THE STORY OF NANDA, THE HERDSMAN - Dhammapada verse 42

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

In today's session, we look at Dhammapada Verse 42 - THE STORY OF NANDA, THE HERDSMAN (Nandagopālaka Vatthu). The Buddha gives a very powerful teaching about the importance of a rightly directed mind and the safety of stream entry.

In this short session we examine Nanda's story and how he was able to enter the stream before his sudden death. We revisit the key dangers that are highlighted from this teaching, the importance of right view in activating the Noble Eightfold Path, being virtuous, and path and fruit of stream entry.

The Buddha's words from Dhp 42:

“Diso disaṁ yaṁ taṁ kayirā,
verī vā pana verinaṁ;
Micchāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ,
pāpiyo naṁ tato kare.”

“Whatever an enemy would do to an enemy,
or one hostile to another bearing hostility;
a wrongly directed mind,
can inflict far worse to itself.”

Other suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this talk:

• — Byasana Sutta (AN 5.130)
• — Nakhasikhā Sutta (SN 13.1)
• — Brahmacariyogadha Sutta (SN 55.2)
• — Dutiyasāriputta Sutta (SN 55.5)
• — Micchādiṭṭhika Sutta (Iti 70)
• — Sammādiṭṭhika Sutta (Iti 71)

The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od8Dy2aIMU4

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai