1) People will dislike you.

(2) You can be punished by the law.

(3) Wise people will look down on you.

(4) Your possession and reputation can be lost.

(5) Can meet many difficulties in life.

Story 1 The Two Carpenter Leaders
Once there was King Brahmadat who ruled Benares,in
India. Not far from the capital, there was a big village where
one thousand carpenters were living.They took advanced
money from the villagers to build houses and furnitures. Their
debts were growing high so they decided to go to another place.
They built a huge boat and kept in a little far place in a river.
At midnight they left to the sea with their families and soon
reached an island in the centre of the ocean.

The little island was rich with paddy, sugar cane,

mango, jack fruit and coconut trees.There was a man who came
to the island after a shipwreck. Because of good diet he looked
fat and without clothes. He got long hair , moustache and beard;
he resembled a monster.

When they arrived at the island, they sent out seven to

eight strong men with weapons to investigate the condition of
the new place.

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 The man on the island, after his breakfast with a sugar
cane drink, was singing happily ,“People living in large South
Island have to do cultivation, trading, and other professions;
but it differs from those living on this little island, which is
much better than the large South Island’’.When the
investigaters heard a human voice they tried to find out what
it is. As they saw a figure which looked like a monster, they
were much frightened and aimed at him with weapons

When the man saw the investigaters, he was much

frightened and said, “ Well friends! I am not a monster, just a
man, please save my life”. The investigaters asked, why he
did not wear clothes?. The man replied,“I have no cloths at
all”. As they knew that he was human being, they came near
him and talked happily. The man told them how he reached
the island after a ship-wreck, and how he had to survive.

He said “Well friends! You are lucky to be on this is-

land ; there are natural plants like paddy, sugar-cane, and fruits;
there is no danger; this island is guarded by angels They hate
feces and urine; if you all want to live on this island, please do
not leave feces and urine as it is; dig the sand and pass feces
and urine and then cover with sand; apart from that there is no
other danger”. Thus he reminded them.

The carpenters decided to stay on the island. There

were two leaders among them. Five hundred carpenters were
controlled by a foolish leader who did not know the matter
right or wrong and another five hundred carpenters controlled
by a wise leader.

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 After living on the island for quite a long time, the
foolish leader and his followers made alcohol out of cane-
suger. They drank and danced on the island. They passed fe-
ces and urine without any self-control. They never covered
with sand at all. The whole island became dirty with excreta.

The guarding angels were very angry when they came

to the island for a grand meeting. They said their play- ground
was spoilt and their meeting cannot be performed They de-
cided to kill all the people by raising the ocean level after
fifteen days.
Among the guarding angels, there was an angel who
was very kind hearted. He came at night to the carpenters and
brightened the sky with his power and stood in the northern
sky. He told them, “Oh carpenters! Fifteen days from now, on
the full-moon night , there will be a great flood covering the
whole island; you all should leave the island and go to a safe
place”.Thus he gave the advice and left from the island.
Then a cruel angel came and brightened the sky and
stood in the southern sky and said, “Oh carpenters! There will
be no flood covering this wonderful island; I do not see any
danger; continue to stay happily on this beautiful island”. Thus
he told untrue words to the carpenters.
When the angel disappeared, the foolish leader told
his followers ,“Well friends! , the words of the angel from the
south is true, but the angel from the north is not true, do not
get frightened, continue to stay happily’’.
The wise leader thought a lot and said to his friends
“Well friends ! The words of the two angels are opposing each
other; one said , there is danger and the other said there is no
danger, please listen to my words, we should not be destroyed;

14
we must build a strong big boat; if the words of the angel of
the south are true, this boat will be for future diasaster; we
will not leave the island; if the words of the first guarding
angel are true and there is rising of water, we will leave with
the boat; if the words of the second guarding angel are true,
we will keep our boat in a suitable place and we will continue
staying on this island”.

The foolish leader did not agree and said “Well friends!
You are doing un-necessary work; the first guarding angel gave
his advice because he hates us; the second one gave his advice
because he loves us; where shall we go; why should we leave
this pleasant island?; we do not need to build a boat”.
The wise leader and his followers built a big boat and
loaded it with all provisions and stayed on the boat.
On the fifteenth day, the ocean level rose gradually.
When the water level was about waist-line, the wise leader
and his followers left the island for good.
The foolish leader and his followers did not care and
stayed quite easily and enjoying. The ocean level rose from
waist-line to shoulder, from shoulder to head; from head to
the top of the pole. The foolish leader and his five hundred
followers were drowned in the ocean.

Source;- 550 Nipada, Thumuda-Warni Zat

2. TO ASSOCIATE WITH THE WISE (PANDITA-NAM

CA - SEVANA)
Who are the wise persons
(1) A person who desire to do good deeds for himself
and for others.

15
 (2) He can judge between right and wrong.
(3) He knows truth and untruth; he knows moral and
immoral.
(4) He thinks wise thoughts, makes wise speeches and does
wise deeds.
(5) He is not selfish, and ready to sacrifice his life for the
welfare of others.
Seven qualities of a wise man.
(1) Good character.
(2) Excellent moral qualities.
(3) Capable of solving difficult problems.
(4) Generosity.
(5) Good mind, speech, action.
(6) Good desire to help others.
(7) Keep others to the same level with himself

. Advantages of associating with a wise man.

(1) No misfortune of meeting with trouble.

(2) He enjoys worldly pleasures which the good people

deserve.

(3) As a consequence of good deeds, he will gain benefits

in future lives till he reaches Nibbana.

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Story 2 Satti-Gonba zat

Once , the two parrots lived in a forest near the moun-

tains. In the forest, there were five hundred robbers living in
one part, and five hundred hermits living in another part.
At one time, a gust of wind blew across the forest and
the two young parrots were carried away by the strong wind
to different parts of the forest . One parrot fell on a heap of
weapons of the robbers and he was named Satti-Gonba and
was brought up by the robbers. The other parrot fell on the
flower bushes and and was named Poppa-ka and was brought
up by the hermits.
One day, the King who ruled Otara-parisara country
came to the forest, with his followers, for a hunting game.
The King ordered his followers, “If an animal escape from
the place where he is posted for duty, must follow and catch
that animal”.

All the followers including the King were watching

for the animals. The followers were striking the bushes with
loud noices to frighten the animals. One deer ran into the bush
where the King was hiding. The King tried to catch the deer,
but he could not do so. The followers were making a joke,
“From where the golden deer escape? ; it escapes from the
King’s place”.

Then the King, with his chariot, drove after the deer.The
deer was so frightened that it ran over the bushes and down
hill and uphill. The King tried very hard, but could not catch
the deer. Then the King’s chariot reached a little village near a
stream, where the the robbers were residing. The King was
very tired that he fell asleep.
When the robbers saw the King and charoit driver, they

17
 hid in the forest. The persons left in the village were the
. robber’s cook and the parrot, Satti-Gonba.
At that time, Satti-Gonba parrot saw the King fast
asleep. He noticed the King’s valuable dress, ruby earings and
a golden sling.
The parrot was shouting to the robber’s cook “Let us
take the King’s dress, his ruby earings and golden sling; kill
both of them and cover them with branches”.When the King
was awaken by the loud voices of the parrot, he knew that the
place was dangerous. Both of them departed from the place.
Then the parrot shouted ,“Oh robbers! The King has
ran away; try to catch them with arrows and spears”. The King
ordered the charoit driver to drive faster. Later they reached
the monastery where the five hundred hermits were residing.
When Poppa-ka parrot saw the the King, he said, “Oh
your Honourable King! Your visit is a pleasant one; please be
free to ask anything; we have various sweet fruits; water from
the creek is cool and nice; please have water from the water
pot”.
When the King heard the kind words of Poppa-ka
parrot, he thought of the cruel Satti-Gonba parrot. The King
said, “This parrot is kind, the other one is cruel; why do they
have differant manners”?
The parrot said ,“ Oh your Honourable King! The par-
rot you have seen is my younger brother; because of the harsh
gale, we are separated from each other; my young brother was
blown and fell into a place where weapons were stored by the
robbers , thus named Satti-Gonba and brought up by the rob-
bers; I was thrown into the flower bushes, thus named Poppa-
ka and brought up by the hermits; when you wrap the rotten
fish with Thaman-grass, the grass will have a rotten smell ;
so also Satti-Gonba has cruel and dirty manners as robbers;

18
A KIND AND GOOD HEARTED PARROT
WAS TALKING TO THE KING

19
but when you wrap a leave with Toung- salat flower (Rhodo-
dendron), the leaf will have a sweet smell; since I was brought
up by the hermits, I have good qualities of the hermits; the
behavior, the manner, the way of thinking, are reflected with
whom a person is associated”.Thus the parrot gave a Dhamma
talk to the King, who was very happy and pleased.

Source:- Witheti-Nippda ,Thati-Gomba Zat.

3. TO HONOUR THOSE WORTHY OF HONOUR (PUJA

CA -PUJANI-YANAM)
The worthy ones are;-
(1) The Buddha
(2) The Pacceka (Silent) Buddha.
(3) The Dhamma.
(4) Sangha
(5) Parents, teacher, elderly persons and superiors.
The Buddha
He preached the pure doctrine which is exellent in the
beginning, in the middle and in the end.
The Pacceka Buddha
He gains enlightment, but does not proclaim the truth
to the world.
The Dhamma
It is a Universal truth and wisdom; it is a natural law
of the Universe preached by the Buddha.
The Sangha or Bhikkhus
The Buddha preached the first sermon to the five
ascetic monks at the Deer Park, in Isipatana, near Benares.
From that day onwards, the Order of Sanghas was established
by the Buddha,which exist to this day.

20
Parents and others
Their love is boundless to children and they give best
education for the good of future welfare.
Two ways of giving respect
(a) By donating robes, food, medicine, flowers,
bedding, candles etc to the monks at the monasteries.
(b) By following rules laid down by Dhamma and by
meditating. This is better than the former.
Five rewards to a person who pay respect to honour those
worthy of honour
(1) Long life.
(2) Beauty.
(3) Happiness.
(4) Good health and strength.
(5) Intelligence at the present as well as hereafter.
The Story
During Pagan Dynasty King Anawrathar paid respect
to Shin Arahan and found out the real truth Dhamma , Sangha
(monks).
From those days onwards, Theravada Buddhism has
spread throughout Myanmar and people have a good chance
to follow the Dhamma .
The Fifth Buddhist World Council.
In 1847AD or 2414 years after the Buddha, the Fifth
Buddhist World Council was held in Mandalay, Myanmar,
under the patronage of King Mindon. The Council was pre-
sided by Jagara Maha Thera and twenty-four hundred learned
monks participated.
After recitation of Tri-pitaka, canonical Pali text in Pali
recordings, were recorded in Myanmar- Pali character on seven
hundred twenty nine marble slabs. For the people of Myanmar,
Shin Arahan and Jagara Maha Thera are the persons to be
honoured.

21
IN 93 B,C,THE FOURTH BUDDHIST WORLD COUN-
CIL WAS HELD IN ALUKA CAVE , MATALA, SRI-
LANKA.

22
4 TO RESIDE IN A SUITABLE LOCALITY (PATIRUPA
DESAVASO CA)

What is a suitable locality?.

(1) A place where you can get religious teachings.This
is most important.
(2) A place where a good livelihood is possible.
(3) A place where there are good friends.
(4) A place where you can get good education.
(5) Good health care with good doctors and qualified
traditional physician are available.
(6) A place with good ruler or good leader.
What are the results?

(1) People will observe the precepts and are contented.

(2) People have the habit of giving charity and render-
ing help to one another.
(3) People avoid evil deeds .
(4) The strong people will not be aggressive and op-
press their weaker neighbours.
(5)People will find safety, harmony, and peace.
If you are not fortunate enough to live in a suitable
place, you can create such a place by living according to
Mangala Sutta.
The Story
In Myanmar, most of the villages have one monastery
where monks are residing. At the entrance of the village there
is a pagoda (cetiya) built by the villagers.
On sabbath days villagers go to monastery, donating
alms to the monks and keep precepts. Monks preach them
Buddha’s teachings and answer questions put forward to them
by the people.

23
TO LIVE IN A SUITABLE LOCALITY IS MANGALA
(A BLESSING.)

24
 They stay the whole day, counting beads or meditat-
ing under the guidance of a master. They come back home in
the evening.
In a foreign land, if you are not fortunate enough to
live in a suitable place, you can create such a place by living
according to Mangala Sutta.
Now, in many parts of the world, people have created
such suitable places. For example, I would like to mention a
monastery in Los Angeles , U.S.A.. The name of the monas-
tery is Azusa Monastery.
The area of the monastery is about ten acres and situ-
ated near a big mountain. The Buddhist people have built the
monastery .
People provide alms (foods for monks) daily to the
monastery and five Theravada Myanmar monks are residing
in it. Up in the middle of the mountain is a Pagoda with a Bo-
tree (a kind of banyan tree.) . A Buddha image can be seen in
the meditation hall (Dhammar-yone). There is a separate build-
ing for people (Zeyat) where food is served to the monks and
lay people. There is a car parking place. Sanitary rest-rooms
are well kept.
People cerebrate Buddhist ceremonies, such as tem-
porary ordination of monks and young novices; and donating
alms to the monks on important Buddhist days such Warso
(the begining of Buddhist Lent period) , and Thatin-kyut (the
end of Buddhist Lent period).
I am very happy to see such a suitable place. People
told me that there are about ten Buddhist monasteries in Los
Angeles area.
Comment:- You can create suitable places where ever you like.
Source:- Our visit to Los Angeles in 2012.

25
5. TO HAVE DONE GOOD DEEDS IN THE PAST.
(PUBBE- CA -KATA- PUNNATA)
Buddhists believe in Past, Present and Future existence.
Why are some babies born to rich parents and why are some
babies born in poor families?. Why do some people live to an
old age and some die young?. Why are some people healthy
and some unhealthy? Why are some people beautiful and some
ugly? Why do some people have a lot of servants and some
have none? Why are some people intelligent and some not
intelligent? There are causes and effects. These happened due
to good and bad Kamma (deeds) done in the previous lives.

(1) If a person was cruel and killed others in his or her

previous life, that person will have short life in the present
life. If a person was kind and had compassion upon others and
avoided killing (even animals or insects), that person will have
a long life in the presant life.
(2) If a person caused injury to others by beating or
with other means in previous life, he will have to suffer from
many diseases in this life. If a person did not cause injury to
others and tried to help when other people are ill in the past
life, he will be free from diseases and will be healthy and strong
in the present life.
(3) If a person was always angry in the previous life,
he or she will be ugly in this life. If a person was always sweet
and had donated flowers and candles to the Buddha in previ-
ous life, he or she will be handsome in this life.

( 4) If a person was selfish in previous life, such a

person will not have any servant to help him or her in this life.
On the contrary if a person was glad and happy for others who
were fortunate, that person will have a lot of servants to help
him or her in this life.

26
 (5) If a person helped and donated to others in previ-
ous life, he will be rich and prosperous in this life. If he was
stingy and did not donate to others in previous life, he will be
poor poor in this life.

(6) If a person had a lot of pride and conceit in previ-

ous life, he will be born in a lower society. On the contrary if
a person is humble and took good care of others in previous
life, he will be born in a higher society.

(7) If a person had given education to others and gave

good advice to others in previous life, he will be a brilliant
person in this life. If he had persuaded others to be dull and
stupid in previous life, he will be stupid and become an idiot
in this life. In short a good kamma (work) in the past and
present life is a blessing.

Story 5-Thin-ka
Once, Mawluni country(in Benares, India) was ruled
by King Brahmadat. In that country there lived a rich-man
whose name was Thin-ka. He built six big buildings in vari-
ous parts of the country and spent sixty thousands rupees a
day to feed the people. One day Thin-ka thought about his
wealth. If it ran out, he might be unable to feed the people any
more. So he decided to make trade to Suwanna-bumi (Thaton
in Myanmar) with a big ship to earn money . He loaded the
ship with goods and told his family to continue the donation
as usual until he came back. He went to the Pathana jetty at
mid-day, wearing a pair of slippers and holding an umbrella.

27
 A Silent Buddha, who was residing at Ganda-mardana
mountain, foresaw that Thin-ka would meet danger when his
ship would sink in the ocean. He thought himself ‘‘If I go now
and meet him, he will donate an umbrella and a pair of slip-
pers; and because of the good deeds, he will be saved in the
ocean’’. The Silent Buddha then went to see Thin-ka at the
hotest time of the day without umbrella and slippers.

When Thin-ka saw the Silent Buddha, he donated his

umbrella and a pair of slippers. The Silent Buddha accepted
the donation and flew to Ganda-mardana mountain. Thin-ka
was very pleased with his good deeds and went to the jetty for
a long voyage.

On the seventh day of the trip , water ran through the

holes in the hull of the ship; the boat-men could not pump out
the water, and ultimately the ship began gradually sinking into
the ocean. The boat-men were much afraid that they prayed to
devas ( celestial beings) to help them and cried aloud for mercy.
Thin-ka and his servant covered their bodies with oil
and ate sweet foods to fill their stomach.They climbed to the
top of the mask, aimed towards Mawlini country, and jumped
far away to avoid the fearful fishes. The rest of the boat-men
were eaten by the fishes.
Thin-ka and his servant were swimming day and night
in the ocean. As the seventh day was a subbath day, Thin-ka
washed his mouth with water and kept the eight precept.

28
 At that time the Four Great Lokapala devas (Four
Celestiel beings who look after the world) had assigned Mani-
makalar Devi to save those persons who earnestly observe
the Three Gems, who keep the precepts and who look after the
parents, when they meet danger on the seas.
Mani-maykalar Devi was enjoying living in deva plane,
and forget her duty to look at the ocean. On the seventh day,
when she looked at the ocean Thin-ka was swimming together
with his servant. She knew that Thin-ka Brahmina was a pi-
ous person who kept the precepts. The ship-wreck had taken
place seven days ago and if he died, she would be blamed for
her negligence.

So she went hurriedly to Thin-ka with a golden plate

filled with delicious food and said “Oh Brahmina! You have
not eaten food for seven days; please eat this food”.When he
heard the Deva’s voice, he looked up and said “Please do not
give your food as I am keeping the eight precepts.

When the servant heard his master’s voice, he thought

his master was crying as he was afraid of death. So he con-
soled his master; Oh Brahmina Thin-ka! You are very bril-
liant; you have seen the Silent Buddha and have listen his teach-
ings; why are you talking with sorrow; with whom you are
talking apart from me?”. Thin-ka spoke to his servant “ Can’t
you see the Deva; she has a very a beautiful face, lovely
features,with golden dress and emerald neckless. With great
faith, she offered me food with golden plate’’.

The servant advised his master to ask the Deva whether

she is a Deva or a woman with supreme power.

29
MANI-MAYKALAR DEVI CARRIED THIN-KA TO
THE SHIP

30
 Thin-ka asked the Deva , “Oh Deva! You are looking
at me with lovely eyes, and offering food, are you a Deva or a
woman with supreme power?’’.
Deva told Thin-ka, “Oh Thin-ka Brahmana! I am a
Deva with supreme power, a person with a kind heart, and
without ill-feeling; I come to the middle of the ocean for your
own benefit; I have food, bedding, elephant- carriage, horse-
carriage; I will give you what ever you want’’.
Thin-ka wanted to know why the Deva wanted to ful-
fil his desire; is it due his donation or his power?. Then he
asked Deva “Oh beautiful Deva! I have donated all my prop-
erties to people; which is a good deed. I have donated an um-
brella and a pair slippers to the Silent Buddha on my way to
the jetty”.

