Panna or wisdom as the final stage

TRANSLATION

Mahamangala Sutta

The Great Collection of Success-Generators

[ The text translated here is from the Suttanipata - PTS - p. 46 - 7 ]

Thus have I heard. Once upon a time the Exalted One was dwelling in Sravasti at Jeta's Grove, in the monastery built by Anathapindika. On that occasion, when the night had far advanced, a deity of exceeding radiance, arrived in the presence of the Exalted One , illumining the Jeta's Grove in its entirety. On arrival there, the deity made an obeisance to the Exalted One and stood on one side. Thus standing on one side, the deity addressed the Exalted One in a verse.

Many gods and men did contemplate upon As to what blissful things in life or success-generators are. Wishing for their own total well-being, they did think so. Tell us, O Lord, what the highest of these are.

Keeping away from unwise and unwholesome friends, And seeking the company only of those who are wise, Giving honour and service to those that are worthy recipients -- These rank among the highest success-generators.

Living in an appropriate area of residence, With a record of good living in one's own past, And with perfect mastery over one's own self -- These rank among the highest success-generators.

Vastness of learning and erudition, And perfect discipline in conduct, And delightful propriety of speech -- These rank among the highest success-generators.

Gentle care of one's mother and father, And dutiful maintenance of one's wife and child, Propriety and decorum in one's activities -- These rank among the highest success-generators.

Generosity and righteous living, And courteous care of one's own kith and kin, Blameless in one's own conduct -- These rank among the highest success-generators.

Restraint and departure from evil ways, Abstinence from intoxicants and all drugs too, Diligently active in the pursuit of goodness -- These rank among the highest success-generators.

Respectful and gentle in one's behaviour, Contentment and a profound sense of gratitude, Regular listening to the dhamma -- These rank among the highest success-generators.

Forbearance and pleasantness of speech, Meeting one's religious clergy, Regular discussions on the dhamma -- These rank among the highest success-generators.

Religious austerity and celibate living, Realization of the Noble Truths, Attainment of the goal of Nibbana -- These rank among the highest success-generators.

When battered by the realities of the world, If one's mind never tends to tremble, And it stays secure, griefless and stainless -- These rank among the highest success-generators.

Having successfully accomplished all these, Undefeated they are everywhere. Success and serenity, they achieve everywhere -- This is their highest achievement of success. Sn. vv. 258 - 269

Ratana Sutta

The Collection of Jewels

[ The text translated here is from the Suttanipata - PTS p. 39 - 42 ]

Whatever beings are gathered together here, Of the land below or of the skies above, May they all be thoroughly pleased in mind, And listen respectfully to what is being uttered now.

May all those beings therefore be attentive. Let them develop loving kindness towards the human progeny. They that bring them offerings by day and by night, Let the extra-terrestrial beings diligently keep watch over them.

Whatever thing of value there be here or elsewhere, Or in the heavenly worlds whatever delightful treasure be. There's nothing that matches with the Buddha, the Thus-Gone One. This is a point of great merit in the Buddha. May there be bliss by virtue of this truth.

That termination, that detachment, that blissful deathlessness Which the Sakyan Sage in his self-composure did attain. There's nothing that equals that dhamma. This is a point of great merit in the Dhamma. May there be bliss by virtue of this truth.

That state of tranquillity which the Buddha Supreme hailed As being pure and uninterrupted in its fruition, There is none to equal that state. This is a point of great merit in the Dhamma. May there be bliss by virtue of this truth.

Those eight persons who have been praised by the virtuous, They constitute four pairs. Those disciples of the Well - Gone One Are worthy of honour and offerings. Gifts made unto them bear bounteous fruit. This is a point of great merit in the Sangha. May there be bliss by virtue of this.

Those endowed with firmness of mind Are setting forth within the dispensation of Gotama. Having acquired immortality, they have reached their goal. Obtaining it free, they enjoy that cessation. This is a point of great merit in the Sangha. May there be bliss by virtue of this.

