A Life of Blessings

Apart from the traditionally Buddhist countries in Asia where Buddhism remains strong, it is growing at an explosive pace in America and many European countries, and is currently the fastest growing religion in Australia. Modern and educated people are increasingly finding a need for spiritual teachings devoid of fanciful stories and myths, free from threats of punishments, and without beliefs which go against science and reason. Simple faith and worship are no longer enough in this day and age. Buddhism with its practical and consistent teachings and its relevance to daily life, is able to satisfy intelligent and enquiring minds, and thus appeals very much to our present-day society. The Sigalovada Sutta, Vyagghapajja Sutta, Parabhava Sutta and Mangala Sutta are all very good examples of such teachings. They are sensible, readily applicable and lead to both personal improvement and growth, and spiritual progress and development. This book is based on these four suttas. I hope to promote a greater understanding of Buddhism by presenting these essential teachings in a concise, uncomplicated and down-to-earth manner so that they can be appreciated by more people. I had thought it useful to also have these four suttas compiled into one compact book for the easy reference of all practicing Buddhists and 09 for the convenience of all students of Buddhism. As such, the commonly available translations by Ven. Narada Thera are also included in the Appendix. The Buddha’s teachings were originally memorized and recited rather than written down and read. But when written down, these recitations sometimes make for difficult reading. This is especially so when they originated more than 2,500 years ago in conditions very different from that of our current age, and in a language quite unlike our own. Therefore, in line with the aim to make the teachings more accessible and easy to understand, these suttas have been presented in a modern context using contemporary language. They have also been divided into chapters, with headings, sub-sections and explanations inserted to make them easier to read. However, the flow and sequence of the texts have been retained as much as possible to preserve the feel and spirit of the Buddha’s teachings. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Ven. S. Dhammika for his guidance and endless patience, Ven. Dr. I. Indasara Thero for writing the Foreword, Ven. Pannyavaro Mahathera for reviewing the booklet, and to Mr. Leong Kum Seng and Ms. Han Ah Yew for their valuable suggestions and help in checking the text. I am also extremely privileged to be able to work with Ms. Sylvia Bay on this book.