WHO BENEFITS FROM OUR SPIRITUAL PRACTICE?

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

In this Dhamma session, we take a closer look at the question on "WHO BENEFITS FROM OUR SPIRITUAL PRACTICE?" and a collection of teachings from Asuravagga (AN 4.95 - AN 4.99).

The Buddha teaches about four kinds of persons in the world:

1. One who is practising neither for their own benefit nor for the benefit of others (nevattahitāya paṭipanno no parahitāya)
2. One who is practising for the benefit of others but not for their own benefit (parahitāya paṭipanno no attahitāya)
3. One who is practising for their own benefit and not for the benefit of others (attahitāya paṭipanno no parahitāya)
4. One who is practising both for their own benefit and for the benefit of others (attahitāya ceva paṭipanno parahitāya ca)

We delve into the scale from lowest to highest of these four kinds of persons, the different qualities (or lack of) highlighted by the Buddha that differentiates them, and important aspects that can help our spiritual practice to develop and grow in line with Buddha's wholesome path.

We also cross-reference some additional teachings from the Buddha on what is blameworthy vs praiseworthy, the types of persons who appear in the world for the benefit of many, Buddha's encouragement to teach Dhamma, and we highlight a good example who was praised by the Buddha for practising both for their own benefit and for the benefit of others.

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

• — Chavālāta Sutta (AN 4.95)
• — Rāgavinaya Sutta (AN 4.96)
• — Khippanisanti Sutta (AN 4.97)
• — Sikkhāpada Sutta (AN 4.99)
• — Dhammavihārī Sutta (AN 5.73-74)
• — Mahānāma Sutta (AN 8.25)
• — Sikkhāpada Sutta (AN 4.201)
• — Dhammaññū Sutta (AN 7.68)
• — Bahujanahita Sutta (Iti 84)
• — Saṅgārava Sutta (AN 3.60)
• — Balavagga (AN 5.17 - AN 5.20)
• — Jiṇṇa Sutta (SN 16.5)
• — Dutiyamārapāsa Sutta (SN 4.5)

Bohoma pin to the person who requested this talk.

The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk045vCxBe0

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai