The Mangala Sutta or Mangala Sutra is one of the significant suttas by the Blessed One. As Buddhists, it is important for us to learn and understand this Discourse on Blessings by the Buddha, and how we can apply the Mangala Sutta chanting in our daily lives.
Let’s discuss.
What is Mangala Sutta Pali About?
Thus, on one occasion, a certain deity lit up radiantly the entire Jeta Grove, near Savatthi in Anathapindika’s Garden, where the Lord Buddha was residing. The deity saluted the Blessed One and then enquired what are the good blessings for God and men.
Upon his question, the Blessed One then highlighted the 38 Blessings needed to uplift our mind to achieve bliss of tranquility, serenity and happiness, also known as the Mangala Sutta, a Discourse on Blessings.
Mangala Sutta Lyrics and Chanting
The Mangala Sutta lyrics are as follows:-
Mangala Sutta Meaning: Understanding the Buddha’s Discourse on 38 Blessings
The Mangala Sutta text describes the virtuous actions that humankind should apply and follow to gain blessings in life. Here’s a simplified Mangala Sutta meaning and understanding of what the Mangala Sutta 38 blessings are about:-
- We should never associate ourselves with the fools such as people who are dishonest and sly in character, illogical in reasoning, and rebellious in outlook.
- On the other hand, we should always keep company with the wise people, such as one who has good virtuous actions, noble in character, upright in speech and thinking and lastly moral in character.
- We should always honor those worthy of respect, such as the four stages of Arahantship, as well as those who are treading towards the path of Arahantship. Those who are senior in our rank, as well as those who are honorable in position and successful cultivators of spiritual masters and teachers.
- We must have a suitable place to reside or live in a comfortable house where there is harmony among our family members, and not living under the “house of 72 tenants” or residing in the midst of a gambling den. Nor should we ever live under the floating village where conditions are never stable.
- We should also ensure that we are continuously practicing our meritorious deeds ever since we are on this earth, to ensure we have a good foundation of blissful living.
- We should also step in the right direction of our path towards a successful cultivation and training through the proper tutelage of our spiritual teachers and masters.
- We should enrich ourselves with vast knowledge of learning through great exposures and wide experiences, and major in a special degree or course in skilled technology. This will help us to thwart off any uneventful unemployment.
- We should also always uphold our character of strong discipline in training, especially against mastering evil spells and getting involved in other illicit trading.
- We must also be cautious of our constant speech, which should be pleasant and truthful and must never antagonize anyone regardless of our enemies or foes.
- We must abide by the principle, responsibility, and integrity of supporting our father and mother, as this filial piety is one of the highest merits accrued to us. When we honor our father and mother, we are like honoring our heavenly mandate entities.
- The responsibility of upkeeping our wife and children and cherishing them with love is also one of the highest blessings.
- A proper and correct occupation of working in a legal establishment with a peaceful environment is also one of the highest blessings. We should avoid working on any establishment of illicit trades and vice activities.
- The practice of generosity and possessing a righteous conduct is another important character in our endeavor to attain a highest blessing. Generosity comes along with an open mind and heart, with virtuous deeds and righteous conduct, which relates to our proper behavior of good morality and virtues.
- Practicing the provision of giving service to others, such as our relatives, siblings and friends, is accruing merits before us.
- We should always uphold the principle of blameless deeds by never blaming anyone of any faults, nor do we like to blame someone for our shortcomings.
- We should also avoid being involved in any evil schemes, sorcery or even harboring evil intentions towards others. This avoidance would harness us with more purity of mind, body, and heart.
- We need to refrain from all kinds of intoxicants, including ecstasy pills, as this would then intoxicate our mind to unconsciously harm others, thereby committing an evil action with a bad karmic effect. Our mind should always be clear and of full conscience.
- We should also always stay steadfast in virtues with regard to procuring our right effort to cultivate more compassion, loving kindness, and a magnanimous heart to achieve a highest blessing.
- Achieving the ability to gain respect and humility is an achievement of our virtuous actions constantly practiced in our mind to earn our respect from others, as well as developing our honest and natural status to achieve our highest blessings.
- We should always cultivate a heart of contentment in our character to achieve a life of a self-fulfilling outlook and attain the bliss of happiness.
- Another important blessing is our strong inclination to practice Gratitude. People who can practice generosity are those who have clear virtues of compassion, loving kindness, and a magnanimous heart.