The Deva said, Oh Thin-ka! You have donated an um-

brella and a pair of slippers to the Silent Buddha on the very
hot day. Because of that good deed, you will get the good
benefit.’’
Thin-ka requested the Deva to create a ship and send
him to Mawrini country.

Then the Deva created a ship made of seven jewelleries,

ie:- emerald masks, golden robes, silver sails, golden paddles
and poles. She carried Thin-ka and put him on the ship but
she did .not carry the servant.

Thin-ka told the Deva that he had sent the merit to all
the people; the servant had happily accepted the merit.Then
only the Deva carried the servant and put him on the ship.With
her power she send the ship to Mawrini country and provided
Thin-ka’s home with all the jewelleries. Then she left to her
place.

31
 With all the jewelleries, Thin-ka made donations , kept
precepts, and did good deeds till the end of his life.

After death the whole family, including the servants

were reborn in celestial plane.
The Buddha said, good deeds in the past, not only re-
sult in good life in the present but also good deeds in the present
life can produce good results in this very life.

Source:- 550 Nipada, Thin-ka Brahmana Zat.

6. TO SET ONESELF IN THE RIGHT COURSE

(ATTANSAMMA PANIDHI CA)

Nature provides a person with physical and mental

power. One should use this power in the right direction for the
benefit of oneself and others. It enables human beings to de-
velop natural power to the highest state.
For instance, all people can attempt to rise from a state
of poverty to a state of wealth, or from a state of humble posi-
tion to a state of high position by keeping their fixed intention
clearly before them and utilising their entire energy and zeal
in the right direction.

Both parents, elder brothers and sisters are very im-

portant persons in bringing up a young child. The child should
know that parents, relatives and teachers are persons who want
him to be well educated and good. He should also know that
he must bring up himself to be a good person. Also he must
train himself physically. He should go to school regularly. He
should sleep well and do good exercise regularly. He should
help others when they are in trouble.

32
AN OLD MONK AT THE AGE OF 60 , STARTED TO
EDUCATE HIMSELF AND BECAME THE KING’S
ADVISOR

33
The Story 6
During Pagan era, there lived a monk who was 60 years
old. He had never been to school. One day he saw a pile of
wooden tooth brushes he had used before. He realized his past
days were without education. He decided to learn. He tried
very hard and finally he became a very learned and famous
scholar. Eventually he became the king’s advisor. Thus, if a
person changes his life style to become better, he can be a
good person; even if he has no good kamma (deed) in his pre-
vious life. To start oneself in the right course is one of the
blessings.
Source:-Myanmar History

7. TO HAVE VAST LEARNING (BAHUSSACCAN CA)

The primary training of children is mainly carried out

by wise parents and guardians at home.
The two most important things to be taught are moral
lesson and general knowledge.They should be associated with
children of good families. If both parents are working, chil-
dren should be sent to day-care. Children are happy and take
good example of their friends.
In the second stage, they are trained in schools. Good
schools are to be selected, where they will get good educa-
tion, moral teaching, good discipline and good manners.

After graduation from schools, they should be sent to

University or College, where they are prepared for professional
studies and lead a better life. A wicked man cannot mislead a
man who has wise knowledge and good character.

34
 .

The Story 7
. Once, there was King Min-gyi-swar-saw-kee who ruled
Ain-wa country in Myanmar. Seven-two mile away from the
capital was a big lake, called Meik-thilar Lake. Near the lake
was Wun-zin village. There was a young boy, Maung Nyo,
who was very much interested in literature. When he became
of age, he married the village head-man’s daughter.
The village head-man told his daughter ,“Oh my
daughter! Your husband is only interested in literature; he will
not work hard for a living; I don’t like him; if you love him,
go far away from us and take a pair of bulls and lead a living”.
Then the couple went to far away place and lived as farmers.
At that time, the bank of the Meik-thilar lake was
damaged, so King Min-gyi-saw-kee visited the lake with
his troops.
The King saw a small building with a female statue
inside. The King asked if anybody knew the story of the
building, but nobody could answer properly. The King was
not satisfied with the answers given by the people. The King
asked the villagers whether there was anyone who could tell
about the statue. The villagers told the King that the village
headman’s son-in-law was interested in literature. Then the
King told the village head man to bring his son-in-law.The
village head-man told his daughter that the King asked Mg
Nyo to come to him. The daughter was much frightened and
told her husband about the matter.

Maung Nyo then took the Tha-pyay leaves (leaves for

success) and tied them to the horns of the two bulls. He told
the two bulls “Well my sons!, you all do not need to serve me
any more”; then he released them to go anywhere they liked.

35
MAUNG NYO EXPLAINED THAT THE STATUE
WAS THE BELOVED LADY OF KING
ANAWRATTHA.

36
 Maung Nyo then told his wife ,“ Well my beloved lady!
You don’t need to worry; I am going to get the value of my
education”. Then he went to the King with great aspiration.
The King asked about the statue on the bank of the Lake.
Maung Nyo told the story of the building, a female
statue as follows , “Your Honourable King! When your great
great grand father, King Anawratha built the bank of the Meik-
thilar Lake, one Sawbwar (a regional chief) presented his
beautiful daughter to King Anawratha. As he loved the lady
very much, he gave her the position of a Lesser Queen. During
that time she died suddenly of a disease. As the King loved
her very much he could not abandon the dead body of the
lady. He was looking at the dead body every day. Then the
ministers arranged to make the replica of the Lesser Queen
with gold and presented to the King. Then only the King
allowed the body of the lady to be cremated. When the King
wanted to take the golden replica to the Royal Palace, the
ministers requested the King not to do so , as it was not suitable
with traditional custom. The King put the golden replica in a
stone case and buried it on the bank of the Meik-thilar Lake
and built a wooden statue near the replica. As time past on,
people regarded the wooden statue as a Devi (a female angel)
and donated food to her”.

When King Min-gyi-saw-kee excavated the place, he

found the golden replica.
Because of his accurate answer, the King regarded
Maung Nyo as a brilliant and brave youth in presentation, so
the King promoted Maung Nyo as one of his ministers from
that day onwards. When you analyse this story of how an or-
dinary farmer became a minister, it is realized that Maung
Nyo, as a young boy used to listen to the village elders when
they told stories and literature.
Source:- Mani-Yadana-pone Kyan.

37
8. TO BE POSSESSED OF VAST SKILL (SIPPAN CA)
After high school education, a person should study pro-
fessional skills, such as agriculture, carpentry, architecture,
constructions, engineering, teaching, trading, medicine, com-
puter science, tailoring, electronics etc. A person needs pro-
fessional skills to become successful in life.There are many
who are distinguished in academic field, but often they find it
difficult to earn their livelihood for want of knowledge of other
arts, science and handicrafts.

The value of the arts and sciences is priceless; the skill

acquired in these cannot be stolen by thieves and robbers; it is
a real friend in this life and it gives happiness in the next life.

If one does not acquire education in the first stage of

life, wealth in the second stage and righteousness in the third
stage, then what is it that is useful that one can hope to
acquire in fourth or last stage of life.

The Story
Long long ago, there lived a millionaire in Benares,
India. He had a son whom the parents loved so much that they
wished their son to lead a luxurious life. In the first stage,
they never gave education and in the second stage they never
led him to earn properties. Since he was a millionaire he
thought his son was well provided with a lot of money and
could live his whole life without doing any work. In the same
town there lived another millionaire who had a daughter. He
treated his daughter the same way without given any educa-
tion thinking she could live a wealthy life without doing any-
thing.

38
BUDDHA WAS TELLING ANANDA ABOUT THE SON AND
DAUGHTER OF MILLIONAIRS WERE BEGGARS NOW..

39
 Eventually the son and the daughter of the two mil-
lionaires got married. Years later, when the two millionaires
passed away they were left with all the wealth. At that time
the drunkards of Benares thought of making the millionaire’s
son to be a drunkard so that they would become properous.

Later, the son made friends with drunkards and he

became a drunkard himself. They taught him also how to en-
joy life with worldly things. Finally the couple lost all their
properties and became beggars.
One day, Buddha saw them eating the left-over food
of the monks. Buddha told Ashin Ananda that if the couples
had been educated by their parents, they would have become
very rich merchants.

If at a young age they became monks or nun , the man

could become an Arahat and the woman could become
Anagami. Now they were like old birds with broken wings
living in a lake without water.

Although this couple was born in the capital and near

the monastery of Buddha, their lives were wasted. They never
got education because of thoughtless parents. Therefore every
parent should educate their children well.

Source: Dama-pada, Zarawut Mahadanna Vuthu.

40
9. A WELL TRAINED DISCIPLINE (VINAYO CA
SUSIKKHITO)
Discipline is of great importance in the homes,
monasteries, schools, and every society that works for the
common good and welfare of the people as a whole.
There are two broad kinds of displine, eg:- lay displine
and monastic displine.
The least holy code of conduct which lay man should
follow is the five precepts. The main holy code of conducts
that should be followed by monks are (227) codes of conducts.
Moreover, there are many good manners which a human should
follow as good citizens.
Parents should teach discipline to their children at
home. In the same way , teachers should impart good discipline
in school.

Duties of Children.
In five ways a child should minister to the parents:-
(1) by supporting them,
(2) by performing his or her duties owing to them,
(3) by preserving the family system,
(4) by being worthy of his or her inheritance,
(5) by offering alms in honour of their departed
relatives.

Duties of Parents
In five way, the parents show their compassion towards
their children:-
(1) they prevent them from evil,
(2) they persuade them to do good,
(3) they instruct them in the art and science.

41
 (4) they arrange them in marriage to a suitable wife or
husband,

(5) at the proper time they hand over to them their

inheritance.
Duties of the pupil
In five way , a pupil should minister to a teacher:-
(1) by rising when the teacher approaches,
(2) by attending upon him,
(3) by obeying him attentively,
(4) by personal service.
(5) by respectfully receiving instruction.

Duties of Teachers.
In five way teachers show their compassion to their pupils:-
(1) they train them in the best discipline,
(2) they impart instruction which is respected and
admired by them,
(3) they teach them suitable art and science,
(4) they introduce them to their friends and
associates,
(5) they provide for their safety in every
respect.
The Story
Once, there lived King Tharidina in Meikthilar province in
Myanmar . He ruled the country in accordance with the ten rules of
conduct, which a king should abide by. Moreover, he followed five
precepts very firmly. He also taught his country men to follow five
precepts very seriously. As a result the country was peaceful
and prosperous. There were no thieves, robbers or insurgents.
So the country was in peace with good cultivation.
A well trained discipline is Mangala.
Source:- Myanmar History.

42
THE COUNTRY WAS PEACEFUL WITH GOOD
CULTIVATION.

43
 10. PLEASANT SPEECH (SUBHASITACAYA VACA)
Every pleasant word has its value and power. A pleas-
ant word has influence over other people. It is necessary for
us to choose the right, fruitful, fine, sincere, polite, clear and
sweet words in the right place. One who does this is loved,
respected and admired by all where ever he goes.

What is a pleasant speech.

(1) Words should be spoken in truth and justice.
(2) Words should be spoken with sincerity and honesty.
(3) Words should be uttered clearly and politely to a right per-
son in the right time and at the right place.
(4) Words must be beneficial to others.

Story 10 A Person with good speech.

Once upon a time, a hunter brought a cart load of meat

to sell in the town of Benares , ruled by King Brahmadat.
At that time, four young men from wealthy families
went out of the town for excursion and saw the hunter. One of
them told his friends that he would ask the hunter to give him
“
meat. He asked him ,“Hey hunter! Give me meat’’. Then the,
hunter said, “As your words are harsh and look like the tissue
covering the muscles, I will give you simalar tissues”.
The second young man asked the first young
man,“How did you address the hunter?’’. He answered “Hey
hunter! Give me meat’’.

The second young man approached the hunter and

asked, “Well brother! Give me meat” . The hunter said , “You
called me brother, the words look like the body, so I will give
you the body part’’.

44
THE PLEASANT RICH-MAN SON WITH GOOD
SPEECH APPROACHED THE HUNTER.

45
 The third young-man asked the second young man.
“How did you address the hunter”. He replied “I called him
my brother”.
The third young man approached the hunter and said
“Well father! Give me meat’’.
The hunter said , “ Your way of calling me father like
a son seems to tremble the heart of a father, so I will give you
the heart.’’
The fourth young man asked the third young man “How
did you address the hunter?”.The third young man said “I called
him,father.”
The fourth young man approached the hunter and
asked, “Well friend! Give me meet”.
The hunter was very pleased and said “A village with-
out a friend is like a jungle; your words fulfil everything, so I
will give all the meat.
The fourth young man requested the hunter to bring
the cart loaded with meat to his home. He told the hunter to
give up his profession as a hunter and to bring the whole fam-
ily and stay in his estate. From that time onwards, they lived
as friends to the end of their lives.

To have a pleasant speech is Mangalar.

Source:- Sabamunsalabe Zat.

11. SUPPORTING MOTHER AND FATHER

(MATAPITU UPATTANAM )

Parents want to have children. During conception, a

mother has to take good care of the fetus. She has to take
nutritious food and exercise well. (ie. walking). The father
has to send her regularly to the doctor for prenatal care and
advice.

46
 After birth, the mother has to breast feed the baby and
later give nutritious food which the child needs. During illness,
she has to take care of the child. The father has to take the
child to the doctor for treatment, if he is sick.
During schooling period, they send their child to school
to get a good education. They train him to be physically fit.
They send him to religious teachers to get religious teachings
for his future life.

Later they advise him to get a good job. Ultimately

they arrange their off-spring to get married with a suitable
husband or wife and support him or her with what they can.
These are the gifts of the parents and the children
should be grateful and respect them. In return the son or the
daughter has to look after the parents when they are in need.
The children should give them food, shelter and should live
with the parents. The children must be obedient to their par-
ents and follow their advice. The children should keep the
parents happy and look after them when they are ill. They
should take them to the doctor for treatment. They must give
the parents financial support if they need it. When they grow
old , the children should take care of them till their death.
Even after death the children should do charity for them
so that the parents should receive merits according to their
their religion.
The benefits attained by taking care of the parents.
(1) They will be free from famine, wars and diseases.
(2) They will be free from five enemies (a) flood (b) storms
(c) fire (d) bad rulers and (e) theft.
(3) They will be loved and admired by wise people and devas
( celestial beings).
(4) They can fulfill what ever they desire.
(5) They will attain Nibbana (end of sufferings)

47
MARTU-PAWTAKA-PITU-PAWTAKA SOLEMLY
SAYING THE TRUTH.

48
The Story 11
Once upon a time, there lived a young man in Benares.
He loved his parents very much. He treated them as devas.
That was why, his name was known as Martu-paw-taka-Pitu-
paw-taka.

One day he ventured a sailing trip to foreign lands.

The boat went to Sri-Lanka. At that time , in Sri-Lanka, a lot
of people were still in sorrowful state after a cruel sand-storm
had struck the island and continued blowing without ceasing.
All the food crops were destroyed.
The King consulted the wise men how to get relief
from the natural disaster. All the wise men advised the King,
“Well Your Majesty! The natural disaster will disappear if
some-one say solemnly words of absolute truth’’.
“ These true words must be solemnly spoken by a per-
son who treat parents as devas.”

The King announced that “Anybody who treated par-

ents as devas will be given riches and honour’’. They went
around and looked for a man who would be able to help them.
The Martu-paw-taka- Pitu-paw-taka shouted out from
the boat which was far away. “Well friends! I am the one who
treated my parents well as devas”

The ministers told the King about the event. The King
said “Bring the man to say solemnly the words of Absolute
Truth”. The ministers went to the man and told him that they
were in great trouble. To relieve them from the disaster, they
requested the man to help them.

49
 Then, Martu-pawtaka-Pitu-pawtaka went to the front
of the boat and solemnly said, “Since I have been of age, I
have honoured the gratitude of my parents; I love them very
much; I have looked after them with great care as Household
devas, as Sakka (King of Devas) and as King of Brahmas. If
these solemn words are true, may the sand storm stop
suddenly; may all country men, the King, ministers, rich men,
poor men, traders, farmers, and all beings find peace and
prosperity.”

Soon after, the sand storm stopped, and all beings found
peace and tranquility.

Then the King, ministers, rich men, farmers and all

the countrymen donated lots of properties to him. The young
man took all the properties on five boats and came back home.
When he reached home, he told his parents all about the events
and donated all the properties to them. All three of them
donated Dana and lived peacefully. When they died they
were reborn in the Realm of Devas.

Supporting mother and father is Mangalar.

Source:- Mangalasura Dipani.

12. CHERISHING WIFE AND CHILDREN

(PUTTADARASSA -SANGAHO)
There are four ways of looking after wife and children.
(1) Giving and supporting things in kind.
(2) Talking politely towards them so that they are always
happy.
(3) Making them prosperous.

50
(4) Looking after their welfare and social dealings as you would
have done if it were in your own interest.

Five duties of parents towards children

(1) Advise them not to do evil deeds. Parents are actually first
hand teachers. Parents need to advise children not to be-
have badly and not to use harsh words.
(2) Teach them to be polite both in manners and speech.
(3) When a child gets old it is the responsibility of parents to
give him or her a good education for his or her livelihood
in future.
(4) Parents must provide money and provisions for the chil-
dren to start their life.
(5) Parents need to arrange marriage with suitable persons with
equal personal status such as age, education, and financial
status.
Story 12 Udaya-Badda Zat.

Once upon a time, King Karthi ruled Karthi country.

He had no children; and told his Queens to pray for having
children.
Bodhisatta after completing his term from brahmar
plane, had conception in the womb of Head Queen. After birth,
the boy was named Udaya-Badda.
Another brahmar, after completing his term, had con-
ception in the womb of another Queen. After birth the girl was
named , Udaya-Baddar.
Prince was good hearted and very pious. He was not
interested in sensual pleasures.After completing his education,
the father told him to get married and that he would give his
throne. As the Prince was not interested in sensual pleasures,
he repeatedly refused his father’s gifts.

51
 At long last, he told the sculptors to make a beautiful
statue of a princess made of gold. He told his father that he
would accept the throne if he could find a lady as beautiful as
the golden statue.
The King and the Queen arranged wth the ministers to
find a lady as beautiful as the statue. When they could not find
such a lady, they dressed up his cousin sister Udaya-Baddar
with all the ornaments. When she was compared with the statue,
she looked more beautiful than the golden statue.
The parents arranged the Coronation of their son with
his cousin sister as the Queen.
As they were reborn from brahmar plane, they were
not interested in sexual desire. They lived together as brother
and sister They promised each other, who died first, must re-
veal his or her place of rebirth.
After seven hundred years of reign, the King
passed away and was reborn in Tavatinsa (a celestial realm)
as Sakka, King of devas. The Queen took his place and ruled
the country.
King Sakka was enjoying in the celestial realm for
seven days.( equavalent to seven hundred years in human
plane; because lifespan of human plan at that time was 10,000
years). He then remembered his promise made to the Queen
Udaya-Baddar. He thought of persuading the Queen with gifts
and giving a Dhamma talk.
The queen was living alone, keeping precepts, on the
seventh floor of the palace, well guarded by soldiers. King
Sakka entered her room and said “ Oh Princess! You are stay-
ing alone; we should stay together.” The Queen was very much
surprised when she heard the voices.
The Queen was thinking, “This Thura-Nandara city
has three canals surrounding it and is well guarded by sol-
diers; who else could come and ask me to live together”.

