True Blessings

Snp 2.4 · Khuddaka Nikāya — The Minor Collection

A question to carry today

Of the blessings this discourse names, which one do you already have but seldom notice?

The reading

– Anthology of Discourses 2.4

Blessings

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. Standing to one side, that deity addressed the Buddha in verse:

“Many gods and humanshave thought about blessingsdesiring well-being:declare the highest blessing.”“Not to fraternize with fools,but to fraternize with the wise,and honoring those worthy of honor:this is the highest blessing.Living in a suitable region,having made merit in the past,being rightly resolved in oneself,this is the highest blessing.Education and a craft,discipline and training,and well-spoken speech:this is the highest blessing.Caring for mother and father,kindness to children and partners,and unstressful work:this is the highest blessing.Giving and righteous conduct,kindness to relatives,blameless deeds:this is the highest blessing.Desisting and abstaining from evil,avoiding drinking liquor,diligence in good qualities:this is the highest blessing.Respect and placidity,contentment and gratitude,and timely listening to the teaching:this is the highest blessing.Patience, being easy to admonish,the sight of ascetics,and timely discussion of the teaching:this is the highest blessing.Fervor and chastityseeing the noble truths,and realization of extinguishment:this is the highest blessing.Though touched by worldly things, their mind does not tremble;sorrowless, stainless, secure, this is the highest blessing.Having completed these things,undefeated everywhere;everywhere they go in safety:this is their highest blessing.”

Licence: CC0-1.0 (Sujato) · personal-use (Minh Châu)The translation belongs to the translator/source credited above. Please attribute when quoting.

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On the calendar: Thursday 19 November 2026

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