Introduction - : Explore the Mallika Sutta from the Anguttara Nikaya, where the Buddha explains how karma, anger, generosity, and jealousy affect women’s beauty, wealth, and future lives. Learn the path of wholesome actions leading to happiness and Nibbana.
One should
protect one's mind from the defilements of lust, guard one's speech, and not
commit unwholesome acts through speech.
One who
guards one's body well and purifies the path of unwholesome actions that occur
through these three doors of mind, body, and speech can walk on the path of
Nibbana shown by the great sages.
Here, the ten unwholesome actions are mentioned. If one wishes to be freed from
the four hells and walk on the path of Nibbana, the only thing one needs to do
is to change the ten unwholesome actions and include one's life in the ten wholesome
actions. In addition, in order to be happy and not to be miserable in the
journey of being born, born, and dead in samsara until one sees Nibbana, one
needs to perform meritorious deeds such as giving alms. With these two things,
one can make one's life in this world happy and achieve great rewards for
oneself and for the good of the two worlds.
There is an incident related to both of these matters in the Mallika Sutta, a
sutta sermon in the fourth chapter of the Anguttara Nikaya. This article is
intended to examine how that sutta sermon and the meaning of the title verse
are reconciled.
One day, the Buddha was staying at the Jetavana Monastery in Savatthi. Mallika Devi, the queen of the King of Kosala, came to see the Buddha. She came and paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and asked him a question.
Blessed One, some women in this world are very ugly. They are not fair. They are not beautiful. They look very unattractive. Also, they are very poor. They have no wealth. They do not have wealth, grain, or property. They live very sad lives. What are the reasons why these women are born like this? Then the Buddha answered:
Mallika, there are some women who are full of anger. They are always waiting to get angry. If a small mistake is made, if a word is said, those women get very angry. And that anger is kept inside their hearts and they are full of hatred. Their hearts are always filled with anger and hatred. And that woman does not give alms. Her heart is greedy.
The next most important thing is that she does not like others to be respected by society because of their beauty, wealth, education, knowledge, voice, and all other aspects. When someone is accepted higher than her in society, when she receives social attention, love, fame, or care, she becomes jealous of that person. So if such a person comes back to the human world after death, her appearance is not beautiful at all. She is unattractive and poor, with few resources, and is not accepted in society.
After that answer, Mallika Devi asked another question: Blessed One, there are some women in the world who are ugly, but they have a lot of wealth. They are very rich. What are the reasons why they are born as wealthy people despite being ugly in appearance? Then the Buddha answered:
Mallika, some women in this world are always burdened with anger. They cannot utter a word without anger and pride. But they entertain the monks in all four directions without fail. They give alms generously. Also, they are not jealous of the respect, consideration, and recognition that others receive. If such a woman is reborn in the human world after death, because of her anger and hatred, she is born ugly. Even though she is not beautiful or pleasant, because she gave away her belongings with the intention of giving alms, she is reborn as a rich person with great wealth and possessions.
Next, Mallika Devi asked the Buddha: Venerable Sir, there are some women in this world who are very beautiful. They captivate those who see them. But they are very poor. They have no wealth, money, or property. What is the reason for that? Then the Buddha explained:
Mallika, there are some women who do
not get angry at anything. They do not harbor hatred or anger. But they do not
provide food, clothing, etc. to monks, brahmins, and beggars. They do not
cultivate the intention of giving alms. They do not even admire those who give
alms. Therefore, if such a woman is reborn after death, she will be born with
great beauty but remain poor, living a life of little comfort.
Next, Mallika Devi asked: Blessed One, there are some women in this world who
are endowed with great beauty and also majesty. They are rich in property,
vehicles, and money. What is the reason for that? Then the Buddha explained:
Mallika, there are some women who do not harbor anger towards anyone. They do not act with malice. Similarly, they welcome monks, brahmins, and poor beggars from all sides. They cultivate the intention of giving alms and donate generously. They are happy and grateful for others’ generosity. If such women are reborn after death, they are reborn as beautiful, wealthy women, enjoying both beauty and prosperity without any decrease.
The Buddha explained these truths with his profound understanding of karma and its consequences. These four categories are not only relevant to women but also apply to men. However, the Buddha answered Mallika Devi in this way because her questions were about women.
Ultimately, if someone is constantly angry, hostile, and full of hatred, that person is shaping their future life. If someone does not give to the four directions, does not cultivate generosity, and is jealous even when others give, that person is shaping their future life. The subject of karma is that complex.
To
read the Sinhala article, visit here
https://punaragamanaya.blogspot.com/2024/12/blog-post_28.html
Source:
Anguttara Nikaya – Mallika Sutta
photo credit
- https://www.pinterest.com/
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