Content
It was preached at Jetavana Temple in answer to a question asked by a deva as to which things in this world could truly be considered blessings (mangalāni). The sutta describes thirty-eight blessings in ten sections, as shown in the table below:
| Gp.1 | Not associating with fools | Associating with the wise | Expressing respect to those worthy of respect | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gp.2 | Living in an amenable location | Having meritorious deeds in one's past | Setting oneself up properly in life | ||
| Gp.3 | Learnedness | Artfulness | Self-discipline | Artful speech | |
| Gp.4 | Filial piety | Cherishing one's children | Cherishing one's spouse | Not leaving work undone | |
| Gp.5 | Generosity | Dhamma practice | Caring for extended family | Blameless work | |
| Gp.6 | Avoiding unwholesomeness | Not drinking intoxicants | Non-recklessness in the Dhamma | ||
| Gp.7 | Respect | Humility | Contentment | Gratitude | Listening regularly to Dhamma teachings |
| Gp.8 | Patience | Openness to Criticism | Sight of a True Monk | Regular discussion of the Dhamma | |
| Gp.9 | Practising Austerities | Practising the Brahma-faring | Seeing the Four Noble Truths | Attainment of Nirvana | |
| Gp.10 | Mind free of Worldly Vicissitudes | Sorrowlessness | Free of Subtle Defilements | Blissful Mind |
Read more about this topic: Mangala Sutta
Famous quotes containing the word content:
“To impose celibacy on such a large body as the clergy of the Catholic Church is not to forbid it to have wives but to order it to be content with the wives of others.”
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (17121778)
“Life must be filled up, and the man who is not capable of intellectual pleasures must content himself with such as his senses can afford.”
—Samuel Johnson (17091784)
“I was not content to believe in a personal devil and serve him, in the ordinary sense of the word. I wanted to get hold of him personally and become his chief of staff.”
—Aleister Crowley (18751947)