True Blessings

Snp 2.4 · Khuddaka Nikāya — The Minor Collection

A question to carry today

Of the blessings this sutta lists, which one are you truly living each day?

One small act today

Sometime this week, tidy the family altar, or spend a few quiet minutes remembering your grandparents and ancestors.

Across these 49 days there is no need to finish a whole scroll each day. Read the full scroll when time allows; when life is full, a single chapter — or part of one — still keeps the practice and the connection to the sūtra alive. 🙏

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:

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

Read in the library (bilingual, with chanting mode) →

On to day 20 →

On the calendar: Saturday 21 August 2027

Missing a day is fine — simply read on.