52
 KING SAKKA WAS
GIVING DHAMMA TALK TO HIS OLD WIFE.

53
 King Sakka said “ Oh Princess! I am a deva, if you
love me, please accept my golden pot”.
The Queen answered, “Oh powerful deva! A part from
Udaya-Badda King, I am not interested in other deva. mon-
ster, or human beings. Please go away and never come back
again”. King Sakka disappeared.
Next night, King Sakka came back to persuade the
Queen, “Oh Princess! Sexual pleasure is the best of all the
worldly pleasures; all beings practice this immoral action;
please accept my silver pot”.
Now the Queen was thinking, if she talked to him, he
would be coming again. So she kept silent. King Sakka disap-
peared.
Next night, King Sakka came again with a brass pot
filled with coins and said, “Oh Sister! Will you accept my
request for sexual pleasure?”.
The Queen said, “Oh man! When a man woos a
woman, he should honour her by giving increasing gifts; you
are doing just the opposite; you come this time with very little
gift”.
King Sakka said , “Oh Princess! The age and appear-
ance of human beings are fading every day; you are now get-
ting old; that is why I come to you with small gifts; your ap-
pearance is fading ; please do good deeds; you will get good
benefits”.
The Queen asked King Sakka, about the pleasures in
the deva plane. “Oh powerful deva! Do the deva get old; do
the skin of deva wrinkle?”.
King Sakka replied ,“Oh Princess! Deva do not get
old; there is no wrinkle in the skin; worldly pleasures are in-
creasing”.
The Queen asked, “Oh powerful deva! Which human
beings are not afraid of next existence; which good

54
Kamma(deeds) could attain the deva plane; who and how can
attain it?”.
King Sakka replied, “Oh Princess! You should avoid
evil deeds; you should do donation and share merits to others;
you should be aware of four Singaha Dhamma,(metta=loving
kindness,karuna=compassion,mudita=joy,uppekha=equanimity);
a person who has done these good deeds, will not be afraid of
next existence”
The Queen asked “Oh honourable deva! You are giv-
ing Dhamma talk to me as my parents; I would like to know
who you are?”.
King Sakka replied, “Oh Princess! I was your beloved
husband, Udaya-Badda in previous life; I come to you as I want
to fulfil my promise; I would like you to be in deva plane in next
existence”.The Queen was very pleased to hear the whole story.

The Queen asked King Sakka to give her a Dhamma

talk. King Sakka said, “Oh Princess! Life span of all beings is
short; not permenant; old age and death are imminent; even
the most powerful king has to give up his throne and wealth
ultimately; relatives have to separate from each other; please
do not forget to do good deeds”.

The Queen said,“Oh Deva! Life span is short, miser-

able and has full of sufferings; I promise, I will leave Surunada
country and the throne; I will become a female monk all alone
and do good deeds”.
In the early morning, she left her throne and all her
wealth to the ministers and became a female monk and stayed
in the garden. When she died, she was reborn as Queen of
Sakka.
Comment:- Cherishing wife and children is a blessing.
Source:- 550 Nipada, Udaya Badda Zat.

55
13.TO BE ENGAGE IN WORK THAT DOES NOT HURT
OR HARM ANYONE (ANAKULA CA KAMMANTA)
Work is of great importance to people. Every person
must work to earn his own living. A man who has work will
have happiness, health and success in life, as his mind will not
turn towards bad thoughts and because he will be interested in
his work and is fully occupied with it.

What occupations are clean and peaceful?

The occupations that do not hurt you or others: For
example: farming, teaching, trading, artistic works, vocational
works, mechanical, medicine, engineering etc.
The
. Buddha has given us four formulas to success
(1) Being diligent.
(2) Managing with what you have.
(3) Spending money with good judgment.
(4) Having reliable friends and relations.

Four causes of poverty.

(1) Excessive enjoyment of pleasures.
(2) Excessive drinking.
(3) Indulgence in gambling.
(4) Companionship with evil people.

Story 13 Theri-wa Warniza Zat.

Once upon a time, in Thari-Wa country, lived an hon-
est coloured hollow glass-ball seller and a greedy coloured
hollow glass-ball seller.
One day, both of them crossed Ni-wa river and reached
Aritha-Pura country, to sell coloured hollow glass balls.
When they arrived at the entrance gate, they separated
from each other to sell in different parts of the place.

56
 At that town, there lived a grand-mother and a grand-
daughter. They were descended from a rich family; but they
were poor at the moment and worked as servants. In their
house, there was a golden pot, used by their fore-fathers. The
pot was very dirty, as they never used and could not even
recognised a golden pot.
The greedy coloured hollow glass-ball seller was shout-
ing to sell his coloured hollow glass-balls and reached infront
of the old lady’s house. When the grand-daughter saw the seller
she asked her grand-mother to buy a coloured hollow glass
ball for her.
The grand-mother said “Well my grand-daughter! How
can we buy as we are poor?”. Then the grand-daughter re-
plied, “Well Grandma! We can buy it by giving this pot”.
The old lady called the seller and said “Please take
this pot and give some of your coloured hollow glass-balls to
your sister”. The greedy seller scratched the pot with a needle
and knew that the pot was a golden pot. As he wanted to take
the golden pot without giving anything, he said “This pot is
not worth a penny”; so he threw down the pot to the ground.
The honest coloured hollow glass-ball seller came to
the old lady’s house.The grand-daughter asked her grand-
mother to buy a coloured hollow glass-ball. The old lady said,
“The previous seller had already told us that the pot is not
worth a penny and threw down the pot to the ground and went
off”.Then the grand-daughter said ,“Well Grandma! This seller
seems to be kind and good hearted, he might take the pot”.
The young girl called the seller and gave the pot and
asked to give some coloured hollow glass-balls. The honest
seller looked at the pot and said ,“This pot is a golden pot and

57
THE HONEST COLOURED HOLLOW GLASS BALL SELLER
GAVE FIVE HUNDRED RUPEES AND FIVE HUNDRED
WORTH OF PROPERTIES TO THE OLD LADY AND HER
GRAND-DAUGHTER.

58
and worth one hundred thousand rupees which I don’t have’’.
Then the old lady said ,“Well My son! The previous coloured
hollow glass-ball seller said, this pot is not worth a penny;
although this pot is a golden pot, you deserve it; please take
the golden pot and give some thing for us”. The honest seller
gave five hundred rupees and five hundred worth of proper-
ties to the old lady and her grand-daughter. He just asked the
weighing balance and eight pyas for the boat fair . He went to
the Nilawata river to cross with a boat and return home .
The greedy coloured hollow glass-ball seller returned
to the lady and said ,“Bring that pot, I will give a few glass-
balls”. The grand-daughter scold the coloured hollow glass-
ball seller ,“You have said that the pot which is worth one
hundred thousand rupees, is not worth half a penny; the hon-
est coloured hollow glass-ball seller has taken it away already”.

The greedy coloured hollow glass ball seller realized

that he had lost one hundred thousand rupees worth of golden
pot. He was so worried and confused that he left all his prop-
erty infront of the old lady’s house and chased the good seller
to the river bank with a weapon in his hand to kill him.
When he reached the river bank and saw the honest
coloured hollow glass-ball seller, with a boat in the middle of
the river; he shouted to the boat-man to come back. The hon-
est man told the boat-man not to do so and crossed to the other
side of the river.
The greedy man was so angered and regretful that he
died with vomiting of blood on the river bank.

Coment. To lead a clean occupation is Mangalar,

.
Source:- 550 Nipada, Theriwa-warniza Zat.

59
14 GIVING ALMS (DANANCA )

The basis of charity is goodwill to the needy. It means

alms-giving. It may be in the form of service or instruction or
necessities (money or kinds). Everyone should practice this
towards The Buddha, Pacceka Buddhas and Sanghas. This
practice should be followed daily, however small in extent or
however humble in nature. Charity is measured not by the
quantity but by the goodwill and sacrifice offered behind it.
A charitable person is loved and praised by all.
There are two forms of donation.
(1) It may be in the form of necessity (money or other kinds)
Examples are donating monasteries, schools, hospitals,
clinics, tube wells, building roads, bridges, food, medicine
,etc.
(2) It may be in the form of service or instruction.
Examples: Donating religious books, teaching, practicing
meditation, living according to Buddha’s teaching,
undergoing monkhood.
There are three kinds of motive in giving charity
(1) Lower kind of motive.
A person gives charity for the sake of popularity and
fame. He wants to boast others that he can afford to give
charity.
(2) Middle kind of motive.
A person gives charity to be better in next existence.
He wants to be rich or born in the celestial plane. He can
never escape from rebirth, suffering and death even if he
becomes a celestial being.
(3) The highest kind of motive. A person gives charity
with no strings or ties in his mind. He desires to escape
from the wheel of birth, and suffering and to attain
Nibbana. This is the best kind of motive that a person
should practice.

60
 Many people have their own motive for giving char-
ity. Some want to donate schools, monastery. Some want to
donate the requirements of the monks. Some think it is better
to donate hospital, clinic, tube well, bridges, etc.

Whatever you wish to donate, there are three points to

consider.

(1) The donor must have good conduct and must donate to a
person without any craving for materials or services.

(2) The person who receives the charity must have good
conduct, concentration and wisdom. The gift must be
desired by the person at the right time.

(3) The gift must be earned lawfully by the donor and not by
unlawful means.
Result of charity
Those who give charity to others live happily with love
and goodwill of others. Fear and anxiety, envy and jealousy,
bad intention and evil thoughts are not known to such donors.
Those who give charity in good faith enter into social
gatherings fearlessly and gracefully. They will attain the highest
purity of mind, the supreme peace known as Nibbana.

The Story
Motivation of Thi-tha.
Long ago there lived a poor man named Thi-tha. He
lived in a village with his wife and a daughter. One day the
villagers discussed about the donation to Sangha (monks) in
turn. Thi-hta, being poor, could not donate good food. He could
donate only the fermented bean juice.

61
 The monks did not want the fermented juice. So they
threw it away at the edge of the village. When Thi-tha knew
about it, he was very sad. He told his wife, “Our donated food
is not good, so the monks will not eat.” Then he told his daugh-
ter, “Well My daughter! Please go to the rich man’s house and
work as a servant temporarily and get five hundred rupees.
With that money we will buy a milking cow, and we will do-
nate rice porridge with milk to the monks. That will bring
benefits.”
The daughter willingly accepted her father’s advice
and said “Yes, father! That is a good idea” Thi-tha took his
daughter to the rich man and let her work as a servant. He
invested her temporarily with five hundred rupees. Then he
bought a milking cow and brought it to his house. He told his
wife, “ Well my beloved wife! Please get milk from the cow
and donate the milk daily to the monks; I am going to another
place to work and make some money to get back our daugh-
ter.’’
Then he went to another town to find a job. Luckily he
got a job and could make money. Within six months, he could
save five hundred rupees. He went back to his village.
On his way back, he met a monk who had meditated
day and night. They came back together. They were talking
and the time was almost noon. Thi-tha asked the monk “ Well
Reverend Sir! Do you have lunch to eat?” The monk replied
“There is no lunch for me. ’’ Thi-tha said “Reverend Sir! Please
wait here for a while I will go and find food to donate to you.’’
He met a man who was carrying a lunch box on his back. Thi-
tha said “Well friend, please sell your lunch.” The man re-
plied “How much are you going to pay for the lunch.” Thi-tha
said “I will give you one rupee for that.” The man said, “I
can’t sell it for this money.”

62
 Thi-tha bargained the price bit by bit. At long last, he
put down five hundred rupees in front of him and begged him
“Well friend! I have no more money, please sell your lunch.”
In the end, the man sold his lunch box to Thi-tha for five hun-
dred rupees.
Thi-tha ran to the monk and offered the lunch. After
lunch the monk and Thi-tha started the journey together. On
the way, the monk asked Thi-tha, how he got the lunch. Thi-
tha told the monk, how he had to work six months to get back
his daughter, how he had to pay five hundred rupees for the
lunch, how he was happy to offer the lunch.
The monk looked at Thi-tha with surprise, he was
thinking “What a good man to do such a wonderful and pre-
cious donation; I must do a good deed in return for this man.”
He then asked the names of Thi-tha, his wife and his daughter
and the village. Thi-tha gave the information and asked the
monk to come to his place when he had a chance. At the junc-
tion of the road they parted their ways, Thi-tha to his village
and the monk to the capital.

When the monk reached the royal capital, he went to

the monastery of the monk who was the King’s master. When
the King’s master saw the monk, he knew that he was a very
learned monk and he gave him the best room in the monas-
tery. The monk meditated the whole night and just before dawn,
he became Arahat. At dawn he called the King’s master monk
and said, “I have passed my life-span; I am going to pass away
as a person of supreme saintliness (Arahatta); if anything hap-
pens regarding me, please call Thi-tha, if you ask him to do
anything, it will be fulfilled”. He told the village where Thi-
tha lived, the names of his wife and daughter. In late dawn, he
passed away, as a person of supreme saintliness,

63
THI-THA COULD CARRY HIS MASTER’S COFFIN
LIKE A DRIED LEAVE.

64
 The King’s master monk told the King that the Arahat
had passed away. The King came to the monastery with all his
ministers and rich people. They made a bench like a lotus
flower and tried to put the body of the Arahat on the bench.
They neither could lift the body nor carry it, because it looked
like a solid stone pillar stucked under. Then the King’s master
monk recalled the words spoken by the Arahat before he passed
away. “If you call Thi-tha, everything will be fulfilled”. The
King sent a messenger to summon Thi-tha. When Thi-tha ar-
rived the King told him to look and see if the the monk was
his master. When Thitha saw his master he cried and said,
“This is my master.”

The King gave one thousand rupees to Thi-tha to carry

the body onto the bench. He could not carry it. At last when
Thi-tha was given ten thousand rupees, the body moved up as
light as a dry leaf.

The King told Thi-tha to bring his wife and daughter.

He gave them good food and clothing and also to take care of
the corpse. He asked his ministers and rich people to make a
coffin and pavilion. They had to give money to Thi-tha to make
the funeral procession step by step.

At the end of the funeral, Thi-tha got thirty-six million

rupees.Thi-tha became a rich man in no time.

The King built a Zetiya .(Shrine with the Monk’s relics

inside for worship.)
Source:- Mangalarsura Dipani

65
15. TO LIVE THE RIGHTEOUS LIFE ( DHAMMA
CARIYACA)
If a person lives in a righteous way, he or she will en-
joy long live, happy, and free from diseases .

How to live the righteous way?.

At a tender age, children may not be able to follow the
higher teachings of The Buddha, but they should be trained at
least to show good will towards all beings, so that they may
have no ill-feelings towards anyone.They should not encour-
age quarrels among themselves but should act as peace-mak-
ers. They should love all creatures, particular small and weak
ones and try to save them from all kinds of danger.
They should be trained to speak politely and pleas-
antly to everyone.Thus they may grow up to be admired and
loved by all.
Five precepts are the minimum precepts that a person
should follow throughout his life:-
They are:-
1. Abstinence from taking life.
2. Abstinence from taking other’s properties without
knowledge or consent.
3. Abstinence from unlawful sexual activities.
4. Abstinence from being untruthful or telling lies.
5. Abstinence from using intoxicants.
(Abstinence means keeping away from)

There are ten good deeds you should follow:-

1. Donating to others.
2. Following the precepts.
3. Meditating to calm your mind.
4. Being respectful to Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha (monks),
parents, teachers, elders and honorable people.

66
5. Looking after the above mentioned persons.
6. Giving or sharing the merits of what you have done like
charity to others.
7. Being happy when other people have done charitable deeds.
8. Listening to Dhamma talks, and study religious literature.
9. Giving lectures on Dhamma without expecting honour, fame
or gifts.
10. Following the Dhamma which has been laid down by the
Buddha.

The Story
Once King Brahmadat ruled Benares, in India. At that
time , in Kathi Province, there was a village called Dhamma-
Pala. The villagers were very pious; even the servants kept
precepts, and did meditation.
In that village, there was an old Brahmin by the name
of Maha-Dhamma-Pala. He had a son, whose name was
Dhamma-Pala. When the boy got older, the father sent him to
a University for better education. The old man told his son,
“Dear son!, you better go to the great professor and donate
one thousand rupees to him and get the education.” When the
boy, Dhamma-Pala arrived at the University, he donated ten
thousand rupees to the professor and studied very hard so that
he become the master of five hundred students.
One day, the son of the professor passed away and sent
the body to cemetery for burial. The Professor and students cried
except Dhamma-Pala. When they came back from the cemetery
everybody was saying “The professor’ son died although he was
young and had a good character.” Dhamma-Pala could not
understand the fact so he asked his friends as follows:- “Well
friends! Why did the young boy die , he did not deserve to die
young.” His friends said, “ Dhamma-Pala, don’t you know
that every being has to die.” Then Dhamma-Pala replied,

67
“Yes, friends, I know, but in my village and in my ancestry,
people don’t die young; they die only when they get very old.”
When the professor heard the conversation, he called
Dhamma-Pala and said, “Is that true that young people don’t
die, they die only when they are very old in your ancestry and
in your village?” Dhamma-Pala replied, “Yes sir, I am telling
the truth.” The professor was astonished by Dhamma-Pala
words so he decided to go to Dhamma-Pala’s father to inquire
about the matter. If that was true he would ask the advice from
the father on how to live long. The professor told Dhamma-
Pala,“I will go to your father for enquiry. In my absence, you
better teach the students on behalf of me.” Then he left for
Dhamma-Pala’s village with an assistant. The professor put
the bones of a goat into his bag and took it to the village.

At the village, Maha Dhamma-Pala welcomed him

and and gave him good food and let him stay in his house.
After a brief talk, the professor told the old man “Your son
Dhamma-pala is very brilliant; he has mastered eighteen
subjects with honours; but he died recently with severe disease.
Please accept my condolence as things are not permanent”.The
old man laughed aloud, clapping his hands.Then he said “ My
son Dhamma-Pala cannot die, somesomeone one else must
have died.” The professor took out the bones from the bag
and said, “Please believe me, these bones are from your son’s
body.” The old man solemnly said,“These bones are not my
son’s bone; they must be from a goat or a dog; Dhamma-Pala
is not dead; in our seven generations, not a single person died
at young age, you must be lying.” The people nearby also
laughed aloud with clapping hands.

Then the professor confessed that Dhamma-Pala

did not die. He just came to inquire and to know the
cause of longevity. The old man said to the professor,

68
MAHA DHARMA-PALA AND NEIGHBOURS WERE
LAUGHING AT THE PROFESSOR WHEN HE SHOW
THE BONES.

69
“We live according to the Dhamma; we donate and keep pre-
cepts; we do not lie and avoid evil deeds. That is why no body
dies at young age in our family; as we do not want to oppose
any one,we listen to all the people; and we only accept lec-
tures given by the wise, and we comply with them; we enjoy
every moment of our donation, before, during and after our
donation; we never regret about the donations; we treat well
the monks, old people, travellers, poor people, even the home-
less and beggars. We firmly keep our five precepts. All our
family as well as our servants are afraid of going to hell in
next existence; we follows Dhamma diligently. Therefore we
do not die at young age. We only die at old age”.
The professor was very pleased ; paid respect to the
old Brahmin and went back to his University town.

