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RATANA SUTTA Having mind infused with compassion like the Venerable Ānanda, who did protective chanting all through the three watches of the night, walking along the path between the three walls that surrounded the city of Vesālī, reflecting upon all these attributes of the Buddha: from the time the Buddha-to-be made the aspiration for Buddhahood, His practice of the thirty pāramīs comprising the ten pāramīs (perfections), the ten upapāramīs (the middle grade perfections) and the ten paramatthapāramīs (the highest grade perfections) the five great givings, the three great practices comprising practice for the world, practice for His relatives and practice for Buddhahood, and in His last birth, taking conception in His mother's womb, His birth, renunciation, the practice of asceticism, victory over Māra when He was seated on the throne under the Bodhi tree, gaining of Omniscience , turning of the Wheel of Dhamma (delivering of the First Sermon), and the nine Supramundane Dhammas, Let us recite, oh good people, that Paritta whose authority is accepted by the deities in the thousand billion universes, and which quickly causes to disappear the three dangers resulting from disease, non-human beings and famine in the city of Vesālī. Whatsoever beings are here assembled, whether terrestrial or celestial, may these beings be happy; moreover may they attentively listen to my words. Therefore, oh deities, let all listen! Have love for human beings. Day and night they bring offerings to you. Therefore guard them diligently. Whatever treasure there be either here or in the world beyond, or whatever precious jewel is in the world of the deities, there is none equal to the Accomplished One. In the Buddha is this precious jewel. By this truth, may there be happiness. The serene Sage of the Sakyas realized the Dhamma (Nibbāna) which is the cessation of defilements, which is free from passion and which is deathless and supreme. There is nothing equal to this Dhamma. Also in the Dhamma is this precious jewel. By this utterance of truth, may there be happiness. The supreme Buddha praised the pure concentration (that accompanies Path consciousness) and the Buddhas described it as giving result immediately. There is nothing equal to that concentration. Also in the Dhamma is this precious jewel. By this utterance of truth, may there be happiness. The eight individuals praised by the virtuous constitute four pairs; they are the disciples of the Buddha and are worthy of offerings; gifts made to them yield abundant fruit. Also in the Saṁgha is this precious jewel. By this utterance of truth, may there be happiness. With a steadfast mind, applying themselves thoroughly in the Dispensation of Gotama, they got out of passions; they have attained that which should be attained. Plunging into the Deathless, they enjoy the peace that is won without expense. Also in the Saṁgha is this precious jewel. By this utterance of truth, may there be happiness. Just as a firm post sunk in the earth cannot be shaken by the four winds (winds from four directions), so, I declare, is a righteous person who thoroughly perceives the Noble Truths. Also in the Saṁgha is this precious jewel. By this utterance of truth, may there be happiness. However exceedingly heedless they may be, those who have comprehended the Noble Truths well taught by Him of deep wisdom, do not take an eighth rebirth. Also in the Saṁgha is this precious jewel. By this utterance of truth, may there be happiness. With the attainment of the First Path, the three states, namely, self-illusion, doubt and belief in wrong habits and practices (as a way to purification), are abandoned in him. Also he abandons some other defilements. He is totally free from (rebirth in) the four woeful states and is incapable of committing the six major wrong doings. Also in the Saṁgha is this precious jewel. By this utterance of truth, may there be happiness. Although he may do an evil deed, whether by body, or by word or by thought, he is incapable of hiding it. The Buddha has declared this fact that such a person who has seen Nibbāna with Path Consciousness is not capable of hiding his wrong-doings. Also in the Saṁgha is this precious jewel. By this utterance of truth, may there be happiness. Graceful as the woodland grove with blossoming treetops in the first month of summers the sublime doctrine that leads to Nibbāna. Such a Dhamma the Buddha taught for the highest good of beings. Also in the Buddha is this precious jewel. By this utterance of truth, may there be happiness. The Unsurpassed Excellent One (i.e., the Buddha), the knower of the excellent, the bestower of the excellent, the bringer of the excellent, has taught the excellent doctrine. Also in the Buddha is this precious jewel. By this utterance of truth, may there be happiness. Their past kamma is exhausted; there is no arising of fresh kamma; their minds are not attached to a future birth; they have extinguished the seed of becoming; their desire for becoming does not grow. These wise ones go out even as this lamp burns out. Also in the Saṁgha is this precious jewel. By this utterance of truth, may there be happiness. Whatsoever beings are here assembled, whether terrestrial or celestial, all of us pay homage to the accomplished Buddha honored by gods and humans. May there be happiness. Whatsoever beings are here assembled, whether terrestrial or celestial, all of us pay homage to the accomplished Dhamma honored by gods and humans. May there be happiness. Whatsoever beings are here assembled, whether terrestrial or celestial, all of us pay homage to the accomplished Saṁgha honored by gods and humans. May there be happiness.