Parabhava Sutta:

Factors leading to ruin

By Premasara EPASINGHE

The Buddha was an embodiment of virtue. He conquered the world with compassion, kindness and wisdom. Buddhism is not only a religion, but a great philosophy – a way of life. Buddhist philosophy helps mould character. What is Buddhist philosophy? In a nutshell it is:

Sabbapapassa Akaranam
Kusalassa Upasampada
Sachittapariyodapanam
Etam Buddhanu Sasanam

(To refrain from doing evil, to indulge in doing good, to cleanse one's mind - this is the teaching of the Buddha).

The Dhammapada – Buddhavagga – Verses 5 – 183

(Parabhava Sutta is an admonition to the householders in the Blessed One's normal way of life. The Parabhava Sutta analyses the causes that lead to man's downfall or his ruin. It is true in today's modern life too. Many individuals fail in their lives, due to causes outlined by the Buddha in Parabhava Sutta. Therefore, avoid the wrongdoings.

Philosophy

Buddhism is regarded as a philosophy or psychology. There is a devotional aspect of Buddhism that is also of paramount importance to gain spiritual comfort or relief. The selected discourses for recital are known as “Paritta Sutta” (Pali), Parittana in Sanskrit and Pirith in Sinhala. They all mean protection.”

The Piruvanapothvahanse or Sacred Book of Protective chants is divided into Satarabanavara in Sinhala and Chatubanavara in pali. There are 29 Suttas in Chatubanavara.

There are twelve Suttas in Kuddhaka Nikaya, eight Suttas in Samyutta Nikaya, five Suttas in Anguttara Nikaya and Two in Majjima Nikaya and Atanatiya part 1 and 2, 48 and 60 stanzas from Digha Nikaya.

The Parabhava Sutta is in Kuddhaka Nikaya. It's the 26th chapter of the Piruvanapothvahanse. It consists of 25 stanzas or verses.

The Parabava Sutta can be defined as discourse on ruin. The discourse was recited by the Blessed One, while, sojourning in the city of Saratthi in Jethavanarama.

A certain deity approached the Buddha, worshipped and venerated Him, and posed the following vital question:

What are the causes that ruin a man?

The Buddha said:

A man who prospers lives a righteous life,

An individual, who does not live a righteous life, does evil, ruins himself. The Parabava Sutta covers the dialogue centred on the questions of the deity and the answers by the Blessed One.

To begin with, the Buddha said if someone does not appreciate good and follow the doctrine of bad, it will lead him to ruin his or her living.

Anger

A man or woman who is fond of sleep/ fond of company (Niddasili Sabhashili), unenergetic, lazy, lives in anger may fall by the way side.

If an individual who does not look after his aged parents (Mataram Va Pitarama Va Jinnakam Gatayobbnam), A Brahamana or recluse or wayfarer who deceives people through untruth, selfish wealthy person, a miser who does not give alms to the poor, a man who is obdurate about race, wealth, tribe, despises his own relatives will perish.

Stanza number 16 gives a very strong message not only to Buddhists but also to all those who follow the other noble religions.

The Buddha said in Parabava Sutta;

Ittidutto – Suradutto
Akkhadutto ca yo naro
Laddham Laddham vinaseti
Tam parabhavtho Mukham

A person of loose morals, drunkard, gambler (Itti dutto – Suradutto – Akkadutto) ruins, whatever he earns or get.

This is the cause of ruin, of the ruining. Even in the modern society, these factors lead one to ruin one's life.

Vices

Therefore, it is incumbent on one to abstain from these major vices. Even in the modern society many families suffer due to indulging in these vices. Not only an individual ruins himself, but also his wife and children suffer immensely by sticking to these vices.

Dissatisfied with his wife, and go after courtesans or prostitutes (vesiyasu) live with others’ wives, a man beyond youth, marries a very young sire with breasts like thimbiri fruit (The fruit of diospyros embryopteris a small fruit).

Atitayobbano Poso

Aneti Timbaruttanim)

A woman addicted to drink, squandering and if such a person appointed to be in-charge of finances, it will also lead an individual to ruin himself.

In the last two stanzas 24 and 25, the Buddha mentions about “little wealth’ and “great craving”.

Appabhogo Mahatanho
Khattiye Jayate Kule
So ca rajjam Patthayati
Tam Parabhavato Mukam

With little wealth, but, too much or immense craving, one is born to royal clan, if he desires kingship – that is the cause of that leads to the downfall of an individual.

The last stanza or verse number 25 reads thus:-

Ete Parabhave, loke,
Pandito Samavekkhiya,
Ariyo Dasanassampanno Sa lokam’ Bhajate sivan ti

Insight

A wise man after recognising the factors that lead to ruin his or her life, and possessed the insight (relating to righteous life) and associate the safe world.

In answering the questions of the deity, the Great Teacher, advised individuals to refrain from doing evil deeds.

The advice is found in the Parabhava Sutta.

The foolishman, seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feels.

- James Oppenheim