This Ratana Sutta (Jewel Discourse) was given to the people of Vesali by the Buddha when they were suffering from pestilence and famine causing many deaths.

We are not the first to live in times of fear and disease and this was the Buddha’s response to the people’s appeal for help.  It is an extended salutation and expression of devotion to the 3 jewels  (The Buddha, his teachings – The Dharma, and the community of those following these teachings – The Sangha) and this verse is one I love to recite before I sit to meditate.  The world may be stormy but we can weather it with the 3 Jewels as our support.

With much metta and well wishing to you and your families. May you be well, may there be happiness.

Padmasakhi

Ratana Sutta: The Jewel Discourse 

1. "Whatever beings are assembled here, whether of earth or whether celestial, may they all have peace of mind, and may they listen attentively to these words:

2. "O beings, listen closely. May you all radiate loving-kindness to those human beings who, by day and night, bring offerings to you. Wherefore, protect them with diligence.

3. "Whatever treasure there be either here or in the world beyond, whatever precious jewel there be in the heavenly worlds, there is nothing comparable to the Tathagata, the perfect One. This precious jewel is the Buddha. By this assertion of the truth may there be happiness.

4. "That Cessation, that Detachment, that Deathlessness, Nibbana, supreme.  The calm and collected Sakyan Sage, the Buddha, realized. There is nothing comparable to this Dhamma. This precious jewel is the Dhamma. By this assertion of the truth may there be happiness.

5. "The Supreme Buddha extolled a path of purity, the Noble Eightfold Path, calling it the path which unfailingly brings concentration. There is nothing comparable to this concentration. This precious jewel is the Dhamma. By this assertion of the truth may there be happiness.

6. "The eight persons extolled by the virtuous ones constitute four pairs. They are the disciples of the Buddha and are worthy of offerings. Gifts given to them yield rich results. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this assertion of the truth may there be happiness.

7. "With a steadfast mind and applying themselves well in the dispensation of the Buddha Gotama, free from defilements, they have attained to that which should be attained, encountering the Deathless. They enjoy the Peace of Nibbana freely obtained. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this assertion of the truth may there be happiness.

8. "As a post deep-planted in the earth stands unshaken by the winds from the four quarters, so, too, I declare are the righteous ones who comprehend with wisdom the Noble Truths. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this assertion of the truth may there be happiness.

9. "Those who realize the Noble Truths well taught by the Buddha, who is profound in wisdom, even though they may be exceedingly heedless, they will not take an eighth existence in the realm of sense spheres.  This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this assertion of the truth may there be happiness.

10. "With this gaining of insight, self-illusion, doubt, and indulgence in meaningless rites and rituals are abandoned, should there be any.  They are Fully freed from the four states of woe, and therefore, incapable of committing the six major wrongdoings. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this assertion of the truth may there be happiness.

11. "Any evil action they may still do by deed, word or thought, is incapable of being concealed; since it has been proclaimed that such concealing is impossible for one who has seen the Path of Nibbana.  This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this assertion of the truth may there be happiness.

12. "As the woodland groves in the early heat of the summer months are crowned with blossoming flowers even so is the sublime Dhamma leading to the calm of Nibbana which is taught by the Buddha for the highest good. This precious jewel is the Buddha. By this assertion of the truth may there be happiness.

13. "The Peerless Excellent one, the Buddha, the Knower of Nibbana, the Giver of Nibbana, the Bringer of the Noble Path, taught the excellent Dhamma. This precious jewel is the Buddha. By this assertion of the truth may there be happiness.

14. "Their past kamma is spent, their new kamma no more arises, their mind to future becoming is unattached. Their germ of rebirth-consciousness has died, they have no more desire for re-living. The wise fade out of existence as the flame of this lamp which has just faded away. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By this assertion of the truth may there be happiness.

15. "Whatever beings are assembled here, whether of earth or whether celestial, come let us salute the Buddha, the Tathagata the perfect One, honoured by gods and humanity. May there be happiness. 

16. "Whatever beings are assembled here, whether of earth or whether celestial, come let us salute the perfect Dhamma, honoured by gods and humanity. May there be happiness.

17. "Whatever beings are assembled here, whether of earth or whether celestial, come let us salute the perfect Sangha, honoured by gods and humanity. May there be happiness."

Sutta Nipata 2.1 Translated by Piyadassi Thera (slightly edited) from Access to Insight.