The Buddha teaches about Appamāda (Heedfulness). It is the Buddha’s announcement of his oncoming death and the summation of dhamma in the Tipiṭaka.

The Buddha points out the nature of life which is short and will eventually cease to exist. Therefore, the true sanctuary in life is heedfulness, which results from Sati (being mindful) and Sīla (keeping virtuous) by observing dhamma. Self-restraint and watching over one’s mind without negligence will enable human beings to be liberated from Dukkha (Suffering). (Extracted from the Suttantapiṭaka Dīghanikāya Mahāvaggapāḷi)

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“Those Worthy of Being Honoured” is the Buddha’s short saying about truth in the world that the faithful who adhere to the Teaching of the Enlightened One and observe immaculate precepts are likely to have those who respect them as followers. They are the ones who have everything in life and wherever they go they will receive great honour and veneration. (Extracted from the Suttantapiṭaka Khuddakanikāya Dhammapadapāḷi)

This truth was evident when Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana made a pilgrimage to present the World Tipitika abroad. She was welcomed with respect and honour. Even though Her Royal Highness has passed away, the World Tipiṭaka she has presented as a gift of Dhamma to the world has been greatly revered and praised internationally.

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“The Extinction of Craving” constitutes the first words that the Buddha uttered in his mind when he attained self-enlightenment under the Bo tree on the bank of the Neranjara River over 2,500 years ago. (Extracted from the Suttantapiṭaka Khuddakanikāya Dhammapadapāḷi Udānavatthu)

The essence of the Buddha’s first utterance deals with Dukkha (Suffering) which is caused by the cycle of birth and death experienced by all creatures in the world. The cause of this suffering is Taṇhā (Craving), which is defilement in the mind of all creatures. Taṇhā is comparable to a house-builder who keeps on building houses incessantly. Therefore, when the Buddha became enlightened he found the root cause of craving and extinguished it by ridding the mind of all cravings.

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“Judging the Practice of Dhamma and Discipline” (Extracted from the Vinayapiṭaka Cūlavaggapāḷi)

The Buddha has set the principles for judging correct views, words, and deeds according to the Dhamm and Discipline in the speech he delivered to Queen Mahā Pajabodi Gotami Bhikkhuni as follows:

“My Dhamma is to be observed for Passionlessness, for Absence-of-Fetters, for Non-Accumulation, for Non-Clinging to Existing, for Solitude, for the Contemplation of Perseverance, and for Undemanding Rearing.”

These practices are the Dhamma, the Discipline, and the Teaching of the Teacher.

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Buddhasāsna (Buddhism) teaches that holy persons in the world possess the following qualities: Sadhā (Confidence), Sīla (Morality), Pasāda (Admiration), and Dassana (Insight according to truth existing in nature). The wise must always try to make these qualities exist in their lives. (Extracted from the Suttantapiṭaka Saṃyuttanikāya Mahāvaggasaṃyuttapāḷi Pathamaanāthapindikasutta)

Although the Buddha’s words mention the “qualities of holy persons,” the wise can behave accordingly. For example, Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana has piously presented the World Tipiṭaka to international institutions in various countries. This is an excellent quality of one with Sadhā in the teaching of the Buddha that those with wisdom should study and emulate.

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This chapter of the Buddha’s teaching deals with the history of Buddhasāsana (Buddhism) and the successive Tipiṭaka Councils, beginning in Buddhist Era 1, which was a categorized collection of the Dhamma and Discipline committed by memory by Arahants in the early stages and transmitted to the present. The revision and recitation of the Dhamma and Discipline has resulted in the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka being recorded in written form and propagated to these days for almost 3,000 years. (Extracted from the Suttantapiṭaka Dīghanikāya Pāthikavaggapāḷi Sangītisutta)

The text in the Tipiṭaka is one in which the Buddha has taught the Buddhist Assembly to obtain the Eye of Wisdom and become holy ones ranging from those attaining the first stage of holiness to Arahants. Even though the Buddha himself has attained Nibbāna and passed away, the Dhammavinaya, his Teaching in the Tipiṭaka, is the abode and embodiment of the Great Master at present according to the Buddha’s words recorded in the Tipiṭaka:

“The Dhamma and the Doctrine will be your Teacher when I myself have passed away…”

The preservation of the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka in order to sustain the Sound of Dhamma is a noble act of merit-making. Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana herself graciously undertook the leadership in supporting the publication of the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka in the Roman script. She also acted as honorary president in distributing the complete sets of the World Tipiṭaka internationally, thereby generating a great merit. The Buddha has praised the propagation of Dhamma as:

“…being for the benefit, the welfare, and the happiness of all devas and human beings.”

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In “Self Appraisal” the Buddha uses an allegory to teach those responsible for governing the country that in judging a case, before giving the verdict, justice must be given to others. Judges should act as if they were the plaintiffs accusing themselves. Moreover, the Buddha teaches all judges to be attentive. Sati or Mindfulness will bring about happiness and safety in performing their duties. (Extracted from the Suttantapiṭaka Khuddakanikāya Dhammapadapāḷi)

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Paccaya means “a cause leading to an effect.” In Pāḷi Tipiṭaka, the “Paccaya 24” or the 24 Dhamma Conditions refer to the characteristics of relationships among all things, in which a natural condition is a component that assists, supports, or causes another natural condition to come into existence, remain, or proceed to another stage in one way or another. Paccaya 24 is the essence of all the explanations in the Book of Paṭṭhāna from the final collection in Abhidhammapiṭaka, an invaluable Dhamma so elaborate and profound. (Extracted from the Tikapaṭṭhānapāḷi)

Translated by Associate Professor Malithat Promathatavedi