THE MISERY OF CORRUPTION

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

In this Dhamma session, we examine this timely teaching of the Buddha in the Adhammika Sutta (AN 4.70) on how a country (or world) becomes corrupt when the leaders are corrupt, and the misery and downfall that can be expected. We also examine when the leaders are righteous with integrity, a country (or world) becomes righteous and prosperity and wellbeing can be expected. The Buddha also gives a wonderful simile of cattle crossing a ford to help us connect with this teaching. Hopefully this session will give a better perspective (from the Buddha) on how we can understand what's happening in the world.

In this session we cover:

• — Introduction to the Adhammika Sutta (AN 4.70)
• — The Story of an Unrighteous King
• — When the system becomes corrupt
• — The result to be expected of crooked kamma
• — Simile of the ripe fig
• — The Story of Prince Temiya
• — Understanding how integrity and Dhamma underpin prosperity
• — The supramundane perspective

If we take this teaching the right way, it can be a very empowering teaching. It's important to investigate where we may go wrong in following the wrong examples set by leaders (at all levels of society), and to see the importance of walking the Buddha's wholesome path, and by doing so, setting a good example for others.

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

• — Gandhatindukajātaka (Ja 520)
• — Vatthūpama Sutta (MN 7)
• — Mahāsupina Jataka (Ja 77)
• — Cakkavatti Sutta (DN 26)
• — Saṁsappanīya Sutta (AN 10.216)
• — Abhiṇhapaccavekkhitabbaṭhāna Sutta (AN 5.57)
• — Sarāga Sutta (AN 4.66)
• — Tesakunajātaka (Ja 521)
• — Cakkavatti Sutta (AN 3.14)
• — Dhammarājā Sutta (AN 5.133)
• — Rājovādajātaka (Ja 334)
• — Mūgapakkhajātaka(Ja 538)
• — Paṭhamaadhamma Sutta (AN 10.113)
• — Karaṇīyametta Sutta (Snp 1.8)
• — Mahāsāropama Sutta (MN 29)

An electronic copy of the "The Simile of Cattle Crossing the Ford" and "The Moral Decline of Society" as discussed in this Dhamma Session has been posted (and pinned) to the Sutta Meditation Series Telegram channel (https://t.me/suttameditationseries)

Bohoma pin to the person who requested this sutta.

The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bsS-EylAMA

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai