Hatthaka Sutta

Khandha Sutta

Aggregates

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

At Savatthi. There the Blessed One said, "Monks, I will teach you the five aggregates and the five clinging-aggregates. Listen and pay close attention. I will speak."

"As you say, lord," the monks responded.

The Blessed One said, "Now what, monks, are the five aggregates?

"Whatever form is past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near: that is called the aggregate of form.

"Whatever feeling is past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near: that is called the aggregate of feeling.

"Whatever perception is past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near: that is called the aggregate of perception.

"Whatever (mental) fabrications are past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near: those are called the aggregate of fabrications.

"Whatever consciousness is past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near: that is called the aggregate of consciousness.

"These are called the five aggregates.

"And what are the five clinging-aggregates?

"Whatever form -- past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near -- is cling-able, offers sustenance, and is accompanied with mental fermentation: that is called form as a clinging-aggregate.

"Whatever feeling -- past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near -- is cling-able, offers sustenance, and is accompanied with mental fermentation: that is called feeling as a clinging-aggregate.

"Whatever perception -- past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near -- is cling-able, offers sustenance, and is accompanied with mental fermentation: that is called perception as a clinging-aggregate.

"Whatever (mental) fabrications -- past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near -- are cling-able, offer sustenance, and are accompanied with mental fermentation: those are called fabrications as a clinging-aggregate.

"Whatever consciousness -- past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near -- is cling-able, offers sustenance, and is accompanied with mental fermentation: that is called consciousness as a clinging-aggregate.

"These are called the five clinging-aggregates."

Khuddaka Pátha

   Khuddaka Pá.tha, or "Lesser Readings," is one of the books of the Buddhist Scriptures. It is the first of the fifteen divisions of Khuddaka Nikáya, and immediately precedes Dhammapada. The text which I have adopted is that of a manuscript written and collated for me by a Singhalese priest of great learning. I have compared with it the Burmese manuscript belonging to the collection presented by Sir A. Phayre to the India Office Library. This, however, I found to contain numerous clerical and other errors, and it failed to supply me with a single corrected reading.

   Khuddaka Pá.tha possesses a high authority in Ceylon. It is quoted in the Commentaries of Buddhaghosa, many of the examples in Sandhi Kappa and other grammatical works are drawn from it, and seven of its nine chapters are included in the course of homilies read at the Buddhist ceremony of Pirit. Three of the sútras, viz., Ma"ngala Sutta, Ratana Sutta, and Metta Sutta recur in Sutta Nipáta, the fifth division of Khuddaka Nikáya, and Paramattha Jotiká, Buddhaghosa's commentary on Sutta Nipáta, is also looked upon as the commentary of Khuddaka Pá.tha.

   Khuddaka Pá.tha takes its name from its first four texts, which are very brief, and are termed Pá.thas in contradistinction to the Sútras, or sermons, which follow. The four Pá.thas, and the Ma"ngala, Ratana and Metta Sútras, are translated by Gogerly in his version of Pirit in the "Ceylon Friend" (June, July, and August, 1839).

 

Mangala Sutta

The Sources Of Happiness

   {1.} Thus I have heard. On a certain day dwelt Buddha at Çravasti, at the Jetavana monastery, in the garden of Anáthapi.n.daka. And when the night was far advanced a certain radiant celestial being, illuminating the whole of Jetavana, approached the Blessed One, and saluted him and stood aside. And standing aside addressed him with this verse,-- 

   {2.} Many gods and men, yearning after good, have held divers things to be blessings; say thou, what is the greatest blessing.

   {3.} Buddha: To serve wise men and not serve fools, to give honour to whom honour is due, this is the greatest blessing.

   {4.} To dwell in a pleasant land, to have done good deeds in a former existence, to have a soul filled with right desires, this is the greatest blessing.

   {5.} Much knowledge and much science, the discipline of a well trained mind, and a word well spoken, this is the greatest blessing.

   {6.} To succour father and mother, to cherish wife and child, to follow a peaceful calling, this is the greatest blessing.

   {7.} To give alms, to live religiously, to give help to relatives, to do blameless deeds, this is the greatest blessing,

   {8.} To cease and abstain from sin, to eschew strong drink, to be diligent in good deeds, this is the greatest blessing.

   {9.} Reverence and lowliness, contentment and gratitude, to receive religious teaching at due seasons, this is the greatest blessing.

   {10.} To be long-suffering and meek, to associate with the priests of Buddha, to hold religious discourse at due seasons, this is the greatest blessing.

   {11.} Temperance and chastity, discernment of the four great truths, the prospect of Nirvána, this is the greatest blessing.

   {12.} The soul of one unshaken by the changes of this life, a soul inaccessible to sorrow, passionless, secure, this is the greatest blessing.

   {13.} They that do these things are invincible on every side, on every side they walk in safety, yea, theirs is the greatest blessing.