PARITTA PĀḶI

A Collection of Eleven Protective Suttas

With an English Translation

By Sayadaw U Sīlānandābhivaṃsa

(Aggamahāpaṇḍita)

I.III Opening  Ceremony (Everyday) Details

II.III Adding the following Day (Sunday to Saturday) Details

III.III Closing  Ceremony (Everyday)

II.II Closing Ceremony (Everyday)

 FOUR PACCAVEKKHAṆAS

4 Kinds of Contemplation

1. Cīvare

Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso, cīvaraṃ paṭisevāmi, yāvadeva sītassa paṭighātāya, uṇhassa paṭighātāya ḍaṃsa-makasa-vāt’ātapa- sarīsapa-samphassānaṃ paṭighātāya, yāvadeva hiri-kopīnappaṭicchādanatthaṃ.

1. On Robes

Considering thoughtfully, I use the robes only for protection from cold, heat; from contact with flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun and creeping beings, and only for the purpose of covering the body that cause shame.

2. Piṇḍapāte

Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso, piṇḍapātaṃ paṭisevāmi, neva davāya, na madāya, na maṇḍanāya, na vibhūsanāya, yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā yāpanāya, vihiṃsūparatiyā, brahma­cariyānuggahāya, iti purāṇañca vedanaṃ paṭihaṅkhāmi navañca vedanaṃ na uppādessāmi, yātrā ca me bhavissati anavajjatā ca phāsuvihāro ca.

2. On Alms-food

Considering thoughtfully, I use alms food neither for amusement, nor for intoxication, nor for smartening, nor for beautification, but only for the survival and continuance of this body, for ending its afflictions, and for assisting the holy life, considering: “Thus I will destroy any old feelings (of hunger) and not create new feelings (from overeating), and I will maintain myself blamelessly and live in comfort”.

3. Senāsane

Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso, senāsanaṃ paṭisevāmi, yāvadeva sītassa paṭighātāya, uṇhassa paṭighātāya, ḍaṃsa-makasa-vāt’ātapa-sarīsapa-samphassānaṃ paṭighātāya, yāvadeva utu­parissaya-vinodanappaṭisallānārāmatthaṃ.

3. On Dwelling Place

Considering thoughtfully, I use the dwelling place only for protection from cold, heat; for protection from contact with flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun and creeping beings, and only for the purpose of warding off the inclemency of climate and for the enjoyment of seclusion.

4. Gilāna-paccaya-bhesajje

Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso, gilāna-paccaya-bhesajjaparikkhāraṃ paṭisevāmi, yāvadeva, uppannānaṃ veyyābādhikānaṃ, vedanānaṃ paṭighātāya, abyābajjha-paramatāya.

4. On Medicine

Considering thoughtfully, I use medicinal requisites for curing sickness, for protection from any pains of illness that have arisen and for the benefit of good health.

Mettā-Bhāvanā

Meditation on the Loving-Kindness

Puratthimāya disāya, pacchimāya disāya, uttarāya disāya, dakkhiṇāya disāya, puratthimāya anudisāya, pacchimāya anudisāya, uttarāya anudisāya, dakkhiṇāya anudisāya, heṭṭhimāya disāya, uparimāya disāya, sabbe sattā, sabbe pāṇā, sabbe bhūtā, sabbe puggalā, sabbe attabhāvapariyāpannā, sabbā itthiyo, sabbe purisā, sabbe ariyā, sabbe anariyā, sabbe devā, sabbe manussā, sabbe vinipātikā averā hontu, abyāpajjā hontu, anīghā hontu, sukhī attānaṃ pariharantu.

In the eastern direction, in the southern direction, in the western direction, in the northern direction, in the south-east direction, in the south-west direction, in the north-west direction, in the north-east direction, in the upper direction and in the lower direction, may all beings, all breathing beings, all living beings, all persons, all who have a personality, all women, all men, all Noble Ones, all worldlings, all deities, all human beings and all beings in the states of deprivation be free from animosity, be free from ill-will, be free from trouble, and look after themselves with ease.

Kāyagatāsati

Contemplation of the Body

Atthi imasmiṃ kāye kesā, lomā, nakhā, dantā, taco;

Maṃsaṃ, nhāru, aṭṭhi, aṭṭhimiñjaṃ, vakkaṃ;

Hadayaṃ, yakanaṃ, kilomakaṃ, pihakaṃ, papphāsaṃ;

Antaṃ, antaguṇaṃ, udariyaṃ, karīsaṃ, matthaluṅgaṃ;

Pittaṃ, semhaṃ, pubbo, lohitaṃ, sedo, medo;

Assu, vasā, kheḷo, siṅghāṇikā, lasikā, muttaṃ.

There are in this body:

Head-hair, body-hair, nails, teeth, skin;

Flesh, tendons, bones, bone-marrow, spleen;

Heart, liver, membranes, kidneys, lungs;

Large intestines, small intestines, gorge, faeces, brain;

Gall, phlegm, lymph, blood, sweat, fat;

Tears, grease, saliva, mucus, synovic fluid in the joints, urine.

Maraṇassati

Recollection on Death

Sabbe sattā marissanti, maranti ca mariṃsupi,

            Tath’ev’āhaṃ marissāmi, ettha me n’atthi saṃsayo.

All beings have died, die, and will die;

It is no doubt to me that I will also die.

Patthanā

Aspiration

Uddhaṃ yāva bhavaggā ca, adho yāva avīcito, samantā cakkavāḷesu, ye sattā pathavīcarā, abyāpajjā niverā ca, niddukkhā c’ānupaddavā.

