FOREWORD TO THIRD EDITION

At the huge assembly of Devas, Brahmas, known as Mahasamaya or the great gathering at the Mahawun forest near Kapilavatthu on the full moon day of Nayon month during the period between fourth and fifth lent after enlightenment, Lord Buddha delivered a series of six discourses according to the habits, and characteristics of these Devas and Brahmas. The Sutta known as Sammaparibbajaniya was the first discourse of the six, preached by Lord Buddha targeted to those Devas and Brahmas with the habit of raga, or passionate desire.

The Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw had given talks on all the six Mahasamaya Suttas at the Fan Yin Hall of the Mahasi Meditation Centre since the full-moon day of Nayon, 1322 (Myanmar Era) (8th June 1960).

This Sammaparivvajanya Sutta was first expounded by the Mahasi Sayadaw on New Moon Day of Thadingyut, 1338 (Myanmar Era)(21st October 1976,) and continued for next 13 Sabbath days, completed on full moon day of Tabodwe, (2nd February 1977).

These talks were tape-recorded and transcribed by U Hla Kyaing, the President of the Buddha Sasana Nuggha Organization. The final draft was edited by Mahasi Sayadaw and first published in book form in July 1977. Since then, there had been several editions, and the last edition which was the fifth, was published in June 2013.

These Myanmar texts had been published together with a record of Dhamma discourses made at a meeting held on 4th. waning day of Nattaw 1337(M.E) (2nd December 1975), participated by 7 senior Patron Monks of the Mahasi Meditation Centre who were the meditation teachers recounting their wonderful experiences in interviewing the meditating yogis, whose various ailments were healed during the meditation.

For the benefit of foreign yogis, the Myanmar text of Sammaparivvajanya Sutta was translated into English by well-known writer U On Pe (Tet Toe), who had also translated a number of discourses of Mahasi Sayadaw. The English translated text was published in July 1981, followed by a Second Edition in March 1977.

The English Editions, however, did not include the above-mentioned record of Dhamma discussions by Patron Monks but they were published with a superb introduction of U Min Swe, the Secretary of the Buddha Sasana Nuggha Organization. The Second English Edition being out of stock for sometime, we have the pleasure of publishing a Third Edition with the last photograph of Mahasi Sayadaw and his short biography.

The introduction by Venerable Vayaminda, a senior meditation teacher of Mahasi Meditation Centre, Myan Aung, in the Myanmar Editions had not been translated into English and we hope to include the translations of this introduction and record of Dhamma discussions in our future English Editions.

We wish all readers to work assiduously according to the expositions in this sutta and thereby able to gain enlightenment of the Dhamma and attain Nibbana.

Dr. Tint Soe Lin

President

Buddha Sasana Nuggaha

Organization

Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha, Yangon.

December , 2015

A Discourse On

Samma Paribbaniya Sutta

This copy is Third Edition published in December 2015 in which the grammar, punctuations and spellings of English words were corrected during June 2019 for the next Edition.

(1) English words corrected by “Microsoft Words” in computer by Ma Soe Soe on 4.6.2019 and checked by U Khin Maung Oo on 12.6.2019 and 16.6.2019.

(2) Pali words re-checked by -------------------------.

Note; the words in red are not to be uploaded in the website.