Paṭisota

  1.  Why is it important to learn the Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅga Sutta (MN 142)? 2.  You cannot repay if you were helped this way. —The Buddha 3. 14 Personal Dāna Offerings ( pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā ) and Their Different Results 4.  7 Saṅgha Dāna Offerings ( saṅghagatā dakkhiṇās ) 5. The Four Purities ( visuddhiyo ) of Giving ( dakkhiṇā )

12. Reflection Before Speaking 12.1 yadeva tvaṃ, rāhula, vācāya kammaṃ kattukāmo ahosi, tadeva te vacīkammaṃ paccavekkhitabbaṃ. Whenever, Rāhula, you are about to say something, first reflect on what you are going to say. The Buddha extends the practice of wise reflection to speech. Ethical speech begins with careful awareness before words are spoken. 12.2 ‘yannu kho ahaṃ idaṃ vācāya kammaṃ kattukāmo idaṃ me vacīkammaṃ attabyābādhāyapi saṃvatteyya, parabyābādhāyapi saṃvatteyya, ubhayabyābādhāyapi saṃvatteyya— Should I consider: ‘Might what I am about to say lead to harm for myself, harm for others, or harm for both? The Buddha encourages us to consider the effects of our words before speaking. Speech can heal or harm depending on how it is used. 12.3 akusalaṃ idaṃ vacīkammaṃ dukkhudayaṃ dukkhavipākan’ti? Is this an unwholesome speech, giving rise to dukkha and resulting in dukkha ? Words rooted in greed, hatred, or delusion inevitably create suffering for oneself and others. 12.4 sace...

  8. The Mirror Simile 8.1–8.3  taṃ kiṃ maññasi, rāhula, kimatthiyo ādāso? paccavekkhaṇattho, bhante. What do you think, Rāhula? What is a mirror for?  For reflection, Bhante. The mirror symbolizes self-examination. Just as a mirror reveals physical appearance, reflection reveals the moral quality of one's actions. 8.4  evameva kho, rāhula, paccavekkhitvā paccavekkhitvā kāyena kammaṃ kattabbaṃ, paccavekkhitvā paccavekkhitvā vācāya kammaṃ kattabbaṃ, paccavekkhitvā paccavekkhitvā manasā kammaṃ kattabbaṃ. Even so, Rāhula, after repeated reflection, bodily actions should be performed; after repeated reflection, verbal actions should be performed; after repeated reflection, mental actions should be performed. This introduces the central theme of the discourse: continuous wise reflection. Before acting through body, speech, or mind, one should repeatedly examine one's intentions and likely consequences. The repetition of paccavekkhitvā emphasizes that wise reflection is n...

Rāhula attained arahantship after listening to the Cūḷarāhulovāda Sutta (MN 147). The Mahārāhulovāda Sutta (MN 62) was taught by the Buddha when Rāhula was about eight years old. The Ambalaṭṭhikarāhulovāda Sutta (MN 61) was delivered when Rāhula was about seven years old at Ambalaṭṭhikā, a small hut (kuṭi) near Veḷuvanārāma. The name Ambalaṭṭhikā derives from amba (mango") and laṭṭhikā (young sapling" or mango sapling). The Buddha declared Rāhula to be foremost among those eager for training (sikkhākāmānaṃ aggo). The Buddha's boundless loving-kindness (mettā) was impartial. He extended the same compassion to Rāhula, Devadatta, Aṅgulimāla, and even the intoxicated Nāḷāgiri elephant. Rāhula was especially renowned for his humility, obedience, respect for instruction, and eagerness to learn. According to the commentarial tradition, during the time of Padumuttara Buddha, Rāhula aspired to become the son of a future Buddha and received a prediction that this aspiration would b...