highest blessing 3

Sutta Nipāta   the Maṅgla Sutta  258-272

Learning a lot, and craftsmanship,
And being well-trained in one’s practice,
Well-spoken in all that is said.
—This is the highest of blessings.


Letting go or realizing nonself does not mean annihilation. One still walks the planet and contributes organically to all communities in which one embedded. It is wise to master a craft. Having the basics skills well established, frees one to flow in the work, to let right action or right speech emerge because the skills are already in place when the call/need arises.

highest blessing 2

Sutta Nipāta 258, 260

To live in a suitable place,
To have done good deeds in the past,
And having one’s own proper goal.
—This is the highest of blessings.

What is a proper goal?

I've often done what I thought I should do or what ought to be done. These choices have sometimes led to entrapment within my own creations - all done with good intentions, but also not necessarily kind to my self. And maybe not that useful to others.

Simple things are really so beautiful - and satisfying.

practicing high blessing 1

Sutta Nipāta: the Maṅgla Sutta  258, 259

Many gods and many humans
Have thought a lot about blessings,
Wishing for profound well-being.
—Tell us the highest of blessings;

Not consorting with the foolish,
Consorting only with the wise,
And honoring the honorable.
—This is the highest of blessings.

Comment:

The basics of a good life begin with knowing what and who to pay attention to.
Who are the wise and the honorable?
Am I a good companion? Wise? Honorable?

The Buddha advised good companions, kindness to all, of course. But we need to make careful selection of who we 'live' with. Every interaction matters. Our minds are highly impressionable, taking in whatever is around us before we have even a chance to decide if we will be exposed. In fact, the most powerful impacts are usually unnoticed, powerful because they are unnoticed. With attention we can choose what to foster and what to dismiss.  We are not as separate as we think we are, but we can tip the balance toward wise and honorable by making choices about what influences we intentionally foster.