Uddhaṃ yāva bhavaggā ca, adho yāva avīcito, samantā cakkavāḷesu, ye sattā udakecarā, abyāpajjā niverā ca, niddukkhā c’ānupaddavā.

Uddhaṃ yāva bhavaggā ca, adho yāva avīcito, samantā cakkavāḷesu, ye sattā ākāsecarā, abyāpajjā niverā ca, niddukkhā c’ānupaddavā.

Yaṃ pattaṃ kusalaṃ tassa, ānubhāvena pāṇino, sabbe Saddhammarājassa, ñatvā Dhammaṃ sukhāvahaṃ, pāpuṇantu visuddhāya, sukhāya paṭipattiyā, asokaṃ anupāyāsaṃ, Nibbāna­sukhaṃ uttamaṃ.

Ciraṃ tiṭṭhatu Saddhammo, Dhamme hontu sagāravā, sabbepi sattā kālena, sammā devo pavassatu.

Yathā rakkhiṃsu porāṇā, surājāno tath’ev’imaṃ, rājā rakkhatu Dhammena, attano’va pajaṃ pajaṃ.

May beings from the highest celestial plane to the lowest hell Avīci, beings around universes and beings living on earth, be free from ill-will, animosity, suffering and danger.

May beings from the highest celestial plane to the lowest hell Avīci, beings around universes and beings living in water, be free from ill-will, animosity, suffering and danger.

May beings from the highest celestial plane to the lowest hell Avīci, beings around universes and beings living in sky, be free from ill-will, animosity, suffering and danger.

By the power of merit acquired, may all beings, having understood the Dhamma of the King of Supreme Dhamma (the Buddha), attain to happiness. With pure and easy practice, may they attain to the bliss of Nibbāna that is sorrowless, griefless and supreme.

May the True Dhamma long exist; may all beings have respect for the Dhamma, may rain well at the right time.

May the present king (ruler) guard his subjects with righteousness like his own son, as righteous kings had done in the past.

“Sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā”ti, yadā paññāya passati,

Atha nibbindati dukkhe, esa maggo visuddhiyā.

 “Sabbe saṅkhārā dukkhā”ti, yadā paññāya passati,

Atha nibbindati dukkhe, esa maggo visuddhiyā.

“Sabbe dhammā anattā”ti, yadā paññāya passati,

Atha nibbindati dukkhe, esa maggo visuddhiyā.

When one sees with wisdom that “all conditioned things are transient”, he overcomes unsatisfactoriness – this is the path to purity.

When one sees with wisdom that “all conditioned things are unsatisfactory”, he overcomes unsatisfactoriness – this is the path to purity.

When one sees with wisdom that “all phenomena are soulless”, he overcomes unsatisfactoriness – this is the path to purity.

Buddhassa Bhagavato Ovādo

Admonition of the Buddha

Appamādena bhikkhave sampādetha, Buddhuppādo dullabho lokasmiṃ, manussabhāvo dullabho, dullabhā saddhā­sampatti, pabbajitabhāvo dullabho, Saddhammassavanaṃ dullabhaṃ. Evaṃ divase divase ovadi. Handa dāni, bhikkhave, āmantayāmi vo, “Vayadhammā saṅkhārā, appamādena sampādetha”.

“Oh bhikkhus, strive on diligently, rare is the arising of the Buddha in the world, rare is to be a human being, rare is the attainment of faith, rare is to be a monk, rare is the listening to the True Dhamma. Thus, everyday did the Blessed One admonish. Well, bhikkhus, these are my last words for you: “All conditioned things are of a nature to decay – strive on diligently”.

Patti-Dāna

Sharing of Merits

Ettāvatā ca amhehi, sambhataṃ puññasampadaṃ,

Sabbe devānumodantu, sabbasampattisiddhiyā.

Dānaṃ dadantu saddhāya, sīlaṃ rakkhantu sabbadā,

Bhāvanābhiratā hontu, gacchantu devatāgatā.

Sabbe Buddhā balappattā, Paccekānañca yaṃ balaṃ,

Arahantānañca tejena, rakkhaṃ bandhāmi sabbaso.

For the acquisition of all kinds of happiness, may all deities rejoice in the accomplishment of merit which we have thus acquired.

May you all practice charity with faith (in the Triple Gem). May you always keep moral precepts. May you all rejoice in mind-development. May the deities who have come (to the recitation) go back (to their homes).

By the power of the Buddhas who possessed great physical and intellectual strength, and of the Pacceka Buddhas and of the Arahants, I create protection for all times.

Ratanattaya-Pūjā

Dedication to the Triple Gem

Imāya Dhammānudhammapaṭipattiyā Buddhaṃ pūjemi.

Imāya Dhammānudhammapaṭipattiyā Dhammaṃ pūjemi.

Imāya Dhammānudhammapaṭipattiyā Saṅghaṃ pūjemi.

 Addhā imāya paṭipattiyā jarāmaraṇamhā parimucissāmi.

- I pay homage to the Buddha by the practice of charity, morality, and meditation in conformity with the Nine Supramundane Dhammas (four Paths, four Fruitions and Nibbāna).

- I pay homage to the Dhamma by the practice of charity, morality, and meditation in conformity with the Nine Supramundane Dhammas.

- I pay homage to the Saṅgha by the practice of charity, morality, and meditation in conformity, with the Nine Supramundane Dhammas. 

                  Owing to this moral practice, may I really be free from aging  and death!

Sādhu, Sādhu, Sādhu!

Well done, Well done, Well done!