Comment:- To live the righteous life is a blessing.

Source:- 550 Nipada, Dhammapala Zat.

16. HELPING OF ONE’S RELATIVES (NATAKANACA -

SANGAHO)

All people are obliged to love and care for their

relatives, providing them with clothes, food and money. Charity
begins at home, but some rich people show their poor relatives
ill feeling and avoid them when they visit their home. They
have no desire to support them in their needs. So ill feeling
may arise between them. In this way, they begin to cease to
feel and act as relatives. This is the order of the day and what
is happening in this world.

It is better to help relatives especially when they are

poor or when they are in trouble or in ill health.

70
There are four ways of helping relatives.
1. By giving charity to them.
2. By talking kindly.
3. By helping in their work or business.
4. By considering them as one of your kins and treating them
like one.

A rich man cannot stay aloof. He should take care of

his relatives whether they are rich or poor. If he does not take
care of his relatives, he will be shunned by the relatives and
will not get help from them when he is in trouble. He should
take care of the relatives and live in harmony with them.

Story 16 Mahakapi Zat.

Once there was King Brahmadat who ruled Benares.

In the Himalaya, near the Gangi river, lived a group of mon-
keys ruled by King monkey who was very big and strong.
Near the tip of the Gangi river, was a very tall and huge mango
tree full of fruit The mango fruit were very big and tasty.

Once, a mango wrapped with leaves made by insects,

fell into the river and was caught in a net where the King was
enjoying a bath in the river. After his bath, the fishermen took
out the net and found the big mango.The fishermen served the
mango to the King.
As the King could not distinguish the fruit, He asked
the hunters to taste it and He himself ate it. He liked the taste
of the fruit very much that, He asked the hunters what kind of
fruit and from where it came. The hunters replied that the fruit
was a mango and came from the Himalaya near the tip of the
Gangi river.

71
 The King with it’s troops travelled up to the tip of the
Gangi river. The hunters led the way to the mango tree; rested
under it and enjoyed the taste of the mangoes. At night they
lighted burners and guarded the mango tree.
When the guards were sleeping, monkeys climbed the
mango tree and ate the mangoes. When the King woke up, he
saw the monkeys on the tree. He ordered the hunters to guard
the tree and not to let the monkeys from the tree.
The monkeys were very frightened when they saw the
hunters with bows and arrows. They reported to their King
monkey about the situation. The King monkey told them that
he would give his life to save them.
He climbed the tree to the top and jumped to the other
side of the river. He fell on a bush and took a creeper, tied one
end to a tree and the other end to his waist. He jump to the
mango tree on the other side of the Gangi river. Unluckily he
could catch only a branch of the mango tree with both hands.
He told the monkeys to run over his body and with the help of
the creeper to the other side of the river.
The monkeys paid respect to their King monkey and
escaped to the other side of the river. But the future Devada
monkey thought that he got the chance to destroy the King
monkey. He climbed to a higher branch and jumbed on the
chest of the King monkey and escaped. The King monkey
had a severe chest injury and left alone.
King Brahmadat was watching how the King mon-
key was trying to save his followers at the risk of his life.
In the morning, with great regards, King Brahmadat told
his ministers to make a raft and brought the King monkey
on it. He treated the King monkey with hot fermentation to
the chest; gave a cup of cold water and rubbed the chest
with medicine. He made the King monkey lie down on the
wool skin.The King sit in a lower place and said,

72
THE KING MONKEY WAS HELPING HIS RELATIVES TO
CROSS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER

73
“Oh King monkey! You made yourself like a bridge and let
the monkeys cross over you; how are you related to the mon-
keys, and how the monkeys are related to you?”
The King monkey replied ,“Oh honourable King! I am
the King of all the monkeys; to save them, I jumped to the
other side of the river, tied one end of the creeper to a tree and
another end to my waist and jumped back to this side. Unfor-
tunately I could not reach the mango tree properly; so I had to
hold the branches; thus all the monkeys escaped to a safe place
by stepping on my body; after all, I saved my kins; I am not
sorry to meet death”.
“Oh Honourable King! I have told you this example;
please treat your people for their prosperity and happiness; a
King must be wise and kind”. Thus he gave a lecture to the
King and passed away”.

The King ordered the ministers to celebrate the funeral

service of the King monkey as one of the King’s funeral. The
ministers arranged a funeral service by cremating in a cem-
etery.

They presented the King monkey’s skull to the King.

The King built a Zeteyat ( a pagoda ) with the skull enshrined
in it and honoured with flowers and scents. Throughout his
life, he ruled his country according to the Dhamma given by
the King monkey. When the King died, he was reborn in a
celestial plane.

Comment:- Helping of one’s relatives is Mangalar.

Source:- Maha-kapi Zat.

74
17. IMMORAL LIVELIHOOD (ANA VAJJANI KAMMANI)
Any kind of work or profession, however humble in
its nature, which is neither criminally nor morally offensive is
called a blameless work. Even in such works , as commercial
trading, cultivating farms, service in civil departments of the
State, working in business firms and factories and in one’s
own profession, one should be sincere, true and honest and
do blameless action.
For example:
(1) Building roads, bridges, ponds, tube wells, schools,
hospitals, health centers, playgrounds, shelters, water
drinking spots.
(2) Building gardens for people to relax.
(3) Doing social works for the benefit of the people and
voluntary work in time of peace or during natural
disasters.
The Story 17
Once there lived a young man in Masala village,
Maghada Province in Yarsajoo country. His name was
Magha. He was pious; observed five precepts and fond
of Dana. (Donations to others.) He did good deeds and
meritorious works for the villagers.
Also there were thirty three young men living in
Masala village. They were good hearted as Magha. They
worked together for the benefit of the villagers. They
constructed and repaired roads for the bullock carts. They built
bridges, wells, ponds, and rest houses.
Because they observed precepts and were doing
donations, villagers also lived peacefully and tried to observe
precepts. The village became peaceful and prosperous. Before,
Masala village was not peaceful. Villagers used to drink
alcohol and did evil deeds. Crimes and bribery were common.
Now there were no crimes and became peaceful because of
good deeds done.

75
 Village revenue collector under the royal grant of the
King had lost bribes because there was no crime in the village.
So that man was thinking about how to eliminate Magha and
his friends. He then approached the King and told him, “Well
your honour! Magha and his thirty three friends are destroying
the welfare of the village.”
Without inquiring, the cruel King ordered Magha and
his thirty three friends to be killed by an elephant stamping on
them. Just before they were about to be killed by the elephant,
Magha told his friends not to be frightened, or angry, and told
them to send Metta ( loving-kindness) to the King, the elephant
and the guards.
He told his friends to think about their Sila and Dana,
and say solemn truth about their meritorious deed. All the
friends did what Magha advised them to do.
The King’s guards tried again and again to step on
them with the elephant but after the elephant approached them,
it ran away making a loud noise. When the King heard about
the matter he thought the elephant might be afraid when he
saw human beings. He told his guards to cover them with mats
and tried to step on by the elephant. Even then the elephant
ran away as before.
When the King heard the news, he thought there must
be something extraordinary. He told the ministers to bring them
to his palace and asked them ,“Well country-men!, are you
going to form as insurgents and loot the people?” They re-
plied ,“Your honourable King! As we want to become celes-
tial beings in next rebirth, we are repairing roads, building
bridges; the revenue collector got angry with us when we
refused his advise to do bad deeds”
The King said ,“The elephant knows the gratitude of
your people; I, as a human being, do not know it; please for-
give me”.

76
THE ELEPHANT REFUSED TO STEP ON MARGA
AND HIS FRIENDS.

77
 When the King knew the truth, he removed the revenue
collector from his post and punished him for his crimes. He
appointed Magha in his place as village revenue collector. He
gave Magha the elephant as a prize. He asked Marga and his
friends to continue their good work as before. When they
passed away Magha was reborn as Sakka (Deva King) in
Tavatimisa Deva plane. His friends were reborn as Deva near
Sakka.

Source:- Magha Vutthu

18. TO ABSTAIN FROM MENTAL EVIL (ARATI PAPA)

To abstain from evil thoughts is one of the good

qualities for those who want to be prosperous in life. People
who commit evil deeds physically or verbally meet poverty
and suffering. It is mind which controls physical and verbal
evil deeds. Only those who can guide their mind and mental
processes with good sense and wisdom will not meet
sufferings.
The main cause of the sufferings of all beings is not
from outside but the mental processes which take place in your
brain. A person who has evil thoughts will not talk politely;
his physical appearance is not well cultured. Nobody will love
that kind of person, no one will respect and help him.

A person with evil thoughts is like a person who keeps

a viper in his pocket. As the viper can bite him anytime, he
will meet the suffering. If you want to be happy, you need to
get rid of your evil thoughts as you have to remove the viper
before being bitten.

78
The advice of the Buddha, is accepted as the essence of His
Teaching:-
“Cease from evil
Do good
Develop your mind”

Ten Evil Deeds

(a) The three evil deeds of the body are:-

(1) Killing
(2) Stealing
(b) The (3)
fourSexual transgression
evil deeds of speech are:-

(1) Lying

(2) Slandering: - Words which are spoken in order to

create enmity between two friends or associates.
(3) Harsh speech: - crude words that no body
likes to hear.
(4) Frivolous talk: - speaking untruth or idle chatter.
(c) The three evils of mind are:-
(1) Planning to get other people’s properties
(2) Planning to destroy others and their properties
(3) False view
The Story
Once there lived a mother who lived with her two sons
after her husband’s death. Both of the sons took care of their
mother very kindly. One day the mother got sick. They con-
sulted a traditional practitioner. The physician said, “Well
boys! Your mother will get cured if she can eat rabbit meat; so
all you need to do is to find rabbit meat”.

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THE YOUNG BROTHER RELEASED THE RABBIT.

80
 So the elder son told the younger brother to catch a
rabbit and bring its meat. The younger brother went to the
nearby forest. He saw a rabbit eating leaves. When the rabbit
saw him it became afraid and ran away. The rabbit was caught
in a bush so he could not run away anymore. The younger
brother caught the rabbit easily. The rabbit was so afraid that
its body was trembling with fear.

The young brother looked at the little rabbit with his

selfless mind and exclaimed, “All living beings are afraid of
death; my mother is also afraid of death; I am also afraid of
death; the rabbit is also in fear of death. It is not fair to kill the
young rabbit and feed my mother to save her life.”

Ultimately he decided not to kill the young rabbit. He

released the young rabbit and it ran away happily.
When he came back home, the elder brother asked his
brother, “Do you bring the rabbit?” The young brother told
the whole event but the elder brother was not satisfied and
scolded him, “You do not think about your mother’s benefit.”
Then the mother said “The young son has done the right thing;
there is no fault at all; killing others is not good.” The mother
was so happy and she blessed him. Then the younger brother
stated,“ Since I become mature, I never kill others; if these
words are correct , my mother’s illness will get cured just as
surely as a water drop cannot stick on a lotus leaf.” With those
words, his mother’s illness got cured. Therefore abstaining
from evil mental thoughts is a blessing.

Source:- Atthasalini Atthakahta Sakkanaupassaka Vitthu.

Comment:- To abstain from mental evil is a blessing.

81
19. TO ABSTAIN FROM PHYSICAL EVIL (VIRATI PAPA)
To avoid evil deeds with speech and action is one of
the good qualities of those who want to have happiness and
wealth.

Result of evil deeds

Evil doers have no control over their senses, they com-
mit evil acts that increase the tendency to do further evil. They
live a life of misery and pain in this life. And will go to the
lower abodes when they die. Those who have control over
their sense find themselves able to refrain from doing evil at
all time. They gain happiness and peace in this life and they
have a happy rebirth in this world after death.

The Story
Once there was King Brahmadat who ruled Benares.
During that time there lived a professor who was very learned
and pious. There were five hundred students learning under
the guidance of the professor. He had a beautiful and cultured
daughter. One day he thought to himself, “I would like to find
out a student who is good in morality and will give him her
hand in marriage.”
One day, he called all his students and said, “Well
students! My daughter has come of age to marry. Please bring
jewelleries and clothing for her to wear without the knowledge
of your parents or relatives; I will not accept the jewellies that
you show to your parents and relatives”.
The students went back to their homes and brought
the best jewelleries and clothing without their parents’or
relative’s knowledge. They gave the properties to the profes-
sor and he kept them systematically. Only one student did not
bring anything from his home, and he could not give anything
to the professor.

82
THE PROFESSOR TAUGHT THE STUDENTS NOT
TO DO EVIL DEEDS.

83
 The professor asked the young student why he did not
bring any property, he replied,“ Your Honourable Professor! I
don’t want to bring any thing without the knowledge of anyone;
there is no place for bad deeds; that is why I do not bring
anything”.

The professor liked the student very much. The

professor said ,“I just wanted to find out whether my students
know the bad deeds and if they know, they can or cannot avoid
it; you are the one who know there is no place for doing bad
deeds and can avoid it; you deserve my daughter for marriage.”
He praised him and arranged the marriage ceremony.

To the rest of the students he preached not to do evil

deeds. He gave back their properties respectively and told them
to send back to their homes.
Source : 550 Nipada Silavimansana Zat.

Comment:- To abstain from physical evils is a blessing.

20. TO REFRAIN FROM INTOXICANTS. (MAJJAPANA CA

SANYAMO)

Intoxicants (alcoholic drinks and drugs) include

alcohol, opium, morphia, cocaine, ganga, toddy juice from
palm tree, etc. These intoxicants make human’s mind confused
and unable to differentiate what is right or wrong. A drunkard
can cause accidents while driving a car. He might commit
crimes and lose his business. He may be looked down by others.
His health will deteriorate gradually. He and his family will
never get along, and have a ruined life.

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 The habit of taking intoxicants is the most dangerous
in the world. Quarrelling, fighting and disputing may result.
Under the influence of an intoxicant, he forgets to do good
things and is induced to do wrong to his parents, teachers,
elders. holy persons, etc.
To refrain from intoxicants is one of the blessings.

The Story

Long long ago, King Brahmadat ruled Benares in

India.There was a multi-millionaire. He did good deeds and
when he died , he was reborn as Sakka, King of Devas.
The millionaire had only one son who inherited all the
properties. He was foolish and could not manage well and he
wasted all the money. He built a big pavilion and wasted all
the money with his friends by drinks, food, dancers and women.
Within a few years, he became very poor and penniless.

His father, King Sakka visualized about his son and

found out everything. He came down to earth to see his son
who was now very poor. He gave him a wishing pot and
said,“Well son! This is a wishing pot; you can wish anything;
take care of this wishing pot and do not break it. I cannot give
you anymore.” Then he returned to the celestial plane.

The son was very happy because whatever he wished

for, appeared inside the wishing pot. He used the things that
appeared in the pot. Soon after, he wished for alcohol and
drank as before. He did not care about what his father warned
him about the wishing pot. He threw the wishing pot up and
caught again. At one time he could not catch the pot and it fell
onto the ground and broke.

85
THE SON WISHED FOR ALCOHOL AND GOT
DRUNK.

86
 From that time on, the rich man’s son became very
poor again and his father could not help him anymore. He
became a beggar and died homeless
Comment:-To refraim from intoxicants is a blessing.
Source:- 550 Nipada, Sura-ga-te Zat.

21. TO PRACTICE DHAMMA DELIGENTLY

(APPAMADU CA DHAMMESU)
To be mindful in good deeds is one of the good qualities
of a person. He will be always peaceful and prosperous.
Snakes and insects are always happy in dust and
bushes. Like-wise, human mind is also happy in confused
sensations. It is difficult to have thoughts in good and
meritorious deeds.
To have meritorious deeds, you have to form a habit
of doing good deeds everyday. If you have the will to do this,
you will form a habit. When you have a habit, you will come
to do the work at that time regularly.
For example, a man is not a smoker initially. But when
he develops a habit to smoke after lunch and dinner, he wants
to smoke at these times. Likewise habits can be formed for
good and meritorious deeds.
A habitual smoker will get diseases like chronic
bronchitis, lung cancer, heart disease, etc. But the person who
is habitually meritorious will get peace and insight to be
prosperous. If you have insight and effort but lack in action,
you will not be successful. Therefore to have good action, you
need to do charity, have morality and meditation (mental
training). To fulfill all these three things, you need mindfulness.
Mindfulness is very important after all.

If you have mindfulness in doing all the meritorious

deeds you will reach a state of peace and prosperity ultimately.

87
Story 21:- Eku-dana Monk

Eku-dana Maha-thera (Senior Monk) was living all

alone in a forest. He used to speak the following verse.
There will be no ill will, hatred, anger to an Arahat
who is not joyous experiencing fame, praise or well being,
nor disheartened in the face of death, disfavour or suffering.
He is always mindful and free from the following men-
tal states.
(1) lobha greed
(2) dorsa hatred
(3) moha delution
(4) mana conceit
(5) dithi wrong belief
(6) vicikisa doubt
(7) thina lethergy
(8) udica distraction
(9) ahirika shameless in doing evil
(10)anotapa having no fear of moral constraint

On sabbath day he used to encourage all living beings

to listen to Dhamma talk and spoke the above verse as usual.
The Devas who are living in the forest exclaimed Sadhu!
Sadhu! Sadhu!( “Well done!”, “Well done!”, “Well done!”).
The voices were so loud that they could be heard throughout
the whole forest.
One sabbath day, two most learned monks, each with
five hundred followers visited Eku-dana. The two leaders had
learned Ti-Pitaka(Teachings of The Buddha) by heart.
Ekudana was very happy and said, “Welcome your
Venerable Sayardaws,!, we would like to listen your Dhamma
teachings.”
The visiting monks asked “ Is there any body who

88
BUDDHA HONOURED THE MONK WHO KNEW
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS PRACTICALLY

89
would like to listen the Dhamma talk?”. Eku-dana replied,
“There are Devas who listen to Dhamma talk and they will
happily exclaim Sadhu! with loud voices”.
One of the learned monks gave a Dhamma talk. Not a
single Deva said Sadhu. Then the monks argued, “ You told us
that the Devas would exclaim Sadhu after the Dhamma talk;
but we cannot hear any voice; why is that?”.
Eku-dana replied, “On other sabbath days Devas used
to exclaim Sadhu, but I could not understand why they do not
exclaim on this day?”.
The monks told Eku-dana to give a Dhamma talk. Eku-
dana gave a Dhamma teachings and spoke out the usual verse.
Devas exclaimed “Sadhu!, Sadhu!, Sadhu!.”
Then the followers of the learned monks said, “Devas
were not fair and they did not say Sadhu. The learned monk
has given a long course of Dhamma. Not a single Deva has
appreciated and honoured it; they exclaimed Sadhu to a short
verse given by an old monk who became a monk at old age”.

When the monks arrived at the monastery, they put

forward the matter to The Buddha, who gave the following
comment.
“Well my sons! Even though a person has learned the
whole Dhamma and give lectures on it, you cannot regard
him as a missionary”.
“ A person who just learnt a short verse and applied
and practiced deligently to know the Four Noble Truth and is
always mindful, is regarded as a missionary”.
At the end of exposition of The Buddha, many beings
attained Sotapanna (stream-winners).
Comment:- Mindfulness is most important.
Source:- Dhamma-Pada , Ekudana Mahathera Vitthu.

