April 2023
Harmony and Community

Dīgha Nikāya

• DN 16 From… Mahāparinibbānasutta: The Great Discourse on the Buddha’s Extinguishment—Decline “As long as the mendicants don’t relish work, loving it and liking to relish it, they can expect growth, not decline.”
• DN 30 From… Lakkhaṇasutta: The Marks of a Great Man—Forty Gapless Teeth “Instead, he reconciled those who were divided, supporting unity, delighting in harmony, loving harmony, speaking words that promote harmony.”

Majjhima Nikāya

• MN 89 From… Dhammacetiyasutta: Shrines to the Teaching “Sir, I infer about the Buddha from the teaching: ‘The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha.”
• MN 103 From… Kintisutta: What Do You Think About Me? “While you are training in concord, with mutual appreciation, without disputing, there might arise mutual verbal friction, insolence in views, mental annoyance, bitterness, and dejection.”
• MN 104 From… Sāmagāmasutta: At Sāmagāma “There are, Ānanda, these six roots of disputes.”
• MN 108 From… Gopakamoggallānasutta: With Moggallāna the Guardian “But since you lack a refuge, Master Ānanda, what’s the reason for your harmony?”
• MN 115 From… Bahudhātukasutta: Many Elements “They understand: ‘It’s impossible for a person accomplished in view to cause a schism in the Saṅgha.”
• MN 128 From… Upakkilesasutta: Corruptions “I hope you’re living in harmony, appreciating each other, without quarreling, blending like milk and water, and regarding each other with kindly eyes?”

Saṁyutta Nikāya

• SN 56.9 Viggāhikakathāsutta: Arguments “Mendicants, don’t get into arguments”

Aṅguttara Nikāya

• AN 3.26 Sevitabbasutta: To be Associated With “And what kind of person, bhikkhus, is not to be associated with, followed, and served?”
• AN 3.124 Bhaṇḍanasutta: Arguments “I’m not even comfortable thinking about a place where mendicants argue”
• AN 5.156 Tatiyasaddhammasammosasutta: The Decline of the True Teaching (3rd) “Mendicants, these five things lead to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching.”
• AN 5.205 Cetokhilasutta: Emotional Barrenness “A mendicant is angry and upset with their spiritual companions, resentful and closed off. This being so, their mind doesn’t incline toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.”
• AN 5.212 Bhaṇḍanakārakasutta: Starting Arguments “Mendicants, a mendicant who starts arguments, quarrels, disputes, debates, and disciplinary issues in the Saṅgha can expect five drawbacks.”
• AN 6.12 Dutiyasāraṇīyasutta: Warm-hearted (2nd) “Mendicants, these six warm-hearted qualities make for fondness and respect, conducing to inclusion, harmony, and unity, without quarreling.”
• AN 7.1 Paṭhamapiyasutta: Pleasing (1st) “Mendicants, a mendicant with seven qualities is disliked and disapproved by their spiritual companions, not respected or admired.”
• AN 7.21 Sārandadasutta: At Sārandada “Licchavis, I will teach you these seven principles that prevent decline.”
• AN 7.61 From… Pacalāyamānasutta: Nodding Off “So you should train like this: ‘I won’t get into arguments.’”
• AN 8.2 Paññāsutta: Wisdom “Mendicants, there are eight causes and reasons that lead to acquiring the wisdom fundamental to the spiritual life, and to its increase, growth, and full development once it has been acquired”
• AN 8.40 From… Duccaritavipākasutta: The Results of Misconduct “Divisive speech, when cultivated, developed, and practiced, leads to hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm.”
• AN 8.87 Pattanikujjanasutta: Turning the Bowl Upside Down “Mendicants, the Saṅgha may, if it wishes, turn the bowl upside down for a lay follower on eight grounds.”
• AN 8.16 Dūteyyasutta: Going on a Mission “Mendicants, a mendicant with eight qualities is worthy of going on a mission.”
• AN 10.42 Paṭhamavivādamūlasutta: Roots of Arguments (1st) “It’s when a mendicant explains what is not the teaching as the teaching, and what is the teaching as not the teaching.”
• AN 10.99 Upālisutta: With Upāli “Upāli, remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest are challenging. It’s hard to maintain seclusion and hard to find joy in it.”

Dhammapada

• Dhp 6 From… Yamakavagga: “There are those who do not realize that one day we all must die.”

Itivuttaka

• Iti 17 Dutiyasekhasutta: The Good Friend “…in regard to external factors, I do not perceive another single factor so helpful as good friendship…”
• Iti 19 Saṁghasāmaggīsutta: Harmony in the Saṅgha “When the Saṅgha is in harmony, they don’t argue, insult, block, or reject each other.”
• Iti 76 Sukhapatthanāsutta: Wishing for Happiness “Aspiring to these three forms of bliss, monks, a wise person should guard his virtue.”

Sutta Nipāta

• Snp 4.11 Kalahavivādasutta: Quarrels and Disputes “Quarrels and disputes come from what we hold dear, as do lamentation and sorrow, stinginess, conceit and arrogance.”