Paṭisota

The Ambalaṭṭhika Rāhulovāda Sutta (MN 61) is valuable because it teaches us the importance of being truthful, honest, and mindful of our actions. In this discourse, the Buddha advises his son Rāhula that even a small lie can weaken one's moral character and spiritual progress. He explains that truthfulness is the foundation of a good and meaningful life.  The most important section of this sutta is the Buddha’s instruction on continuous self-reflection. He advises us to examine our thoughts before thinking, while thinking, and after thinking; our speech before speaking, while speaking, and after speaking; and our actions before acting, while acting, and after acting. Through this systematic process of reflection, one develops mindfulness, ethical awareness, and personal responsibility, ensuring that thoughts, words, and deeds are conducive to one's own welfare and the welfare of others. Evaṃ me sutaṃ— Thus have I heard. Standard opening formula indicating the discourse was t...

1. The Four Purities of Giving Catasso kho imā, ānanda, dakkhiṇā visuddhiyo. Katamā catasso? Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato. Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati no dāyakato. Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā neva dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato. Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato ceva visujjhati paṭiggāhakato ca. Ānanda, there are these four purities of offerings. What four? An offering ( dakkhiṇā )  purified by the giver, not by the receiver. An offering ( dakkhiṇā )  purified by the receiver, not by the giver. An offering ( dakkhiṇā )  purified neither by the giver nor by the receiver. An offering ( dakkhiṇā )  purified both by the giver and by the receiver.” 2. Purified by the Giver Only  Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato? Idhānanda, dāyako hoti sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, paṭiggāhakā honti dussīlā pāpadhammā—evaṃ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato. And how, Ānanda, is an offering...

  1.  Introduction to the Nibbedhika Pariyāya Sutta AN 6.632. 2.  Kāma Is Conceptual Lust—Objects Are Innocent 3.  Feel Fully. Cling to Nothing 4. How Perception Constructs Reality 5. How the Outflows Sustain Saṃsāra 6. You Become What You Volitionally Cultivate 7. Enjoy without clinging

                      Ānanda, there are these seven offerings given to the Saṅgha ( saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā ). What seven? 1. Offering to the Dual Saṅgha with the Buddha at its Head buddhappamukhe ubhatosaṅghe dānaṃ deti — ayaṃ paṭhamā saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā. One gives a gift to the dual Saṅgha headed by the Buddha — this is the first offering given to the Saṅgha. This refers to offering to both the bhikkhu and bhikkhunī communities while the Buddha himself was still living and presiding over the Saṅgha. 2. Offering to the Dual Saṅgha after the Buddha’s Parinibbāna tathāgate parinibbute ubhatosaṅghe dānaṃ deti — ayaṃ dutiyā saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā. After the Tathāgata has attained Parinibbāna, one gives a gift to the dual Saṅgha — this is the second offering given to the Saṅgha. Even after the Buddha’s passing away, offerings made to the united community of monks and nuns remain a vast field of merit. 3. Offering to the Bhikkhu Saṅ...

              Ānanda, there are these fourteen kinds of personal offerings ( pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā ). What fourteen? 1. To a Fully Enlightened Buddha tathāgate arahante sammāsambuddhe dānaṃ deti — ayaṃ paṭhamā pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. One gives a gift to the Tathāgata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Fully Enlightened Buddha — this is the first personal offering. This is considered the highest field of merit because a Sammāsambuddha has completely destroyed all defilements and discovers the Dhamma independently for the welfare of the world. 2. To a Paccekabuddha paccekasambuddhe dānaṃ deti — ayaṃ dutiyā pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. One gives a gift to a Paccekabuddha — this is the second personal offering. A Paccekabuddha attains enlightenment independently but does not establish a dispensation or teach the path widely like a Sammāsambuddha. 3. To an Arahant Disciple of the Buddha tathāgatasāvake arahante dānaṃ deti — ayaṃ tatiyā pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. On...

You cannot repay someone who leads you to the Triple Refuge Ānanda, when one person, depending on another person, goes for refuge to the Buddha, goes for refuge to the Dhamma, goes for refuge to the Saṅgha—for such a person, I do not say that repayment can easily be made by that other person, that is: by rising up in respect, by paying homage, by greeting with joined palms, by proper conduct, or by providing robes, alms food, lodging, and medicines and requisites for the sick. yaṃ hānanda, puggalo puggalaṃ āgamma buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gato hoti, dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gato hoti, saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gato hoti, imassānanda, puggalassa iminā puggalena na suppatikāraṃ vadāmi, yadidaṃabhivādanapaccuṭṭhānaañjalikammasāmīcikammacīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānuppadānena. You cannot repay someone who guides you to live by the Five Precepts Ānanda, when one person, depending on another person, abstains from killing living beings, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from ...