90
22. PAYING RESPECT AND HONOUR TO ELDERS AND
SUPERIORS. (GARAVO CA)

There are many ways of respect that should be shown

to a person who is worthy of it. It is a great value to a man in
his social life. So everyone should show respect to others
deserving of respect.

Who are the one to be respected?.

(1) At home: - parents, guardians, teachers, uncles, aunts,
older brothers and sisters are respectable persons.

(2) In office: - those who are higher in position than you.

(3) In religious life: - Buddha, Dhamma, and Sanghas

(monks) for a Buddhist; clergyman and religious
teachers for other religions.

How to show your respects:-

1. By listening to their teaching and advice.

2. By giving your seats to older persons when travelling

in trains, cars, boats, etc.

3 Presenting food and other requirements to older persons

What you can expect by paying respect to such person?

1. You will get love, advice and religious teachings.

2. You will be honoured and respected by your superiors.

91
 3. You will be promoted to a better position in your job.

The story
Once there lived in Himalaya, a partridge, a monkey
and an elephant near a big banyan tree. As they had different
nature , they did not know how to respect each other.

One day they discussed among themselves. “We should

not live as we are doing now. We do not respect one another.
We should pay respect and take advice from the older person.”
At last they all agreed to find out who was the oldest among
them.
The partridge and the monkey asked the elephant.
“Well friend! When did you notice this banyan tree?” The
elephant answered, “Well friends! When I was young, I used
to walk over this banyan tree. The top of the tree is as tall as
my umbilicus.

Then the elephant and partridge asked the monkey.

“Well friend! When did you notice the banyan tree?” The
monkey answered. “Well friends!, When I was young, I used
to sit and eat the buds of the tree.”
Then they asked the partridge. The partridge answered,
“Well friends! There was no banyan tree in this place. I ate
banyan fruits from other place and passed motion in this area.
From the contents of motion , this banyan tree grews up.”

Then the elephant and the monkey told the partridge,

“You are older than us and have more experience; therefore
you have more knowledge; we should give respect to you.
From today onwards, we will obey you, and treat you well;
please give advice and we will follow.”

92
AT LAST THEY ALL AGREED TO FIND OUT WHO
WAS THE OLDEST AMONG THEM.

93
 The partridge accepted their words. He gave advice to
them and also asked to do good deeds every day He himself
stood as a respectable person to his friends. Thus there was
harmony in their living. They stayed in peace and lived to old
age happily.

Paying respect to a respectable person is a blessing.

Source :- 550 Nipada Tilhara Zat.

23. TO BE HUMBLE (NIVATO CA)

Men are generally creatures of pride which is the

opposite of being humble. It seems natural for men not to want
to be of humble position.

Many people when they become highly educated or

when they become very rich in worldly properties, they become
very proud.

What are the causes of pride?

(1) They take pride when their relatives are of

higher class.

(2) They take pride when they are successful in

material things.

(3) They take pride because of beauty.

94
 (4) The take pride when they have many followers
or servants.

(5) They take pride when they attain higher

education.

(6) They take pride when they possess higher

positions.

(7) They take pride when they can do many

meritorious deeds.

Instead of being pride you should be humble to many

people. We should be humble in many places, in school, at
home, in office etc. People love humble people and give help
to him. That is why Buddha said humbleness is a blessing and
should be practiced by all persons.

The Story 23

Once in Baw-ga Country, there lived King Nana-Yarza

who was very brilliant. There were many wise men and
ministers in his court. That is why the country became very
prominent among others.

The King had two sons, the elder known as Bala and
the younger one known as Thaw-ma. The elder son Bala was
very proud and he treated the ministers and countrymen with
pride. Therefore the ministers and the countrymen didn’t like
him. The younger son Thawma was different. He had a good
heart and was not proud like his brother. He was humble to
the ministers and countrymen, so they all loved him.

95
 One day Bala went to the royal ceremony on horseback
wearing good clothes. While he was riding, he saw an old man
walking in front of him. The old man was carrying a bag and
was travelling to a distant place.

Since he didn’t notice Bala riding behind him, he did

not move out of his way. Bala was so angry that he struck him
down with his horse. The old man fell down on the side of the
road. Thawma was riding at the back of Bala and saw the
incident. Thawma jumped down from the horse and carried
the old man onto the side of the road. He asked the old man.
“Well old man!, are you hurt anywhere?” The old man replied,
“Well son!, there is slight pain in the legs.” Thawma said, “In
that case please ride on my horse; I will give you my horse.”

The old man replied, “Well son! with all the good
clothes that you are wearing, and going to the royal ceremony,
you won’t look nice walking instead of riding a horse.” Thawma
said, “Don’t worry about me; I can travel on foot. Please take
my horse as you have pain in your legs”

Then Thawma mounted the old man onto the horse’s

back. The old man took out a book of doctrines from his bag
and gave it to him. Then he said, “Well son! you are very kind;
I will give this book of doctrines as a gift for your kindness;
no one has ever possessed such a book; it contains excellent
lessons; please read from beginning to end; you will find all
the information you need in this book.”

96
THAWMA JUMP DOWN FROM THE HORSE
AND OFFERED HIS HORSE TO THE OLD MAN

97
 Thawma received the book of doctrine happily. The
old man went off on the horse. Thawma humbly went to the
royal ceremony walking. All the princes and ministers came
to the royal ceremony riding horses or in royal carriages. The
ministers were surprised to see Thawma come walking to the
royal ceremony.
After six months, a royal mission from a neighbouring
country paid visit to the King and said, “Well Your honour!,
we heard that you are very wise and you also have many wise
ministers; our King, consulted by his ministers wants to ask
three questions to test your county’s learning”.
They offered three questions written on a gold plate to
the King.
They were:

(1)What is the bird whose wings and tail are made of

bones?
(2) What is the bird whose wings and tail are made of
flesh?
(3) What is the bird whose wings and tail are made
of feathers?
The King and his ministers tried to find the answers but
they could not find them immediately. So they told the royal
mission that they would give the answers within three days.
The King and the ministers were in difficulty. They were afraid
that the neighbouring country would look down upon them if
they could not give the answers in time.

The elder son, Bala said he would capture the royal mission
and killed them because they came to ask difficult questions. The
King didn’t agree with his idea but Bala didn’t give up. So in
the end the King had to deport him from the country

98
 Then the young son Thawma approached his father and
said that he could answer the three questions. Thawma said,
“Well Father!, don’t worry; after I have studied the book of
doctrines given by the poor old man, I can answer the three
questions very well.” He told his father the story of how he
met the old man and got the doctrines from him. The King and
the ministers were very pleased with what he said.
Then the day came for the answers. They prepared to
perform a ceremony. The King, Queen, Royal family, ministers
and Royal mission attended the ceremony. The younger son,
Thawma, sat bravely in front of the audience and answered
the three questions.

(1) The bird whose wings and tail are made of bones is a
beetle.

(2) The bird whose wings and tail are made of flesh is a
flying squirrel.

(3)The bird whose wings and tail are made of feathers is a

peacock.

When he gave those answers the Royal mission said,

“Those are the correct answers.” They praised Thawma and
gave him many gifts. The King, ministers and countrymen
were proud of Thawma and appointed him as the Crown Prince.

Source:- Mingalarsara Dipani

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24. TO BE CONTENT (SAMTUTTI CA)

Contentment means satisfaction with what one has, or

to be without craving. He does not crave for that which cannot
be obtained with ease. There is little difference between riches
and poverty to a man contented with life.

A person who is contented is the one who is satisfied

with what he or she has for food, clothing and place to live
without wishing for anything else.

He lives on simple food, simple clothes, and in a simple

place. He does not crave for luxurious things and he is satisfied
with what he earned. That is why Buddha said, “Those who
are not satisfied with what they have, become the servants of
craving.

Some think that contentment is the same as selfishness

and laziness. In fact contentment is the satisfaction of a person
who earns his living rightfully with intelligence and eagerness.

A selfish person is the one who is stingy to himself as

well as to others. A lazy person is the one who does not work
diligently but wastes his time by visiting friends and other
places.

After all, contentment is one of the blessings the

Buddha taught. Therefore if you want to be stable and not to
deteriorate in your personal life, you should be contented with
what you have. There is no short cut to be rich by greediness.
Try to live within the law and be contented with your life.

100
The Story

Once upon a time, in Benares, traders used to carry

their goods from one place to another in bullock carts. The
leader of the bullock carts trail was a wise and contented man.
One day the leader and the traders loaded five hundred bullock
carts with goods and left Benares to go to another place.

On the way, they had to cross a barren land. In the

center of the barren land they found a banyan tree where they
made a camp to take a rest. The banyan tree looked very
healthy with green branches. They dug the well as they wanted
water. Unexpectedly they found copper. As they continued
digging deeper and deeper they found silver, gold, pearls and
rubies.

Although they got all these jewelleries, they were not

satisfied. With greed they continued digging and digging
expecting to get more jewels. Some-time later the leader said,
“Well friends! please be satisfied; don’t go on digging.”

The traders were not satisfied and they didn’t obey the
leader and continued digging. The old well was not an ordinary
well. It was the place where the King dragon lived. The traders
dug the well so deep that they destroyed the dragon’s cave.
The King dragon was so angry that he blew poisonous gas
from his nose.
All the traders except the leader were killed. Later the
King dragon transformed into a human being and came out of
the well. He didn’t harm the leader. He put all the jewelleries
onto a cart and accompanied the leader and brought all the
properties to his home. Then the King dragon went back to his
dragon country.

101
THE KING DRAGON WAS SO ANGRY THAT HE
BLEW POISONOUS GAS FROM HIS NOSE.

102
 The leader donated all the jewelleries to the people. He
was contented and kept the precepts. When he died he was reborn
in celestial plane.
Source:- 550 Nipada Jarrudapana Zat.

25 GRATITUDE (KATINNUTA)
Gratitute means the awareness of one’s duty to another
person who has previously done some act of kindness towards
one. In this world, people who are always ready to help are
rarely found; but rarer still are those who remember and are
grateful to those who have help them.

You must be grateful to others who have done

something for your benefit. Gratitude means appreciation of
favors from people who have acted for your benefit with what
they have, such as giving properties, teaching or looking after
you when you are in trouble.

Parents are the first persons who care for their children
in many ways. They treat their children by giving birth,
clothing, food and taking care of them when they are sick.
They give advice to their children on how to live in childhood
and later life.

Children in return should take good care of their parents

when they are sick and getting old. Buddha and Sangha
(Disciples of Buddha) are persons to be grateful to. They teach
Dhamma (Teachings of Buddha). In schools, teachers are the
one who give us learning. Because of them we become good
citizens.

103
 We should never forget the help of many other who
give us shelter, food and advice. If a person is not grateful to
the above persons,we have to repay in suffering in many ways.

That is why Buddha taught that to know one’s gratitude is

one of the blessings.

The Story
Once in Benares, there lived a King who was kind
hearted. He ruled the country with good intention, kept precepts
and gave donation to the monks and people. One day
insurrection arose in the far frontier. The King and the army
went out to the place to fight and bring peace. Unfortunaly he
and his army were defeated

The King was separated from others and arrived in a

small village. The villagers saw a tired man on a horse. They
did not remember him as their King. They were frightened
and ran away and stayed quiet in their homes. But there was a
man who was brave and good hearted. He welcomed the King
and said, “Well friend! we heard that our King came to fight
the insurgents; are you one of the King’s servants?”.

The King replied, “Yes, I am one of the King’s ser-

vants; I lost my way; can I stay 4-5 days for a rest?”.The man
accepted the request and brought the King to his home. He
asked his wife to wash the King’s feet and to look after him
very nicely.

104
 He gave the King good food and a bed to sleep. He
said, “Please stay here and take a rest; I will take care of you
in all respects.” The King slept and the man washed the King’s
horse, rubbed with oil and fed him with grass. Thus, he treated
the King as an ordinary King’s servant. After 3-4 days, the
King prepared to leave the village. Before the King left, he
invited the man to visit the royal city. “Well friend!, I am known
as the superior horse rider; my home is in the middle of the
town; please tell the guard of the southern city gate to bring
you to the house of the superior horse rider; he will send you
to that place; please go back now”.

After he left the village, he rejoined his troops. The

King and his troop returned to the royal city with victory. When
they arrived at the royal city, the King told the guard of city
gate, “A villager will come; he will ask you to take him to the
superior horse rider’s house. Then you should bring him to
me. I will give you one thousand rupees.”

After that the King waited for the villager but he did
not show up. Then the King had an idea. He ordered to collect
tax on the village where the villager lived. Even then the
villager did not show up. Then the King ordered to submit the
tax to the villagers two to three times. At that time all the
villagers made a meeting and approached the villager saying
that, “Well friend! we have to pay more taxes after your friend,
superior horse rider came to our village; now we are getting
poor because of the taxes, please be kind enough to go to the
superior horse rider and tell him to arrange for a free tax.

105
 Since the good villager could not refuse their request,
he went to the royal city. He brought some clothing and food
as present for his friend and family. When he reached the city
gate he told the guard to take him to the superior horse rider’s
house . The guard took him happily to the King. Only then, he
knew that his friend, the superior horse rider was not an
ordinary man, but the King himself.

The King was very pleased to receive the villager. The

King requested the villager to sit on a royal bench and ordered
the Queen to wash the villager’s feet. The King himself poured
water with a golden pot to the villager’s feet and then rubbed
them with scented oil.

The King asked the villager whether he brought any

food as a present for him.The villager presented a cake to the
King. To honour his guest he received the cake with the golden
plate and feed the Queen and his ministers. The King also
enjoyed the cake. The villager then presented beautiful dresses
to the King’s family.The King and the Queen put on the dresses
brought by the villager.

Then the King ordered one of the ministers to dress

the villager as a King. The minister did what the King ordered
him. The King announced the country that, from the time on-
wards there would be two Kings to rule the country. The King
brought the villger’s family to the town and built a house. The
two familes became closer and the two Kings ruled the coun-
try. He ordered to make the village tax-free.

The ministers were not pleased with what the King

had done.The ministers requested the crown-prince to ask the
King why He gave the villager half of the country.

106
A BRAVE AND GOOD VILLAGER WELCOMED THE
KING AND TOOK HIM TO HIS HOUSE.

107
 .

The crown-prince told the King what the ministers had

told him and not to do what He had done. Then the King nar-
rated the whole story. “When I was defeated in the war, this
villager took care of me. Because of him I won the battle again;
why should I not give my properties to the one who has done
good deeds for me”.

“Well my son!, it is dangerous and lost friendship if

you don’t give your properties to a person who deserved it
and if you give your properties to a person who does not de-
served it”.
The Prince and the ministers could not say anything
when they heard what the King had said.
Source:- 550 Nipada, Maha Asaraha Zat.

26. TO LISTEN TO DHAMMA AT APPROPRIATE TIMES

(KALENA DHMMASAVANAM)
The Dhamma is the teachings of Buddha. The teachings
of Buddha are based on reasons and analysis. It is not a belief
but a teaching which should be accepted and lived by.

What benefits you will gain by hearing Buddha’s

teachings.
(1) The Dhamma will protect the people from external
and internal dangers.
(2) It may remove certain doubts that may possibly arise
in man’s mind.
(3) It enlightens the mind with spiritual wisdom and
insight.
(4) It will give peace and happiness developing pure faith
in the power of Dhamma.
(5) You will come to know the truth.

108
KALA WAS SO ABSORBED IN THE BUDDHA’S
TEACHING THAT HE BECAME SOTAPANA
(STREAM-WINNER)

109
 During Buddha’s life time, many persons including
human and celestial beings attained Nibbana. He has left 5000
years of Sasana (Buddha’s teachings) during which time many
beings can attain Nibbana.
That is why we should listen to Buddha’s teachings
and take the opportunity of learning his doctrine. At the same
time we should go to meditation centers or to a quiet place
and practice meditation under the guidance of a good teacher.
Hearing Buddha’s teachings is one of the blessings.

The Story
During Buddha’s life time, there lived a rich man by
the name of Anathapindika who was the donor of the great
monastery to the Buddha. He had a son named Kala. Kala
never gave respect to Buddha and never listened to his teach-
ings. The rich man was not happy with his son.
One day, the rich man told his son “Well son! if you
keep eight precepts and listen to Buddha’s Dhamma, I will
give you one hundred rupees.” As he wanted the money, he
went to the monastery and kept the eight precepts but did not
listen to Dhamma.
He went to one corner and slept there and came back
in the morning. He did not eat his breakfast unless he got his
money. Next time the father said to his son, “Well son! you
better stay in front of Buddha and try to memorize one
paragraph of Dhamma; I will give you one thousand rupees
this time.” Then he went to the monastery thinking he would
run away after he got one paragraph of Dhamma. As he listened
to Dhamma, he was so absorbed in the Buddha’s teachings
that he became Sotapanna (Stream winner.)

That is why hearing Buddha’s teachings is one of the blessings

Source:- Buddhavin.
.

110
 .

27 TO BE PATIENT (KANTICA)
Patience is another virtue taught by Buddha. In his life
time, he had shown his patience to many oppositions. In this
way he had won many difficulties. For a layman, even at the
early stage of life, we have to be patient during our studies.
There are many difficulties during our school days. We finally
gain our professional degrees or diplomas by showing our
patience. Also in our jobs, we used to face with difficult prob-
lems and also meet many odd personals. With patience, we
gain our jobs and get success.
During meditation we can find a lot of sufferings but
with great patience we gain ultimate goal. There is a saying in
Myanmar “Only with patience we gain Nibbana.” (Ultimate
end of suffering.)

Everybody will face some kind of difficulties in busi-

ness, married life, human relationship and even in religious
affairs. During these times we should keep our mind calm and
stable to solve these problems. Then only we will reach our
goal at long last.
Therefore patience is one of the blessings.
Story 27
Long ago, King Kalabu ruled Benares. At that time,
there was a multi-milionaire, who had a son, named Kondala.
He earned a lot of properties. When the parents died , he looked
at the properties and said ,“My relatives have not taken the
properties; I will donate all the properties and take my good
deeds”. After his donation he went to Himalayas and lived as
a hermit.
One day, the hermit went to Benares and stayed for a
while in the King’s garden. On the next day, he went to the
town for collecting alms and stood in front of the General’s

111
house. When the General saw the hermit, he was very much
impressed by the hermit’s personality that he invited the her-
mit to enter his house and fed him with food which was pre-
pared for him.Then he requested the hermit to stay in the King’s
garden.
At that time, King Kalabu went to the royal garden
with all the dancers. He laid down in the bosom of his beloved
lady and enjoyed the dancing. He felt asleep within a short
time. While the King was sleeping, all the dancers went inside
the garden to see the sceen. They met the hermit under the
sala tree and asked for the Dhamma talk. The hermit gave a
Dhamma teaching to them.
At that time, the lady woke the King. The King asked
for the dancers and noticed that they went to the hermit and
were listening the Dhamma talk. The King became very wild
and went to the hermit with a big dagger in his hand trying to
kill him. The rest of the women consoled him not to get angry.
When the King saw the hermit, he asked the hermit
what kind of concept the hermit practiced. The hermit replied,
“Oh Honourable King!, I have the concept of patience”
The King asked the hermit ,“What is patience?”.The hermit
replied ,“Oh Honourable King!, a person with patience will
not get angry when he is abused or hurt physically by another
person”. As the King wanted to know whether the hermit had
the patience or not, he ordered the professional killer to tie
down the hermit and beat him two thousand strokes with a
cane that contained spikes. The professional killer did as the
King ordered him. The skin of the hermit got torn and bled
from the wounds.
The King asked the hermit again ,“Oh hermit!, what
concept you have?”.The hermit replied, “Oh Honourable
King!, you think my patience lay in my skin; you cannot see
my patience; because it lies in my mind”..