- Hearing the Dharma sermon constantly and reflecting on all these Abhidharma teachings in our mind is one of the highest blessings to us.
- We should learn to be patient, for it will help us to develop the tranquility and serenity of our mind. We will also be able to thwart any untoward incidents, which we calmly pull through with our patience.
- Obedience is also of a highest blessing when we practice from young to be an abiding person, following all rules and regulations and obeying all senior instructions.
- We should also frequently visit our trained and successful spiritual teachers and masters, for they can give us good guidance and inner understanding of the Dharma.
- We should also attend Dharma talks constantly as it will open up our minds to be more practical and logical in reasoning. This is the natural way to gain inner knowledge and gradually insight. This is the highest blessing.
- Self-control is regarding to our ability to contain our five senses’ desires of adopting moderate eating habits, moderate living conditions, and being moderate in wearing any dresses.
- The desire to lead a holy life consisting renunciation of food intake, earthly activities, personal life of occupation, and family communication will assist one to uplift the mind to simple reflection of living and inner peace to our mind, heart, and body. This is one of the highest blessings.
- To be able to comprehend the reality of our Four Noble Truths, which lead us to realize the originality of living on this earth. The first is our origin of suffering, our birth on this earth. Secondly is the cause of our suffering, which is our craving. This craving comes from our inability to control our five senses’ needs. Thirdly is the cessation of suffering, which is to eradicate our craving. Lastly is the path that leads to the cessation of our suffering, which is the Noble Eightfold Path. This Noble Eightfold Path is the culmination of eradicating all our human defilements on this earth through Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration.
- The realization of Nibbana comes from our ability to contain our five sensual desires to become of only one sense of living. This way, our life is void ( 空 ) in our mind, heart and body, achieving a state of nothingness and ultimately purifying ourselves towards Nibbanaship. This is one of the highest blessings.
- “He whose mind remains unmoved” is actually implying one has the capability to remain calm in mind, heart and body, and is not easily affected by any external influences of attraction and distraction.
- One who is never affected by the problems of the world, namely disasters, calamities, diseases, typhoons, heat waves, or any human-related problems, is one who has already eradicated all worldly attachments.
- Living a life with no sorrowful condition whereby one has already alleviated the roots of the Three Evils, namely Greed, Hatred, and Ignorance, is one of the highest blessings. Reducing these traits will help one to detach oneself from all kinds of worldly affairs that implicate our life into sorrowful situations.
- “Stainless” implies our life has no traces of evil roots, such as the absence of intoxicating drinks, no womanizing, no illicit trading or other sex trades, as well as refraining from all kinds of evil attachments like our greed, vengeance and blind beliefs.
- Lastly is our ability to instill security in our life, such as the capabilities to reach intuition and wisdom through our constant vigil of having simple living, moderation in all needs, and being humble in our outlook. In fulfilling all these conditions, one would go anywhere peaceful at heart, fully protected and unharmed by any invisible attacks, and also always moving about happily. These are all of the highest blessings.
Considering all these requirements of highest blessings as stated in the Mangala Sutta explanation, one would actually attain the status of Nibbanaship and the extinction of birth and death.
How to Apply the Mangala Sutta Pali Chanting
This Mangala Sutra is best used as a blessing for our own protection and the safety of our travels. We recommend doing the Mangala Sutta chanting daily, once during the morning prayers and once during evening prayers.
The whole verses take less than 5 minutes to complete the chanting, and should be followed by Ratana Sutta, a Discourse on Jewels, Karaniya Metta Sutta, a Discourse on Loving Kindness, as well as Maha Jayamangala Gatha Sutta, the Great Verses of Joyous Victory, to complete the entire chanting session.
Also read: The Underestimated Power of Prayers
Final Thoughts
The Mangala Sutta reveals the Buddha’s timeless wisdom through its 38 blessings, guiding us toward a life of virtue, peace, and true happiness. Through chanting the Mangala Sutra daily, we nurture a mind uplifted with tranquility and protection from life’s challenges.
We encourage you to chant this sacred sutta every day, allowing its blessings to slowly permeate your heart and mind. If you seek to deepen your understanding and join a community devoted to this path, we warmly invite you to Poh Ern Si Penang temple and participate in our Sunday devotional chanting session. Contact us to get the latest details on our activities.
May this article on the Mangala Sutta in English brings forth a better understanding on the discourse by the Blessed One, and its practice bring you unshakable blessings, calm in your heart, and the joy of true spiritual progress. Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu!