Karma: Seven Vows of Sakka (sutra)

Mahamevnawabm.org, Deva Sattavatapada Sutra; Dhr. Seven, Pfc. Sandoval, Wisdom Quarterly

"The Discourse on the Seven Noble Vows of Sakka"

Stories of Sakka Lord of the Gods

Thus have I heard. At one time the Blessed One was staying in Sāvatthi province in Jeta’s Grove at Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery where he taught:

“Meditators, in the past when Sakka, king of the devas, was a human, he practised seven noble vows. Because of that good karma he achieved his current position. What were those seven noble vows?

1. As long as I live may I help my parents.
2. As long as I live may I respect the family elders.
3. As long as I live may I speak gently.
4. As long as I live may I not speak divisively.
5. As long as I live may I live at home without greediness, removing the stain of stinginess, open-handed, always ready to give, always free to help others, delighting in giving and sharing, and well organized in giving charity.
6. As long as I live may I speak the truth.
7. As long as I live may I be free from anger, and if anger should arise in me, may I remove it quickly.

“Meditators, in the past when Sakka, king of the devas, was human, he practiced seven noble vows. Because he carried out those good deeds, he achieved the position he has now.”

When a person supports parents,

respects family elders,

speaks gentle and pleasing words,

avoids divisive speech,

removes stinginess,

speaks truthfully,

and restrains anger,

the Devas of the Thirty-Three call

that person a truly superior person. More

Hemis Buddhist Monastery (India)

Hemis Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery (gompa) of the Drukpa lineage located in Hemis, Ladakh (in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir) situated 45 km from the regional capital of Leh.

The monastery is a unique example of a gompa complex, manifest-ing in its structure the geomantic principles that underpin Buddhist architectural principles. The monastery was established in 1672 by the Ladakhi King Senge Namgyal.

Hemis Gompa was founded all those centuries ago and is today one of the wealthiest monasteries in Ladakh. Much of its fame is thanks to the Russian explorer Nicolas Notovitch, who revealed its connection to Jesus Christ. Issa, as Jesus is known in India (Hebrew Y'shua), studied Mahayana Buddhism there. In his 1894 travel book, he claims Hemis is the origin of an otherwise unknown gospel -- "The Life of Saint Issa, Best of the Sons of Men" -- in which Jesus is said to have traveled to India during his "lost years."

Hemis belongs to the Kagupa Brugpa sect of Buddhism, the sect dominant in the Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan. The annual Hemis festival honoring Padmasambhava is held here in early June.

(Adapted from Wikipedia)