The 38 Blessings of the MahaMangala Sutta

i. The Thirty-eight Blessings (mangalas) (italic=Pali language) Stanza I The Buddha was asked: What are the highest Blessings in life? The Blessed One replied: The Supreme Blessings are: Stanza II 1. Asevanaa ca baalaana.m: Not associating with fools. 2. Pan.ditaana~n ca seyanaa: ssociating with the wise. !. Puujaa ca puujaniiyaana.m: "e#erencing those worth$ of respect. Stanza III %. Patiruupadesavaaso: "esidence in a suita&le localit$. '. Pubbe ca katapu~n~nataa: (a#ing made merit in the past. ). Attasammaapa.nidhi: One*s mind properl$ directed. Stanza IV +. Bahusacca~n: ,rofound learning. -. Bahusippa~n: ,roficienc$ in one*s work. .. Vinayo ca susikkhito: Well/learned moral discipline 10. Subhaasitaa ca yaa vaacaa: 1racious kindl$ speech. Stanza V 11. Maataapitu upa.t.thaana.m: 1i#ing support to parents. 12. Puttadaarassa sa"n aho: 2herishing wife and children. 1!. Anaakulaa ca kammantaa: Business pursuits3 peaceful and free from conflicts. Stanza VI 1%. !aana: cts of gi#ing.

1'. !hammacariyaa: 2onduct according to 4hamma. 1). "aatakaana~n ca sa"n aho: (elping one*s relati#es. 1+. Anavajjaani kammaani: Blameless actions. Stanza VII 1-. AArati paapaa: shunning e#il. 1.. Virati paapaa: &staining from e#il. 20. Majjapaanaa ca sa~n~namo: "efraining from into5icants. 21. Appamaado ca dhammesu: 4iligence in practice of what is 4hamma. Stanza VIII 22. #aaravo: "e#erence. 2!. "ivaato: (umilit$. 2%. Santu.t.thi: 2ontentment. 2'. $ata~n~nutaa: 1ratefulness. 2). $aalena dhammasavana.m: Timel$ hearing of the 4hamma Stanza IX 2+. $hantii: ,atience 2-. Sovacassataa: 6eekness when corrected. 2.. Sama.naana~n ca dassana.m: 6eeting 7seeing8 monks. !0. $aalena dhammasaakacchaa: 4iscussing the 4hamma at the proper time. Stanza X !1. %apo: 9nergetic self/restraint. !2. Brahmacariyaa: (ol$ and chaste life. !!. Ariyasaccaana dassana.m: :nsight into the No&le Truths. !%. "ibbaana sacchikiriyaa: "eali;ation of Ni&&aana.

Stanza XI !'. Phu.t.thassa lokadhammehi citta.m yassa na kampati: of life. !). Asoka.m: <reedom from sorrow. !+. Viraja.m: <reedom from defilements of passion. !-. $hema.m: ,erfect securit$. Stanza XII &taadisaani katvaana sabbattham'aparaajitaa sabbattha sotthi.m acchanti: Those who ha#e acted in this wa$ cannot &e defeated and alwa$s li#e in safet$. mind unshaken &$ the ups and downs

The &lessings 7mangalas8 not arranged in random order/ the$ are logical and progressi#e 1. 2. !. %. The ,reparation: first three stan;as. Wa$faring in the World: ne5t four stan;as. The Spiritual =ife: ne5t three stan;as. The (ighest 1oal: last stan;a.

The sutra is a practice manual/ helping us to de#elop the three practices of sila3 samadhi3 pra>na. This is the classification we will &e using here: Sila: 21 man alas: 1. 2. !. %. '. <oundational: 61 62 6! 6% 6' 6) 9ssential training of &od$3 speech ? mind: 6 + 6- 6. 610 The foundation of the domestic order: 6 11 612 61! Social welfare: 61% 61' 61) 61+ 4iligence ? protection against unwholesomeness: 6 1- 61. 620 621

Samadhi: . man alas: 622 62! 62% 62' 62) 62+ 62- 62. 6!0 ,ra>na: - man alas 6!1 6!2 6!! 6!% 6!' 6!) 6!+ 6!-