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Sutta Nipāta 2.1 
Ratana Sutta 
“The Jewel Discourse” 
Translated by Bhikkhu Candana 
 
Copyright © Bhikkhu Candana 2021 
 
“Whatever non-human beings that are assembled here, whether terrestrial or celestial, 
may they all have peace of mind with contented hearts, as they listen attentively to 
these words: 
“Oh beings, listen closely: May you all radiate loving-kindness to those human beings 
who, by day and night, include you in their thoughts, dedicating to you the merits of 
their offerings. Therefore, watch over and protect them with diligence. 
“Whatever treasures there may be in the cosmos, or in worlds beyond; whatever 
precious jewels there may be in the heavenly realms, nothing compares to the 
Tathagata (the Perfected One). This precious jewel is the Buddha. By declaring this 
Truth, may there be safety.  
“That destruction of grasping, that non-passionate state, that Deathlessness Supreme, 
the calm and collected Sakyan Sage (the Buddha) had realized; nothing compares to 
Nibbana. This precious jewel is the Dhamma. By declaring this Truth, may there be 
safety. 
“The Supreme Buddha praised the pure Noble Eightfold Path, calling it the path which 
unfailingly establishes one in the collectedness of mind; nothing compares to this 
collectedness of mind. This precious jewel is the Dhamma. By declaring this Truth, 
may there be safety. 
“The Eight Individuals are praised by the wise, and they constitute the four pairs. 
These are the true Disciples of the Buddha and are worthy of offerings. Gifts offered 
to them yield abundant results. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By declaring this 
Truth, may there be safety. 
“With a steadfast mind and applying themselves well in the Dispensation of the 
Buddha Gautama, they are free from defilements, they have attained to that which 
should be attained (Arahantship) as they dwell in the Deathless. Thus, they enjoy the 
Peace that is Nibbana which is freely obtained. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By 
declaring this Truth, may there be safety. 
“As a post planted deeply into the earth stands unshaken by the winds from all four 
directions, so, too, I declare is the Superior Person, who sees and understands with

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wisdom the Four Noble Truths. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By declaring this 
Truth, may there be safety. 
“Those who realized the Noble Truths well taught by Him who is profound in 
wisdom (the Buddha), even if they become exceedingly heedless, still they would not 
take an eighth rebirth into Samsāra. This precious jewel is the Sangha. By declaring 
this Truth, may there be safety. 
“With the gaining of Higher Wisdom, he abandons three states of mind, namely the 
illusion of a personality view, skeptical doubt, and adhering to rites and rituals as a 
means for Liberation. Thus, this person is wholly freed from rebirth into the four 
lower realms, and therefore, incapable of committing the six major wrongdoings. This 
precious jewel is the Sangha. By declaring this Truth, may there be safety. 
“Any evil actions he may still commit, whether by deed, word, or thought, he is 
incapable of concealing it; since it has been proclaimed that such concealing is 
impossible for one who has seen the Path to Nibbana. This precious jewel is the 
Sangha. By declaring this Truth, may there be safety 
“As the woodland groves though in the early heat of the summer month are crowned 
with blossoming flowers, even so is the sublime Dhamma that leads to the Peace of 
Nibbana, which is taught by the Buddha for the highest good. This precious jewel is 
the Buddha. By declaring this Truth, may there be safety  
“The Peerless Excellent one (the Buddha) the Knower of Nibbana, the Giver of 
Nibbana, the Bringer of the Noble Path, taught us the excellent Dhamma. This 
precious jewel is the Buddha. By declaring this Truth, may there be safety 
“With their past Kamma spent, and no more new kamma  arising for them, their mind 
is no longer attached to future rebecoming, as the seed of the desire for rebirth has 
been scorched and died, they now live with no craving for re-living. Such wise men 
fade out of existence, as the flame of this lamp which has just faded away. This 
precious jewel is the Sangha. By declaring this Truth, may there be safety. 
“Whatever non-human beings that are assembled here, whether terrestrial or celestial, 
come let us all salute the Buddha, the Tathagata (the Perfected One), honored and 
cherished by devas and humans. May there be safety. 
“Whatever non-human beings that are assembled here, whether terrestrial or celestial, 
come let us all salute the perfect Dhamma, honored and cherished by devas and 
humans. May there be safety.

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“Whatever non-human beings that are assembled here, whether terrestrial or celestial, 
come let us all salute the perfect Sangha, honored and cherished by devas and 
humans. May there be safety.” 
 
Sadhu  
 
Sadhu 
 
Sadhu