112
KING KALABU WAS TRYING TO KILL THE HER-
MIT

113
 Then the King ordered the professional killer to cut
both the hermit’s hands and legs; bleeding came out from the
cut ends. The King asked the hermit again, “What concept
you have?”. The hermit replied ,“Oh Honourable King!, I have
the concept of patience”. Then the King ordered the profes-
sional killer to cut the hermit’s ears and nose; bleeding came
out from all the wounds. Then the King asked the hermit again,
“What kind of concept you have?”. The hermit replied ,“Oh
Honourable King!, I have the concept of patience”. Then the
King told the hermit “ You better think of the concept of pa-
tience”. The King kicked the chest of the hermit with great
force and left.
When the King was away, the General cleaned all the
wounds and kept all the limbs and the nose in a bag. He propped
up the hermit in a sitting position. The General requested the
hermit ,“Oh Vernerable Sir! , please get angry to the King; but
please save the country”. The hermit replied “Oh My Gen-
eral!, the King has already cut my limbs and nose; I prayed
the King live for many years; a wise-man like me does not get
angry”.
When the King arrived at the gate of the Royal gar-
den, the great earth opened up and the fire from Apaya (Hell)
wrapped the King and took him to Hell.
The hermit expired in the garden. All the countrymen
cremated the hermit with scents and flowers

Thus The Buddha said “To be patient is a blessing”.

Source:- Nipada- Khati Wardi Zat.

114
28 OBEDIENCE(SOVACASSATA)
Obedience means to accept good advice given by oth-
ers with love and good faith. We need good advice to improve
our way of life. We should not hesitate to take good advice
given in good faith and with good intention by parents, teach-
ers and friends who are superior in age, intellect or character.
Some people are very stubborn. They do not want to listen to
the advice given by teachers during our school days.
Therefore they suffer needlessly in life. In many cases,
we need to take other people’s good opinion from the early
life. We must know how to behave in community.
One should not hesitate to follow resonable instruc-
tions which are given in good faith and with good intention,
by those who are superior in age, intellect and character.
The story
Once upon a time, King Bramadat ruled Benares. His
country was big, properous and strong in military might.
Kosala country was ruled by King Digitti. Kosala country was
small; the army was not strong and not properous. King
Bramadat invaded Kosala. As his army was not strong enough
to fight back, King Digitti ran away with his Queen. At the
outskirts of the country they disguised as ordinary people and
lived in a potter’s house.
Since King Digitti and the Queen ran away,King
Bramadat took over the country including the army and wealth
of the Kosala country.
SoonI the Queen got pregnant and gave birth to a son
sss
who was named Prince Digarvu. King Digitti was pondering
as such “King Bramadat might find us living here although
disguised. If he kills us, our son will also be killed. So he sent
his son to a safer place for better education.” To his expectation,
King Bramadat found them although they were disguised.
Immediatelythey were caught and sent to a place where people
were executed.

115
 After finishing his education, Prince Digarvu came
back to the village to see his parents. On the way he found his
parents being brought for execution. All the people were
looking at the King and Queen, Prince Digarvu could not do
anything but look at them as they passed by.
When the King Digitti saw his son among the people,
he spoke out an advice . “Retaliation to enmity will not bring
peace; only without retaliation can there be peace.” At that
time people said, “The King has gone mad; He is just rattling
out of confusion.” The King replied, “Well folks, I am not
mad and rattling with confusion; only the wise person will
understand it”.
When they arrived at the place of execution, both the
King and the Queen were killed. Prince Digarvu gave alcohol
to the guards until they were totally drunk. Then he cremated
both parents. He was so sad that he cried to the utmost. Then
he wiped his tears and went to work as an assistant to King
Bramadat elephant’s trainer. Every morning he sang a song
while playing his harp.
When the King heard his music he was so pleased that
he brought the Prince to his side to play the harp. Prince
Digarwu did all his work efficiently. The King was so pleased
that he appointed him as his personal assistance.
One day the King asked Prince Digarvu to drive his
royal carriage and went to his deer garden. Then the Prince
persuaded the King and took him to a place where there were
no King’s guards.

The King said, “I am tired and want to sleep.” He

stepped down from the carriage and went to sleep under a
tree; He put his head on the Prince’ lap and went to sleep.

116
THE PRINCE TOOK OUT THE DAGGER TO KILL
THE KING.

117
 When the King was fast asleep, the Prince thought,
“Now I have got a chance to kill the person who took over my
country, my wealth and executed my parents.” He took out a
long dagger from the case. Then he remembered the words
spoken by his father on the way to the execution place. So he
put back the dagger into the case without killing the King. He
tried to kill the King three times but he could not do it. He
remembered his father’s words, so he put back dagger into the
case.
When the King woke up, the King was much
frightened. The Prince asked the King what made him
frightened.The King answered that, “I dreamed that King
Digitti’s son Digarvu had killed me with a sword , that is why
I was so frightened” Then the Prince pulled the King’s hair
with his left hand and held the dagger with his right hand and
said, “ I am King Digitti’s son, Prince Digarvu; you have
taken our country and our wealth and have killed my parents;
now it is the time for my revenge; can you escape from my
hand?”. The King replied “There is no chance of escape from
your hand”. The Prince said, “Well King!, I have listened to
the advice of my father; retaliation will not bring peace to
enimity, without retaliation can only bring peace, I will not
take revenge; if you want to retaliate, you can kill me.” He
gave the dagger to the King.
The King replied, “Well Prince!, I am not going to
retaliate any more.” So he brought the Prince to the palace.
The King gave his daughter’s hand in marriage to the Prince.
He returned Kosala country and palace to the Prince. From
that time onwards, there was peace between the two kingdoms.

Source:- 550 Nipada, Digitti Kosala Zat.

118
29 TO SEE HOLY PERSONS( SAMANANACA ANAM)
There are two types of monks. Some live in villages
and towns; they learn the holy scriptures and teach and preach
to the young monks and lay people.
Some monks live apart from the people in certain deep
forests; they lead a life of simplicity, purity, and holiness.
Holy persons are the ones who are meditating to get
rid of greed, hatred, ignorance, pride and wrong beliefs. Bud-
dha had said that if a person goes and see those holy persons
or monks, he will gain many benefits.
How to see them?
(1) By visiting the monks in their dwellings or monasteries.
(2) By inviting the monks to your home, giving alms and
offering good food. At the same time the monk will give
back good advice.
What benefits you will gain?.
As soon as you see the pious monk, your pride will go
away. Monks have given up defilements to a certain stage, so
their mind is clear and calm. Their faces show stability and
peace. If you see them your mind also becomes calm and peace-
ful. They can give you good advice and teaching especially
when you are sad and depressed. That is why you should go
and see the holy persons.
The Story (Meritorious deeds of a clever dog)
Once there was an outbreak of infectious disease in
Alamkarpa Province. The disease spread from one person to
another, one house to another, one village to another and then
from one town to another. Many people died of the disease. At
that time a man vacated with his wife and son to another
province. They crossed a barren land. They met a lot of
difficulties on the way. Ultimately they crossed the barren land.
In the evening they reached a little hut owned by a cowhand.

119
 On that day people in the little hut were cooking rice
with pure milk. So they offered food to the three persons. As
the three were very hungry, they fed them a pot-full of rice
porridge. The wife ate only sufficient amount although she
was very hungry. The man ate quite a big amount without any
consideration. He died on that night because of indigestion.
Before his death, he was so attached to the little hut. Because
of this attachment, he was reborn as a male dog. The cowhand
loved the little dog so much that he fed him nicely and took
along with him wherever he went.

One day a Silent Buddha came to the front door for

collecting salms. The cowhand offered alms to the Silent
Buddha. He became so pious that he requested the Silent
Buddha to stay in a nearby place during the three months of
Buddhist Lent time. He promised him that he would take the
responsibility of offering alms for three months. The Silent
Buddha accepted his offer and stayed in a nearby forest.

Whenever the cowhand went to the Silent Buddha, he

used to take his little dog with him. While travelling, he used
to strike the trees and bushes so that the wild animals would
run away. The little dog tried to remember what his master
did.

One day the cowhand requested the Silent Buddha,

“Reverend Sir! supposing I am not free, I will send my little
dog to you. When the little dog arrives at your door, please be
kind enough to come to my house to receive my alms.” When
he was not free on the day, he told the clever little dog, “Well
son! please go to the Silent Buddha and bring him here for
alms.” The clever little dog then went to the Silent Buddha
and laid down his head near the feet of the Silent Buddha.

120
THE COWHAND TOOK AWAY THE DOG
WHEREVER HE WENT.

121
 When the Silent Buddha saw the clever little dog, he
knew that he came to fetch him; he went to the little hut to
receive alms. Just to test the intelligence of the little dog, the
Silent Buddha went the wrong way. At that time, the little
dog blocked the way of the Silent Buddha; only when He chose
the right path, the little dog removed his blockage. When the
little dog reached a place where his master used to strike the
trees and bushes, he started barking with a loud noise. Because
of the loud noise of the dog the wild animals ran away.

After the three month of lent, the cowhand offered a

yellow robe to SilentBuddha and said, “Reverend Sir!, if you
want to stay in this place, we are willing to offer alms as before;
but if you would like to go to another place, that is your wish.”
The Silent Buddha said that he would like to go to another
place.
The cowhand accompanied the Silemt Buddha half of
the way and returned to his little hut. But the clever little dog
knew that the Silent Buddha was gone for good; he was so sad
that he died with great sorrow. Because he took care of the
Silent Buddha and did meritorious deeds he was reborn in a
celetial plane as a deva.

The deva has a clear and influential voice because of

all the meritorious deeds which included taking care of the
Silent Buddha by barking loudly to frighten away the wild
animals. When he talked with other devas his voice covered
the whole celestial plane. Therefore he was called Gawsaka
Deva. To see holy people is one of the blessings.

Source:- Gosaka Sethi (Maha Buddhavin)

122
30. DISCUSSING DHAMMA AT APPROPRAIT TIMES
(KALENA DHAMMA SAKACCHA)

Discussing good matters is one of the highest blessings.

The people sometimes put forward certain problems before
learned members.With the result that some solutions are found
and dificulties are usually solved.

The story of different religion is of great importance

to the progress of human race as a whole. By discussing them
people may find the truth about cause and effect of anything
that occurs in the world. Why some are born rich and some
are poor. Some are ugly and some are pretty. Some are fortunate
and brilliant and some are dull and stupid. We should discuss
anything which we don’t understand with learned people and
religious people. There should not be any doubt in our mind.
We should discuss Nibbana, the real peace of mind and how
to attain it. We should discuss about meditation methods and
its benefits.

Today the world is in trouble. Why are these conflicts

occurring in different parts of the world? We should find out
the cause and ways of ending all these small wars. What are
the solutions? Will these end if one nation or groups of people
fight each other? Retaliation will not solve the problem. We
should bring ways and means on these matters and come
together at the world peace table. Buddha has said, only by
loving kindness would the world be in peace and people be
happy.

Therefore discussing Dhamma at appropriate time is

one of the blessings

123
The Story (The two wise men)

Once, minister Poyarzar and minister Sihapati met in

a place called Thikanyin and had a discussion. Poyarzar was
the chief minister of King Mingaung of Inn-Wa and Sihapati
was the chief minister of King Yarzardarit of Hanthawaddy.
People went to listen to the discussion of the two
ministers. As Sihapati is younger than Poyarzar, he gave
Poyayzar a higher place and he sat in a lower place. Then
Poyarzar humbly said, “This discussion is like the discussion
between Ka-Wo Brahmana and Mahawthathar which took
place long long ago. Since Mahawthathar was younger, he
sat in a lower place. Poyarzar thought of Sihapati as Buddha-
hood Mahawthathar and he was like Ka-Wo Brahmana.
At that time, Sihapati respects Poyarzar very much.
Poyarzar said, “Well Minister Sihapati !when we discuss about
home affairs, shall we discuss as wise men or as ministers?”.
Sihapati replied, “Well Poyarzar, ! please clarify more.”
Poyarza said, “A wise man will accept willingly, if it
is right; if it is wrong he will accept willingly that it is wrong.
But ministers are different. If it is according to his liking, he
will be happy but if it is not according to his liking, he will
fight vigorously.
Sihapati said, “We will discuss as wise men. Thus the
two wise men conversed in good atmosphere. Then Sihapati
took a short length of sugar cane, put it in a lovely golden pot
and offered it to Poyarzar. He consumed slowly from top to
the bottom of the cane as a natural rule.

Then Sihapati said, “Well Poyarzar!, being a very

learned wise man, why did you start consuming the cane from
the top?”

124
THE TWO WISE MEN CONVERSED IN GOOD
ATMOSPHERE.

125
 Poyarzar replied, “Well, Sihapati! , I just consume the
cane according to a natural rule to get increasing taste.”

Then Sihapati said, “Your Honorable Poyarzar!,

Dhamma said death can take place in a very short time, just as
before the flexed hand extend or the extended hand flex; why
did you consume the upper portion of the cane; supposing
you die before you consume the lower part of the cane where
good taste is, don’t you think you will miss the good taste?”

Then Poyarzar praised Sihapati and said, “I am just

following the natural rules, but you are going according to
Buddha Dhamma; your words are more appropriate than
mine.”

Then Sihapati was so overwhelmed with joy and said,

“Oh! I have met the most learned wise man.” Then he offered
his golden pot to Poyarzar.

Sihapati said, “Oh Poyarzar!, most wise men say, they

are always right; they never admit that they are wrong; but
you are very wise and living according to Dhamma; I have
rarely seen a man like you.”

Thus the two wise men discussed with great wisdom.

The people who were listening to their talk also felt very happy
with joy.

Source:- Mani-radana-pon

126
31. LEADING A SELF DISCIPLINED LIFE (TAPO CA)

Buddha taught that a self-disciplined life is one of the

blessings. Self-discipline is similar to contentment. We should
not spend all the money we earned.
We should save some of it. We must save some for all
the necessary things that we need later in life. We have to
collect our savings for future health and for our old age.
If we do not use our money for necessary things, it is
just stinginess. We need to eat a balanced diet and we need to
wear decent clothes. People used to admire and want to copy
others who are rich. We should not do that. We will be in trouble
if we go out of the way illegally. We must check our budget.
We must keep our savings for the rest of our lives, especially
when we get old.
Story:-31 Brahma-Datta

Once there was a King named Oatara-Pinsala who

ruled the Kapila country. In this country there; was a young
ponnar (brahmin) who he after graduated from a University
became a hermit. He lived a very simple life in Himalaya.
One day he arrived at the King’s garden. He went
around for alms and reached the palace gate.
When the King saw the hermit, he was very pleased;
he invited the hermit to his palace and donated alms. The King
requested the hermit to stay in his garden and promised to
offer alms every day.
After the raining season, the hermit intended to go back
to Himalaya. He thought of asking the King to donate him an
umbrella made of leaves and a pair of slippers. But he did not
want to ask in front of others. So he said , “ Well My Noble
King!, I will like to see you personally”.

127
THE KING WAS DONATING AN UMBRELLA AND
A PAIR OF SLIPPERS TO THE HERMIT.

128
 The King told his ministers to leave. Even then, the
hermit could not ask what he wanted and told the King that he
would tell later.
The next day, the same thing happened again. It took
twelve years before he could not say his desire.
The King thought the hermit was getting bored of his
life; he might want to be a King. With that idea in his mind, he
went to the hermit and said, “Your Venerable Sir!, please be
free and tell me what you want; I can give you everything,
even my throne”.
The hermit said, “ Well My Noble King!, are you sure
that you are going to give me what I want?”. The King replied
“Yes Your Vernerable Sir!”.
The hermit said ,“I want an umbrella made of leaves
and a pair of slippers for my journey”.
The King was very much surprised and replied, “Your
Venerable Sir!,“Why can’t you ask for such a small thing with-
out waiting for twelve years?”.
The hermit replied ,“Well My Noble King!, wise-man
think, asking a thing to another is unpleasant; and refusing
your request by others feels the same; therefore I make a re-
quest to see you in a private place.
“Oh Noble King!, I do not want worldly things, give
me an unbrella and a pair of slippers for my journey”.The
King donated what the hermit needed.
The hermit preached the King, to be mindful; to do-
nate to others and to keep precepts. He then left to Himalaya
and practiced higher psychic power and when died, he was
reborn in Brahmar plane.

Comment:- To lead a disciplined life is Mangalar.

Source:- 550 Nipada, Brahma-Datta Zat.

129
 .

32. LEADING A HOLY LIFE (BRAHMACARIYANCA)

Lay people should try to observe at least four excellent
practices
(1) They should send forth their affection or loving
thoughts to all beings and their sincere wishes for the
good of others.
(2) They should have compassion for those who are
suffering.
(3) They should rejoice in the happiness of others.
(4) They should regard all living beings with equanimity
(of mind). They should keep a neutral state of mind to
regard the happy beings and miserable beings alike
with the same detachment of mind.
The Story

Once upon a time, there was Maha-thiti village, in the

North-East of Yarsajo town, Margadha Province. It was a big
village on the bank of Gangi river. Most of the people were
Brahmana tribes and they cultivated beans, paddy etc.It was a
good place for trading with land and sea.

Brahmin Kapila was a very rich man in Maha-thiti

village. He had a thousand acres of land and did cultivation
with many servants and animals. The Brahmin couple got a
son called Vippali. He was very handsome and the parents
loved him very much.

At the age of twenty, the parents wished their son to

get married. The son did not want to get married and wished
only to look after his parents. His only desire was to become a
monk when the parents passed away.

130
 The parents did not like what their son told them.
They just wanted their son to get married. Vippali thought
of preventing further advice from the parents. So he
requested a goldsmith to made a beautiful statue with pure
gold and dressed up with pretty dress. He showed the statue
to the parents and said “Well Mother and Father! I will marry
if I can get a lady similar to this beautiful statue”.
The parents sent eight ponnars to search for a beauti-
ful lady similar to the statue.They put the statue on a wagon
and with all the gifts, went from town to town, in search of the
beautiful lady. When they reached Targala town they found a
lady as beautiful as the statue. She was the daughter of a Bramin
from Kawliya Clan. Her name was Bahda-Karpiliarni.
The ponnars presented the statue and all the gifts to
the lady’s parents; told about their visit and asked for their
daughter to marry Vippali. Bahda- Karpilarni’s parents agreed
happily. When Vippali heard the news, he sent a message on a
golden plate, relating that he did not want to get married; he
had determined to become a monk soon.
So also Bahda-Karpilarni sent a message to Vippali
relating that she did not want to get married. The two messen-
gers met on the way and agreed to open the letters.They re-
wrote the letters saying that they would accept as lovers and
sent the letters to Vippali and Bahda-Karpilarni Thus the two
persons got married without their consents. Even though they
got married, they stayed as brothers and sisters .
Thus they lived together and when the parents passed
away they got huge amount of properties.They consulted each
other and agreed to donate all their wealth to the people.
Then after, they cut their hairs ; wore yellow robes
and departed from the village. At the junction of the road, they
decided to take separate paths.

