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. 1.  Evaṃ me sutaṃ— Thus have I heard. Standard opening formula indicating the discourse ...

What is meant by purification ( visuddhi ) here?  Purification means that it produces great fruit; in other words, it becomes highly fruitful. Who Gains More Merit—the Buddha or Arahant Sāriputta? Which is more fruitful: a  dāna  given by the Perfectly Enlightened Buddha to the Arahant Sāriputta, or a  dāna  given by the Arahant Sāriputta to the Perfectly Enlightened Buddha? The  dāna  given by the Perfectly Enlightened Buddha to the Arahant Sāriputta is more fruitful. Why? Because, apart from a Perfectly Enlightened Buddha, no one is capable of fully knowing the precise karmic result of an act of giving.  evañce, bhikkhave, sattā jāneyyuṃ dānasaṃvibhāgassa vipākaṃ yathāhaṃ jānāmi, na adatvā bhuñjeyyuṃ, na ca nesaṃ maccheramalaṃ cittaṃ pariyādāya tiṭṭheyya Monks, if sentient beings only knew, as I do, the fruit of giving and sharing, they would not eat without first giving, and the stain of stinginess would not occupy their minds. ( D ā na Sutta, ...

  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 community of monks and nuns remain a vast field of merit. 3. Offering to the Bhikkhu Saṅgha ...

              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.  Their realization of the Dhamma is compared to “a dream seen by a deaf mute” —understood personally but diffic...