Buddhism by Numbers: 38 Highest Blessings

Ajahn Sumedho has said that he is deeply grateful for so many blessings that he has had in the forty-odd years of his monastic life, including great teachers, the generosity of many laypeople, living with the forest Sangha, and having the opportunity to practice the Dharma. Regarding such blessings, in the Maha Mangala Sutta, the Lord Buddha lists the thirty-eight highest blessings for a Buddhist. We can use this sutta as something to reflect on, realizing how fortunate we are to have those blessings that we do, and contemplate how we can gain those blessings that we do not. Here are the highest blessings, first in Pali, and then in translation:

1. Bala-asevana – not to associate with fools
2. Panditasevcana – to associate with the wise
3. Pujaneyyapuja – honoring those who are honorable
4. Patirupadesavasa – living in a suitable region for safe practice
5. Pubbekatapunnata – having done meritorious deeds
6. Attasammapanidhi – right self-guidance
7. Bahusacca – Extensive learning
8. Sippa – knowledge of the arts and sciences
9. Vinaya – to be highly restrained by a moral code
10. Subhasitavaca – to be well-spoken
11. Matapitu-upatthana – to support one’s parents
12. Puttasangaha – to cherish one’s children
13. Darasangaha – to cherish one’s wife (or partner)
14. Anakulakammanta – to make one’s livelihood wholesomely
15. Dana – to be generous, charitable
16. Dhammacariya – to behave in line with the Dharma
17. Natakasangaha – to cherish one’s family
18. Anavajjakamma – to act blamelessly
19. Papavirati – abstinence from evil
20. Majjapanasannama – abstinence from intoxicants
21. Appamada – heedfulness in the Dharma
22. Garava – to be respectful
23. Nivata – to be humble
24. Santutthi – contentment with what one has
25. Katannuta- gratitude
26. Dhammassavana – the opportunity to hear the Dharma
27. Khanti – patience; forbearance
28. Sovacassata – easily corrected
29. Samana-dassana – to see monks and nuns
30. Dhammasakaccha – the opportunity to discuss the Dharma
31. Tapa – self-restraint; austerities
32. Brahmacariya – to live the holy life
33. Ariyasacca-dassana – to see the Noble Truths
34. Nibbana-sacchikiriya – to realize nirvana
35. Akampitacitta – having a mind unshaken by worldly events
36. Asokacitta – having a mind free from sorrow
37. Virajacitta – having an undefiled mind
38. Khemacitta – having a secure mind

The Maha Mangala Sutta concludes with the following utterance of the Buddha:

“Those who live following this path

Know victory wherever they go,

And every place for them is safe.

These are the highest blessings.”