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 THE EIGHT PONNARS WENT AROUND THE
TARGALA TOWN TO FIND A LADY AS BEAUTIFUL
AS THE GOLDEN STATUE.

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 Vippali arrived at the Buddha and became a monk. He
meditated vigourously and on the eight day, he attained Arahat
and well known as Ashin Maha Kassapa.
Bahda-Kappilini , at last, became a Bikkuni (a female
monk). She meditated with great effort and later became a
female Arahat. She was well known as Bahda Kippilini Theri.

Source :- Ingutthro Athakatha.

33. THE REALIZATION OF THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTH

(ARIYASACCANA --c DASSANAM)

Buddha preached the Four Noble Truth. They are:

(1) Dukka Sacca ( The truth of suffering)

Inception of the rebirth process , aging and

death are suffering. Grief, lamentation, pain,
distress and despair are suffering. Not to get
what we desire is painful, it is painful to be
separated from loved ones; and it is also painful
to live together with those whom we do not
love at all.
(2)Samudaya Sacca (the truth of origin of sufferings)
The second is the cause of suffering. It is desire
that leads to rebirth; it is the desire for
pleasures; it is the desire for existence; it is the
desire for non-existence.

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 (3) Nirodha Sacca (the truth of extinction of
sufferings)
The third is that of the end of sufferings which
is Nibbana, the ultimate goal of the Buddhist.
It is achieved by a total eradication of all forms
of craving. This Nibbana is to be understood
by the mind by renouncing all internal
attachments to the external world.
(4) Magga Sacca ( the truth of the path leading to
extinction of sufferings)
This is the path that leads to cessation of pain and
sorrow. They are right view, right intension, right
speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort,
right mindfulness and right concentration.
The Story (Kisa-gotami)
Once, there lived a rich man’s daughter in Savithi town
in India. Her name was Kisa-gotami. When she became a
young adult, her father became very poor.
However, she got married to a rich man’s son and went
to live in the rich man’s house. After living for a few years, a
son was born. Unfortunately the son died at the age of walking.
She had not seen a dead person; she thought there must be a
medicine which could cure her child.
Kisa-gotami became very sad that she almost went out
of her mind. She carried her dead son in her bosom and asked
everybody to treat her son to become alive again. A very kind
wise man said, “Well My daughter!, I don’t know the medicine
to treat your son to become alive; but please go to Gautama
Buddha, he knows the medicine.”
Kisa-gotami went straight to Buddha. She asked for
medicine to get her son alive. Buddha said, “Please bring a
handful of mustard seeds from a house where they have never
experienced death, to make medicine for your son.”

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 KISA-GOTAMI CARRIED HER DEAD SON IN HER
BOSOM AND ASKED EVERY BODY TO TREAT HER
DEAD SON TO BECOME ALIVE

135
She could not find a house wherer there had been no death.
Then she realised that nobody could avoid death. She
buried her son in the forest and went back to Buddha.
Buddha asked Kisa-gotami “Did you bring the mus-
tard seeds”. She replied ,“Oh Buddha!, I could not get it”.
Buddha said, “My dear Kisa-gotami! , do you think
that death occurs only to your son , it is common to all beings.
As a big wave sweeps away the sleeping villagers, the king of
death takes away those who are forgetting Dhamma and
always thirsty with cravings’’

At the end of Dhamma, Kisa-gotami got peace of mind

and became Sotapanna,( stream winner) and entered into
Bhikkhuni (Female monk).

One day, Kisa-gotami, while looking at the flame,

realized that everything was impermanent. The Buddha while
sitting in His room sent the radiant rays to Kisa-gotami and
preached the Dhamma. At the end of the teaching, Kisa-gotami
became Arahat.

She did not wear good yellow robes. She used to wear
yellow robe made from cloth which wrapped the dead bodies.
That is why Buddha praised her as the best female monk who
wore the rarest yellow robe not owned by any person. She
was honoured as Lunka-Siwara-Darana outstanding candidate.

Thus The Buddha taught that relization of the Four NobleTruth

is a blessing,

Source:- Dhamma Pada.

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34 THE REALISATION OF NIBBANA(NIBBANA
SACCHIKIRIYACA)

The truth of Nibbana is very difficult to realise. It is

very difficult for a man to explain the real nature of Nibbana.It
is the greatest peace beyond earthly pleasures; It is the high-
est state of purity of the mind. One who attains this stage can
feel the Nibbanic nature.
Nibbana is hard to explain in words. But can be realised
by meditation.

The Story (Padarsari)

Padar-sari was a daughter of a rich man in Sarvithi

town in India. Padarsari was well known for her beauty. When
Padarsari reached the age of sixteen, parents had arranged
her to live in a high rise apartment with guards around her
apartment.. In spite of that she fell in love with a servant of
the house. Her parents had already arranged her marriage with
a man of equal status and of the same caste.
Padarsari did not want to get married to the man with
whom her parents had made arrangement. Just before her
marriage, she disguised herself as a poor woman and went to
the gate of Savatthi town where her lover was waiting.They
ran away and they lived in a small village. Her husband worked
as a farmer and she did the house work. Soon Padarsari got
pregnant.
When her pregnancy entered to a full term, she asked
her husband if she could go back to her parent’s home for
delivery of her baby. The husband knew that he could be mis-
treated when they went back to her parents. Padar-sari re-
quested again and again to go to her parent.

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 When she could not get his permission, she left the
house when her husband went for firewood. When he learnt
about Padasari from his neighbours, he followed her
immediately. They met on the way and he asked her to come
back. She refused to return; so they continued their journey to
her parents. Before reaching her parent’s home, she delivered
a son in the forest. Padar-Sarye returned to their home without
going to her parent’s place.
After some time, she got pregnant again. She then
prepared to go back to her parents for the delivery. The husband
requested her not to go back. She moved out from the house
as on previous occasion. When the husband knew, he ran after
her and met in the forest. They could not proceed on the journey
as the baby was due to be born. There was heavy rain with
gust of wind blowing. The husband cut down the bushes to
get shelter from the rain. As he was trying to clear a bush, a
cobra struck him and he fell down dead.
While waiting for her husband with her elder son, she
delivered another son. Both the children were crying as they
were afraid of the stormy weather. Padasari held both the
children in her arms the whole night.

In the morning, she and her children went out to look

for her husband. Soon she found her husband dead in the forest.
She felt very sad and cried. As she could not do anything, she
carried her newborn son and, taking elder son by his hand,
travelled on.
Later they reached the bank of the Asiya-Waddy River.
The depth of the river was breast high because of the rain. The
water was flowing very fast. Since she could not cross the
river with both of her sons, she left the elder son on the bank.

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A GIANT HAWK CAME DOWN FROM THE SKY
AND SNATCHED THE BABY THINKING THAT IT
WAS A PIECE OF MEAT.

139
 She carried the newborn baby and crossed the river.
When she got to the other bank she rocked the baby to sleep
and left him on the leaves. Then she again crossed the river to
bring her elder son.

When she was in the middle of the river, a giant hawk

came down from the sky and snatched the baby thinking that
it was a piece of meat.

Padasari tried to frighten the hawk waving her hands.

The hawk did not notice her and took away the baby. The
elder son thought that his mother was calling him. So he went
into the river and got drowned. Padasari became so sorrowful
that her mind became confused with madness. She came to
Savatthi town shouting on the way, how she lost her husband
and two children. On her way, she met a man and asked how
her parent’s were doing.

The
. man replied “Well my young sister!, both your
parents and your younger brother died when their house
collapsed due to last night’s thunder storm; you can see the
smoke coming out of their cremation.”

As Padasari could not control her mind, she ran about

without any clothes on her. Some threw stones at her saying
that she was mad. Because of the power sent by The Buddha
she could control her mind. At long last she reached the
Jetavana monastery where Buddha was giving a sermon to
people. People drove her out. Buddha stopped them and said,
“Well my daughter Parda-sari! be careful” Then Padasari
became aware of herself, she sat down quietly because she
was scared and ashamed of herself not having any clothes on
her.

140
 One person threw a cloak to Padasari. She put the cloak
to cover her body and worshipped Buddha and said, “Oh
Buddha!, my young son was carried away by a hawk, the elder
son drowned in the river, I lost my husband in the forest; my
parents and younger brother died when the house collapsed
by the storm; please save me.”

“My daughter Padar-sari !, the amount of your tears

in the previous lives is much more than the amount of water in
the four oceans; why should you forget those events?; there is
no relative who can prevent your sorrow in lives; there is no
place for your relatives to hide from death; therefore wise
people keep precepts and make way to Nibbana”.

Thus The Buddha preached to her to relieve all her

miseries. At the end of Dhamma, she was relieved from all the
sorrows and became Sotapana (stream winner). After
becoming a stream winner, she was ordained as a female monk
and became a Bhikkhuni( Female monk) in the monastery.

One day, while she was washing her feet by pouring

water from a pot, she noticed that water streamed down a little
distance and stopped. The second time, water streamed down
a little farther than the first time and stopped. On the third
time water streamed down down a little farther than the sec-
ond time and stopped. She took the first example and realized
that living beings died in the first part of life. As water in the
second time, living beings died in the second part of life. As
water in the third time , living beings died in the third part of
life.

141
 While she was realizing the truth of life, The Buddha
sent the six coloured rays in front of her and preached as fol-
lows:- “Oh Padar-Sari!, it is better to live one moment or one
morning or one day, realizing the rising and vanishing of the
five Khandas than to live one hundred year without realizing
them”. At the end of the preaching she became a Female
Arahat.

Padasari became the best Female Arahrat who obeyed

the Canon relating to the monastic rules and regulations. She
was honoured as the outstanding candidate who obeyed
monastic rules and regulations.

Realizing Nibbana is a Blessing.

Source:- Dhamma Pada.

35. NOT TO BE SHAKEN BY THE UPS AND DOWNS OF

LIFE. (PHUTTHASSA- LOKADHAMMEHI- CITTAM YASSA
-NA KAMPATI)
What are the four pairs of ups and downs of life?

They are gain and loss; success and defeat; praise and
blame; pleasure and pain. Everybody has to experience these
ups and downs of life at one time or another in life. When they
meet good ones - gain, success, praise and pleasure -,they are
very happy with themselves.

But when they meet bad ones – loss, defeat, blame

and pain – they are very much shaken by their misfortunes. So
they should console themselves with intelligence. Sometimes,
these both good and bad, ups and downs of life may even
cause loss of life.

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 Whether poor or rich, small or big, uneducated or
educated, foolish or wise, ups and downs of life will come to
all living creatures without exception. People are bound to
meet with them at some time, because nobody can avoid them.
You must train your mind to stand up against the impact of
these conditions whether they are good or bad. Only the trained
mind can stand up to the difficulties of life.

Nowadays there are quite a lot of people who give up

their lives and commit suicide. Many people become depressed
when they come face to face with difficult conditions.

Some go to psychiatrics for mental diseases especially

in the western world. It is better to prevent mental illness from
early life.

Parents should not spoon-feed their children in early

life. Children should be trained to depend on themselves. An-
other good thing is sports. Children should be encouraged in
sports and can be trained in many ways. They find hardship,
tolerance, friendship, endurance when they play any kind of
sports. Boxing and fighting games are dangerous, because it
damages their brain.

Another good thing is the practice of meditation.

Meditation can improve mental power and learn tolerance
when they face with anicca (imperminance), dukkha
(suffering) and anatta (egoless). This is also a kind of mental
training to combat the worldly conditions and find peace in
life.

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Sotappana

Under the proper guidance of a good teacher, a person

can enter the first stage of the path. He is called a stream-
winner (Sotappana). He sees the Nibbanic peace actually
within his grasp. He removes self attachment and doubt about
the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha (monks). This is the be-
ginning of the path leading to the state of Nibbana.

He may be reborn seven times in this world and never

below the state of man. This is the utmost limit of rebirth for
him. He can stand better than ordinary person to all difficuties
of life.

Sakadagami

He enters the second stage of the path and he is called

once returner (Sakadagami). In this second stage he overcomes
the same impurities already reduced by himself as a stream-
winner, at the first stage of the path, but more thoroughly. He
is reborn once only in this world and no more.

Anagami

He enters the third stage of the path and he is called

non-returner (Anagami) . In this third stage he removes anger
totally. He will never be reborn in this world. After death, he
will be reborn in Brahma plane (Suddhavasa), an environment
reserved for Angami.

144
Arahatta

He enters the path at its final stage. He is called

“Arahatta”. In this final stage he destroys absolutely all
defilements and all fetters. His duty is fulfilled. There is no
rebirth for him; this is the end of births; he gains release from
the ties of Sansara (cycles of rebirth); he is worthy of
worshipping. These worldly conditions of life will come to
all, with no exceptions to Arahat. But their minds remain
unmoved. For they are above the reach of sorrow. They can
withstand the impact of these worldly conditions. Their mind
is most powerful of all, like a solid rock that remain unshaken
when blown by the storm.

The Story (A Wonderful Princess)

Long long ago, there was a King who ruled Benares

He had a son named Brahmadat. He had many followers so
the King became suspicious. He thought his son would take
his throne. Therefore he deported his son from the country.

The Prince thought of going to Himalaya forest to live.

His wife was Princess Athitarbu. The Princess was not only
beautiful but also a good hearted lady. She did not care for ups
and downs of life, such as gain or loss, having servants or not,
praise or blame, happiness or suffering. Therefore she did not
feel sorry to move out of the country. She left with her beloved
husband and with great faith.

They built a small hut in the Himalaya forest. There

lived a hermit nearby, who was meditating vigorously. The
couple lived in the forest .

145
“I DON’T WANT YOU ANY MORE” THEN SHE
ELELVATED HER BODY INTO THE SKY AND
WENT OFF.

146
 One day, the Prince met a fairy in the forest. He was
attracted by the fairy so he left the Princess and followed her.
As the Princess knew all about worldly conditions, she did
not feel sorry even when her husband left her. She went to the
hermit and started meditation. In a short time, she gained Jhana
Abhinna (Higher spiritual powers such as levitation attained
through the manifestation of mental absorption.)
Prince Brahmadat could not catch hold of the fairy.
He lost sight of her in the forest so he returned to the Princess.
When the Princess saw the Prince, she just elevated her body
into the sky with her Jhana Abhinna - Higher spiritual powers.
“Well Prince!, because of you, I now possess these Higher
spiritual powers; I don’t want you any more; I have no more
attachment to you and cut my love as a saw cut the elephant
task”. Then she elevated her body into the sky and went off.
The Prince was left alone in sorrow and said “I have lost
Princess Asitabu, it is all because of my greed and pride”. He
lived all alone in the forest and when his father died, he became (1) L
king.
Source:- 550 Nipada Asitabu Zat.
Thus the Buddha taught:- Not to be shaken by ups an
downs of life is a blessing.

36. FREE FROM SORROW (ASO KAM)

Sorrow means pain , grief, and distress. Sorrow occurs

in many forms; its outside causes are also many; it exists every
where in the world; but may sometimes be unseen.

Any ordinary people feels sorry owing to one thing or

another from birth to death. Because of sorrow, there is no
peace of mind.

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What are the causes of sorrow?

There are five in number. (Five Byasana)

(1) Loss of relatives (Nati Byasana)

(2) Loss of wealth (Bhoga Byasana)

(3) Deterioration of health due to illness ( Roga Byasana)

(4) Dissolution of morality ( Sila Byasana)

(5) Dissolution of Right View ( Ditthi Byasana)

(1) Loss of relatives

Everybody has relatives such as father, mother, uncle,
aunt, grandfather, grandmother, son, daughter, niece, nephew
etc. Anybody can die at any moment. In that case we feel vey
sad and become depressed.

(2) Loss of Wealth

A person can lose some of his wealth. These can be

lost because of natural disasters or theft. If we meet with such
misfortunes, we become sad and feel depressed.

(3) Deterioration of Health

We are prone to disease and accidents. In that case we

suffer physically and mentally.

148
(4) Deterioration of Morality
A person’s morality can be deteriorated by friends or
by himself. He may enjoy drinking, gambling or other immoral
pleasures. For that he will lose his good friends as they stay
away from him. He cannot get into the community as he feels
ashamed to associate with people.
5) Deterioration of Right View
Most Buddhists are interested in donation (Dana),
morality (Sila) and meditation (Bhavana). But some do not
believe in Dana, Sila and Bhavana. So they will never be
interested to follow the Right view to be liberated from Samsara
(cycle of rebirth)
This is the result of not studying the religious lessons
during their younger days. Atfer death they will go to “Apaya”
(plane of miserable existence). So it is very important that
parents should teach their children religious lessons while they
are young. Therefore, we must try to learn Dhamma to get rid
of sorrow.
The Story
Once there was King Bramadat who ruled Benares.
Just on the outskirts of Benares town, there was a Brahmana
family. They were farmers, the parents, the son, daughter, the
daughter-in-law and a servant lived together. The whole family
worked in the fields.

The father, the head of the family, was very pious and
did a lot of meritorious deeds. That is why he used to say to
his family members. “Do charity, observe precepts (abstaining
from evil actions both physical and mental); don’t forget that
death can overtake you anytime; nothing is permanent; all
living beings are impermanent; be aware of this always.” The
whole family followed as he advised them.

149
 One day the old man went out with his son to the field
for farming. The son gathered all the dried plants and set fire.
The smoke got into the eyes of a snake sleeping in a bush. The
snake got angry and struck the son who fell down and died.
The old man ran to his son but it was too late. He carried his
son carefully and laid it down under a tree. He did not cry and
continued farming.
Soon, he saw a neighbour passing by. He requested
the man “Well friend!, Please go to my house and tell my wife
to send food not for two, but just for one. Please tell also that
the family should all come wearing good clothes, bringing
flowers and incense.
The neighbour went to his house and told his wife
everything that he was asked to do. The lady asked the
neighbour, “Dear young man!, who tell these words?” The
young man replied ,“ Oh mother!, the old man tell to do so”.The
mother took for granted that her son was dead and took all the
family to the field. When they arrived there they saw their son
was dead. Since everybody knew the Dhamma so nobody cried.
The father put the body of his son under a tree and ate
his meal After that they searched for wood for cremation. They
gathered the wood and made a stack. They put the corpse on
the stack and cremated with it flowers and incenses. Nobody
shed tears as they kept aware of death and suffering.

Because of their Dhamma Power, King Sakka, the King

of Devas of Celestial Realm could not stay in Tavatimsa pal-
ace; he had to come down to human world to scrutinize the
event. King Sakka said,“Well friends! what are you
doing?.They replied, “We are cremating a human body”. Then
King Sakka said “You all are not cremating a human body, do
you kill a deer and burning it”.They replied “No! we are cre-
mating a human body”. “Is he your enemy?” the King Sakka
asked. “It is our own son”, they replied. “Don’t you all love

150
“WHAT BENEFIT WILL WE GET AS HE COMES
AND GOES ACCORDING TO HIS KAMMA.