Like the Indra's Pole firmly planted in the ground Which the winds from the four quarters cannot assail. I hold the man of virtue to be like unto that, The one who penetratively sees the Noble Truths. This is a point of great merit in the Sangha. May there be bliss by virtue of this.

They who nurture the Noble Truths, Truths well expounded by him of Profound - Wisdom. They, even through delays great or small, Incur not an eighth birth in samsàra. This is a point of great merit in the Sangha. May there be bliss by virtue of this.

Together with his acquisition of correct vision, Three hindering factors get eliminated. Erroneous view of selfhood and sceptical doubt, Holding on to rituals and vows, and whatever else there be. Freed from the four states of degeneracy, Such a one is incapable of committing the six grave crimes. This is a point of great merit in the Sangha. May there be bliss by virtue of this. .

Even though he commits an act of evil Through thought, word or deed, He is incapable of concealing it. For it has been declared impossible For one who has gained his vision. This is a point of great merit in the Sangha. May there be bliss by virtue of this.

Like unto a bush in the jungle that's in full bloom, In the hot month of early Summer, Such a lovely dhamma, a dhamma leading to Nibbana, Out of highest compassion did the Lord preach. This is a point of great merit in the Buddha. May there be bliss by virtue of this.

The Buddha who is supremely noble, As the knower, the giver and bringer of what's noble, Unsurpassed as he is, preached this excellently noble dhamma. This is a point of great merit in the Buddha. May there be bliss by virtue of this.

The past has been worn out. There's no more new genesis. They are with detached thoughts for a future birth. Their seeds are totally destroyed. Their wishes and longings will never sprout again. These great wise men will completely pass away, Like the blowing out of the flame of this lamp. This is a point of great merit in the Sangha. May there be bliss by virtue of this.

Whatever beings are gathered together here, Of the land below or of the skies above, Let us pay homage to the Buddha, The Tathàgata who is honoured by gods and men. May there be success, security and prosperity.

Whatever beings are gathered together here, Of the land below or of the skies above, Let us pay homage to the Dhamma, The Tathàgata who is honoured by gods and men. May there be success, security and prosperity.

Whatever beings are gathered together here, Of the land below or of the skies above, Let us pay homage to the Sangha, The Tathàgata who is honoured by gods and men. May there be success, security and prosperity. Sn. vv. 222 - 238

Metta Sutta

Collection on the Development of Loving Kindness

[ The text translated here is from the Suttanipata - PTS p. 25 - 6 ]

This is what should be done [ karaõãyaü ] by one who is skilled in achieving his own goal of peace and tranquillity [ yaü taü santaü padaü ]. He should be efficient and competent, honest and upright, pleasant and polite in speech, gentle in demeanour. He should be modest and not arrogant.

He should be content and satisfied and be easily supportable. He should not be over involved, and be simple in his life-style. He should keep his sense faculties calmed. He should be wise but not too bold and daring. He should not be over-attached to households.

He should never resort to doing anything so mean whereby the rest of the wise world would reproach him. May all beings enjoy happiness and comfort. May they feel safe and secure.

Whatever living [ breathing ] things there are, all of those that tremble and those that are steady and strong, whatever are long and large in size, medium, short, minute or massive.

Those that are seen or are unseen, they that live near or afar. Those that have already come into being or await birth in any form. May all those living things be blissful and happy.

Let no one ever deceive another. Nor disparagingly look upon another anywhere. Either in anger or in hostility, let no people wish the unhappiness of one another.

Just as a mother her own son, her only son, guards him at the risk of her life, in the same manner towards all beings, let one develop thoughts of unbounded love.

Loving unbounded thoughts, let one develop towards the whole world : above, below and across, unobstructed, without enmity and without hostility and rivalry.

Whether one is standing, moving or seated down, or reclining, as long as he is not fallen asleep, let him develop this mindfulness. In this Buddhist dispensation, they call it the highest mode of living.

Without taking upon oneself dogmatic views, and being endowed with moral virtue and correct vision, and having gained control over one's greed for lustful pleasures, one comes not to be born in a mother's womb.

Metta Sutta vv. 143 - 152