151
you son?” The old man replied,“We loved our son a
lot”. “Why don’t you cry if you love your son?”.The old man
replied “My son has left his body as a snake has left its skin;
he cannot know our sorrow; he has left to next existence;
therefore we don’t worry for him; so we don’t cry at all.”
Then King Sakka asked the old lady, “Well mother!,
the father doesn’t cry because he’s a man and can control his
mind. Your mind is soft and yet why do you not cry?”
The mother replied ,“Well, our son comes to us without
invitation, he goes from us without our permission; what
benefit will we get as he comes and goes automatically. He
will not know even if we cry, so we dont worry and we don’t
cry”.
Then King Sakka asked his sister. “Well sister, don’t
you love your brother, why don’t you cry?”
The sister replied,” Well! our brother has died and been
cremated already; he will not know if we cry; he has gone for
another rebirth. That is why we do not cry.”
King Sakka asked the widow. “Your husband has died
and you are now a widow; you have no one to depend on; why
don’t you cry for that?”
“Well! A person who cries for a dead person is like a
child asking the moon to give him something: that is why I
don’t cry.”

King Sakka asked the servant “Well Sister!, the son

who died recently must have beaten you; that is why you don’t
cry.” The servant replied, “Well! you should not say such
words; the man who died was full of Khanti (tolerance), Metta
(loving kindness); Karuna (compassion); I did respect him
very much; there will be no benefit for crying; just as the
earthen pot that is broken cannot be repaired; if we cry, he
will not come to life again.”

152
 King Sakka very much appreciated the words spoken
by all those five persons and said, “Please continue to be aware
of death; from this day onwards do not work with great effort;
I will take care of all of you to have all kinds of seven
jewelleries in your home; be peaceful and do donation; ob-
serve precepts” Then he left for his celestial realm.

Buddha taught to be free from sorrow is a blessing.

Source:- 550 Nipada, Uraka Zat.

153
37. A STATE OF PURITY(VIRAJAM)

To be stainless means to be absolutely pure in mind

and body. A man with an impure mind spoils himself; it darkens
him; it stains his morality.

Dirt and dust spoil food and clothing and produce

unhealthy state. So also the impurities of mind produce mental
disturbances.
There are three main kinds of mental impurities. They
are greed, anger and ignorance. Ordinary people cannot resist
worldly things. He wants good food, good clothing and good
place to live in, etc. But there must be a limit. If he wants
more than what he can afford, there will be more trouble and
suffering.
We cannot see these mental impurities with a
microscope. We can only appreciate them by meditation. Even
Sotapanna, Sakadagami, Anagami cannot entirely remove all
these mental impurities. Only when they reach Arahatta stage,
can they destroy all these impurities and find peace; then they
are unshaken by the contact of the ups and downs of life just
like a lotus leaf in a lake which never get wet. So the Blessed
one expounded this thirty seventh noble blessing.
The Story (Greedy Man)

Once in Benares there lived King Brahmadat. He had

two sons and he promoted his elder son as crown prince, and
younger son as chief of the army. When the King died, the
elder son was promoted to be the King by all the ministers.
But he said he didn’t want to be King and told the ministers to
promote his younger brother to be the King.. So he gave the
throne to his younger brother and left for the frontier.

154
 He worked in a rich man’s house for his living. The
rich man didn’t know that he was a prince. Later they found
out that he was the prince. The rich man said, “Please do not
work; we will take care of you, stay as you wish; but please
request your younger brother not to levy tax.”

The elder son did what the rich man told him. The
younger brother who was the King exempted the rich man
from taxation. When the villagers heard the news, they ap-
proached the elder brother and requested, “Well Prince!, please
do something for us to be exempted from taxation. They gave
the tax to the elder brother. He took the tax given by the vil-
lagers and arranged tax exemption from his younger brother.

The King did what the elder brother requested. Later

the elder brother became greedy and he took taxes from neigh-
boring villages arranging for their tax exemptions. The younger
brother did what his older brother told him to do.

The elder brother became more and more greedy. He

then asked for Crown-Prince position. At long last he wanted
the King’s throne. He then organized an army and marched
towards the capital. He sent a letter to his younger brother,
“Will you give the throne or will you fight against my army?.”

The younger brother thought “This foolish man has

left the throne and now he becomes greedy and wants the throne
back; if I fight, a lot of innocent people will die; if I win,
people will say ill of me.” So he gave back his throne to his
brother and stayed as the crown prince.

155
 Although the elder brother got the throne back, he was
not satisfied . He wanted to possess at least two or three coun-
tries. The Sakka, the Deva King knew about it. He transformed
himself into a young man and said , “I must give a lesson to
this foolish man.” He went to the elder brother and said pri-
vately, “I have seen three properous and well guarded coun-
tries; I can occupy these countries and offer you in a short
time; please wait.” Then he went back to his deva plane.

The foolish King believed the words and he did not

ask any particular thing to the young man; he was waiting for
the event. When the young man went off , he told his ministers
that a young man had offered him three countries; he ordered
his ministers to search for that young man.

The ministers asked the King, “Your Honourable

King!, who is that young man; where does he live; with what
we have to offer him?”.The King said “I have not inquire any
thing; just search for him”. The ministers search the whole
Benares with the King’s order. When the ministers could not
find the young man, they told the King that they failed to do
so. When he heard the minister’s words he felt very sorry and
said ,“ Oh! I have lost all the properties of the three countries;
I have not enquire any thing; I have not offer any thing to
him”.

He became very depressed and worried; his whole body

was burning; whatever he eat was vomited out; he suffered
from a disease with bowel bleeding. The disease became so
severe that the traditional doctors of the whole country could
not treat him at all; the whole country knew about it.

156
THE ELDER BROTHER ORGANIZED AN ARMY
AND MARCHED TOWARDS THE CAPITAL.

157
 At that time a brilliant man came back to his family
after graduating from a University. After he heard the news
about the King, he went to see the King to treat him. He said,
“Oh Honourable King!, please do not be afraid of the disease,
just tell me the cause of your illness”.The the King said,”You
better treat my illness; there will be no benefit of telling the
cause of my illness”.Then the young man said, “For a
physician, he can treat the disease only when the cause is
known”. The King revealed the whole story and the cause of
his illnss.
The physician said ,“Oh Your Honarable King!, can
you possess the three countries with your sorrow?; you
definately cannot get them.”

“Even if you possess four countries, you cannot lie on

four beds at the same time; you cannot wear four trousers at
the same time; there will be no benefit; if you are greedy, you
have to go to Apaya ( the four miserable states of existences)”
Thus he gave a Dhamma lecture to the King. The King then
realized the truth and recovered from his illness.

.The King gave a lot of money to the physician but he

refused to take them. He just said, “Well King!, please don’t
forget Dhamma and live with it.” then the physician left the
palace.

The Buddha state that :- To stay in a state of purity is a

blessing.

Source:- 550 Nipada Karmanila Zat.

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38. TO REMAIN FREE FROM INSECURITY (KHEMAM)

The world is full of danger. They exist in every place.

Danger exist on land, air , and water; there is no escape from
danger even in the sky. Life itself is a source of danger. And
hence life is always insecure and unsafe.

This is the last of thirty eight blessings. No danger

means security. If a person is free from danger, he will be
secure and peaceful.
He is loved and admired by many people and no one
will be jealous of him. He will be honoured and praised by his
friends. Devas will look after and take care of him. He will
have a peaceful life and free from insecurity.
To obtain such a life, he has to abstain from evil deeds,
he has to be humble, contented and tolerant, and do good deeds
according to Buddha’s teachings. Whatever a person wants,
he has to work for it. For example, if a student wants to pass
the examination with excellent grades, he has to try very hard.

A person has to invest more, if he wants to live in a

better position in life; great energy and zeal are required to
overcome all the difficulties. The most important thing is to
keep your mind straight and strong just like a pillar which is
unshaken by the worldly storms.
When we are young, our parents protect us from danger.
When we become adults we have to stand for ourselves. These
thirty-eight blessings are the Buddha’s Teachings which will
protect us in life for all beings, both for humans and devas.
Thus, we need to learn all these blessings from early age. There
will be no mental depression even when we meet ups and
downs in life.

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 Mental diseases are hard to cure. Prevention is better
than cure. If you start learning the Dhamma, especially the
Noble Blessings, you will be strong enough to withstand these
mental diseases. You can tolerate these worldly problems with
this Dhamma.

Ordinary beings are unable to find remedies that can

cure these mental diseases. The remedies are in Dhamma; these
are spiritual remedies. These are the best medicine of all, and
the best remedies. Those who drink these spiritual remedies
can remove or control desire , passion, anger and ignorance.
By this means they can heal their wounded mind and then
may be secure and safe from all dangers that may possibly
befall them.

The Story (Okka-Htayna)

Long ago, in Yarzajoo town, there lived a man named

Okka-Htayna, son of a rich man. One day a dance-group with
five hundred dancers came to the town to perform a concert to
entertain King Bein-Matharya. Among the group, there was a
beautiful dancer with whom Okka-Htayna fell in love.

The dancer was the daughter of an acrobat master, who

could perform acrobatic dances on top of a bamboo pole, sixty
feet high. Okka-Htayna was so deeply in love with the dancer
that he could not sleep or eat and always lying down on a
couch. Parents tried to console him as they knew about the
matter. He didn’t listen to them. At last, his parents sent a man
with one thousand rupees to the acrobat master to give his
daughter’s hand in marriage with Okka-Htayna.

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BUDDHA SENT DHAMMA TEACHING FROM
QUITE FAR AWAY

161
 The acrobat master said, “I cannot send my daughter
to the rich man’s house; if Okka-Htayna comes along with
our troupe, I will give her hand in marriage.
But the parents didn’t agree to his proposal. Okka-
Htayna . disregarded his parent’s wish and married the girl,
following the dance troupe. Since he had no knowledge of
acrobatic acts, he could only do things like look after the
bullock carts, feed the bullocks, and carry the money bags
which the troupe earned.
Soon the dancer gave birth to a son. To tease Okka-
Htayna, the mother used to please her son by saying, “Oh!
you son of the bullock cart caretaker, you son of carriers of
goods, you son of a good-for-nothing man.” He was ashamed
of his condition so he learnt acrobatic art from his father-in-
law, the acrobatic master. He tried so hard that within a year,
he became an expert in acrobatics.

Okka-Htayna performed his acrobatic dances

successfully in many different places. Finally, he arrived at
Yarzajoo town. They announced that Okka-Htayna would
perform his acrobatic art on the seventh day.

On that day, all the town people gathered to watch his

performance. To show his skill, Okka-Htayna climbed the
bamboo pole and stood on top of it. At that time, the Buddha
with his monks came out to the town to accept the offerings.
The crowd turned their head to the Buddha instead of watching
Okka-Htayna.

Okka-Htayna became very sad because nobody was

interested in his performance. The Buddha knew Okka-
Htayna’s mind. So The Buddha sent his disciple Ashin
Mogallana to encourage Okka-Htayna to show his acrobatic
dance.

162
 Okka-Htayna was very encouraged and he performed
a variety of acrobatic dances. After performing fourteen times,
the Buddha sent Dhamma teaching from quite far away. Since
Okka-Htayna was a man with perfect virtue, he realized the
Dhamma even though he was on top of the bamboo pole. He
obtained peace of mind and became Arahatta.

He descended from the bamboo pole and worshipped

the Buddha. He requested to receive ordination as a priest of
The Buddha. When The Buddha said, “Come monk,” Okka-
Htayna transformed from ordinary man to monk wearing
yellow robes. He looked very honourable. He left everything
and followed the Buddha with a peaceful mind.
His wife also became a Bikkhuni (a female monk) and
after meditation, she also became a female Arahat.
Source:- Dhammapada Tahnavega,Uggasena Vitthu.

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EPILOGUE
Mangala Sutta in a Nutshell
The defining words of Mangala Sutta are as follows.
Those who blessed (1) do not associate with the fools;
but (2) with the wise; and they (3) honour those worthy of
honour. It is Auspicious (4) to live in a suitable locality; and
(5) have done good deeds in the past (accrued merits) and (6)
state one-self in the right course. In order to have Mangala (7)
he must have vast learning and (8) possess vast skill and (9)
and train in discipline; and (10) he must have pleasant good
speech. He must also (11) support mother and father and (12)
cherishing wife and children; and (13) be peaceful in one’s
action. In order to have good fortune he must (14) donate gen-
erously and (15) live the righteous life and (16) help one’s
relatives and (17) abstains from immoral livelihood. An Aus-
picious person (18) abstains from evil (mental) and (19) (physi-
cal) and (20) refrains from intoxicants and (21) practise
Dhamma deligently. A man with good heart (22) pays honour
to respectable person; and (23) is humble and (24) content
with his lot and (25) is grateful towards his benefactor; and
(26) listens to Dhamma at appropriate time. He (27) is toler-
ant and (28) obedient and (29) see holy people and (30) dis-
cuss Dhamma at appropriate time. He should lead (31) a self
disciplined life and (32) holy life. He must always (33) try to
realize the Noble Truth and (34) Nibbana. His mind (35) must
not be shaken by ups and down of life and (36) should remain
free from sorrow; and (37) impurities and(38) insecurity.Those
who practised these 38 Mangala will remain happy and will
always be successful.

by Dr Tin Hla Ngwe , Ph. D. Los Angeles , U.S.A..

164
 GLOSSARY
Abidhamma
absolute theorization; Book of Higher doctrines
(beings one of the three repositories of Buddhist scriptures.)
Anata
Non-self. Something beyond one’s control. All
phenomena that arise in all three spheres of existence
are not-self, not “I”, but are mere strangers, empty,
void, unsatisfactory and beyond one’s control. Hence
they are non-self, anatta.
Anicca:
Impermanence. Subject to change.
Anagami
The Non Returner( so called because he has reached
the third out of the four stages of purity and will
never be reborn in the realms of sensual pleasure.
Arahat, Arahanta, Arahatta
The pure one,who has destroyed the defilements
Arziwattanmoka sila: The eight precepts, incorporating right
livelihood and consisting of the following factors.
(1) abstaining from killing any living being.
(2) abstaining from taking what is not given.
(3) abstaining from unlawful sexual misconduct.
(4) abstaining from telling lies.
(5) abstaining from frivolous or worthless speech.
(6) abstaining from harsh and unbeneficial speech.
(7) abstaining from speech that will cause discord or
disagreement or hatred between two persons or
groups of people.
(8) abstaining from leading of livelihood by unfair or
harmful means, which includes: -

165
 (a) selling arms and fish nets.
(b) trading in slaves or prostitution or human
trafficking by persuasion.
(c) selling animals to butchers or selling meat
and fish, fresh or dried.
(d) selling wine, liquor and narcotics, opium.
(e) selling harmful drugs and poisons.
Bo tree
tree under which a Buddha attains enlightenment.
Brahma
Higher celestial being.

Brahmana
The priest class.
Bodhisatta
Before His Enlightenment He was called Bodhisatta
which means one who is aspiring to attain Buddhahood
Dana Charity; giving; alms giving

Deva Celestial being; god; deity

Dhamma the liberating law discoverd and proclaimed by the

Buddha, is summed up in the 4 Noble Truths.

Dosa: Anger, the most destructive of agents.

Dhukka: Suffering, misery, unsatisfaction, woefulness.

Dhukka sacca: The Truth of Suffering ; the truth that the five
aggregated of existence are suffering.
Jhana Absorption; absorptive concentration

166
Kamma Action; deed

Khandha
Aggregates; mass; heap
The five aggregates consist of corporeality (rupa),
sensation(vedana), perception(sanna),volational
action(cetana) and consiousness(vinnana).

Khanti Forbearance; patience

Kilesa Defilement; impurity

Lobha Greed
Magga Path
Magga sacca
Truth of Ariya Path

Metta Loving kindness, goodwill, benevolence.

Mind Consciousness. All beings are led by the mind.
All living beings subject to the mind. Because
of the volational activities, consciousness mind
and matter arise.

Moha Bewilderment, delusion, ignorance or incapability

of distinguishing right from wrong. Bewilderment
has the characteristic of concealing the true path
to liberation.

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Nibbana Liberation from craving; total cessation of craving is
called Nibbana

Panca sila: The five precepts prescribed for every Buddhist

consists of :
(1) abstaining from killing
(2) abstaining from taking what is not given
(3) abstaining from sexual misconduct
(4) abstaining from telling lies
(5) abstaining from taking or using intoxicants
(intoxicating wine, liquor and drugs which
cause headlessness)

Pacceka Buddha
Silent Buddha

Ratana Gem; Jewels; something held as precious

Sakadagami Once Returner: an ariya of the second stage of

enlightenment.
Sakka King of Deva

Samadhi: Concerntration, fixation of mind, one pointedness

of mind on a single object, ekagatta.

Samatha Tranquility, calm, concentration. Meditation for

tranquility. Tranquility or calm arises due to the
destruction of defilements and hindrances. Forty
meditation objects for the development of
tranquility have been prescribed by Buddha.

Sangha Community of Buddhist monks

168
Sila Observance of the precepts (of which there are sets
five, eight, nine, ten etc.) Moral conduct; restraint in
physical and verbal actions. Morality denotes being
virtuous and abstaining from evil actions both physi-
cal and verbal. It also prescribes virtuous conduct
(caritta sila)
Sotapanna “Stream-enterer”, One who enters the stream of
Ariya Path, or Nobel Path. He is enriched with the
following five qualities -

(1) He has unshakeable faith in the Three

Gems, that is, the Buddha, the Dhamma (the
Buddha’s teachings ), and the Sangha
(Buddhist community of monks ).

(2) He observes the Five Precepts even at fie

risk of his life.

(3) He is absolutely freed from the Personality-

belief (sakkaya ditthi), which is the
mistaken idea of the existence of a “self ‘,
or a personal entity.

(4) He is absolutely freed from sceptical doubt

(vicikiccha) regarding the correctness of the
Buddha’s path to liberation.

(5) He is absolutely freed from attachment to

mere rule and ritual (silabbata-paramasa).

169
Sutta Discourse; Division of the discourse of the
Buddha
Tavatimsa The second lowest celetial realm where the 33
volunteers in the previous human existence led
by Marga were reborn. Marga became Sakka,
King of the devas.

Theravada Way of the Elders

The teaching of the Buddha that has been

preserved intact by generations of bhikkhus
(monks.) The texts of the Buddha’s Teachings
approved at the Councils by Ven Maha-kassapa and
later generations. The views of the Buddha,
according to which Bhikkhus observe and practise
as has been agreed upon the councils and handed
down without any changes by the Theras led by
the Ven Maha-kassapa is called Theravada.

Vipassana Insight.

170
REFERENCES

1. BASIC MANGALA SUTTA by Ashin Zanaka

Biwuntha (in Burmese)

2. THE THIRTY EIGHT BLESSINGS FOR WORLD

PEACE by Ven U Nanadicca (In English)

3 550 Nipada Sagapye Volume 1,2,3,4,5.

4 Modern Dhamma Pada Vithu Volume 1,2,3,4,5.

5 A DICTIONARY OF BUDDHIST TERMS IN PALI

-MYANMAR –ENGLISH by Ministry of Religious
Affairs, Yangon, Myanmar

171
THIS BOOK WITH ATTACHED DVD IS DONATED BY

DR KYAW TINT, DAW KHIN HPYU HPYU,

U HTUT HTEIK, AND GEORGE KYAW SWAR.

172